In just four years, the Association of St Kitts and Nevis Descendants (ASKaND) has grown from an idea to bring people together into a thriving organisation that celebrates heritage, friendship, and community life in Birmingham.
What began as a desire to strengthen connections with St Kitts and Nevis has grown into a vibrant community organisation that has exceeded expectations. Guided by its motto, “To plan, provide, innovate and protect,” ASKaND has created a welcoming space where culture is celebrated, friendships flourish, and people come together with a shared sense of belonging. belonging.
One of its most appealing qualities is that ASKaND knows its roots without putting up fences around them.
St Kitts and Nevis remains proudly at the heart of its identity, but its welcome stretches across the Caribbean. In many ways, it reflects Caribbean life in Britain today, where friendships, relationships and marriages have brought different island communities ever closer together.
ASKaND celebrates that interconnected Caribbean family, showing that pride in your origins can still leave room at the table for your Caribbean neighbours.
Much of that energy comes from Chairperson Jacqui Daniels, whose experience in Birmingham’s voluntary and community sector has helped give the organisation momentum. Together with an enthusiastic committee and dedicated volunteers, she has helped turn ideas into activities and activities into community occasions.
That success was evident at this year’s Heritage Day at Birmingham Moseley Rugby Club, where thousands gathered for a colourful celebration of Caribbean food, music, and entertainment, including performances by artists from St Kitts and Nevis.
While Kittitian and Nevisian heritage took centre stage, the crowd’s diversity gave the occasion a distinctly wider Caribbean flavour. Television coverage carried the celebrations beyond the venue, while more than 10,000 viewers joined the live-stream.
Evening festivities continued as members, friends, and supporters gathered for a dinner and dance to mark ASKaND’s fourth birthday on 24th October at the Cobden Hotel Birmingham. Among the guests was His Excellency Dr Kevin M. Isaac, St. Kitts and Nevis’ High Commissioner to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, who spoke about the importance of the UK diaspora, its community networks, and the value of strengthening the community’s existing assets. Other colleagues included Thouvia France, the Minister Counsellor and Tourism rep Chelcie Lewis.
Artist Raphael Tate, Caribbean Melody Steel-band, and DJs provided the musical flavour, helping make the anniversary an evening of Caribbean culture and community.
Yet some of ASKaND’s most meaningful work happens far away from the big stage. Sometimes community is built not among thousands at a heritage festival, but around a domino table on a Tuesday evening.
ASKaND’s weekly dominoes sessions offer Caribbean food, friendship, conversation, and companionship, especially for those who might otherwise feel lonely or isolated. Christmas parties, social outings, and independence celebrations reinforce that sense of togetherness.
Young people are also becoming an important part of ASKaND’s story. Working with the Lighthouse Young People’s Centre in Lozells, the association has developed activities ranging from Caribbean cooking and drama to teamwork and wellbeing.
National Lottery Community Fund support will help ASKaND expand its work with young people through careers and wellbeing days, community cooking courses, and support for Heritage Day. Its wider programme also includes grief and bereavement initiatives, charitable appeals supporting families in St Kitts, and projects documenting Black British experiences in Birmingham.
Behind those achievements are the committee members, volunteers, members, sponsors, and supporters who provide the time, energy and goodwill that sustain community organisations. They turn up. They lend a hand. They prepare food, organise events, support young people and make newcomers feel welcome.
That may be ASKaND’s greatest contribution.
In just four years, it has built friendships, celebrated heritage, supported its community, and strengthened connections between St Kitts and Nevis, Birmingham, and the wider Caribbean family. As ASKaND looks ahead to Heritage Day 2027 and the next chapter of its journey, there is much to celebrate and much more to look forward to.
In just four years, ASKaND has shown what happens when heritage, friendship, and community spirit come together. With its doors open, its community growing, and its ambitions reaching further, the celebration is only just beginning.
