Our History

The Association hosted many Social, Cultural and Educational activities in the ensuing years in the community. The excursions to the seaside brought a breath of fresh to the lives of people in the South West of London. The Association was always present at the various cultural fairs held in the Borough of Wandsworth and Merton. These events helped to promote the different cultures of the Caribbean people. One of the highlights was the Association’s performance at the ‘Dance in Harmony Festival’ in partnership with the Ethnic Minority Centre, which was held at the Commonwealth Institute and televised by the BBC.

The regular use of the Vestry Hall has given the Association a firm footing in the Community and recognition from the Ethnic Minority Centre and the Merton Borough Council in general. Today, West Indian Families and Friends Association forms a great partnership with many other departments and organisations in the borough engaging in the promotion of a better understanding of diversified issues.

In continuing its tradition with the Church, The Rev Canon, Dr Sehon Goodridge, the principal of Simon of Cyrene Theological Institute and a friend and follower of the Association was asked to become Patron of the Association and gracefully accepted. Three years later he went on to become The Bishop of the Windward Islands in the Province of the West Indies. He is still the only patron to the Association. It was the same year that the Rev Trevor Davis became the Chaplain.

The Rev Sonia Hinds visiting from Barbados officiated at the Annual Thanksgiving service, encouraged the Association to further interpret the initials Wiffa as ‘When Inspired (there is) Fellowship For All’, since then that has become the ‘motto’.

In a sermon in 1996 the then Bishop of Croydon Dr Wilfred Wood encouraged the executive to adopt the St Barnabas as its Patron Saint. This was immediately agreed on. Since then the annual Thanksgiving Service has always been held on the Sunday nearest to the 11th June, which is St Barnabas day. It serves as a reminder that every year you will know, even without a calendar, the date of the Wiffa Thanksgiving Service. This combination of thoughts have ever since been written ‘St Barnabas the Saint of Encouragement’, who promoted an atmosphere ‘With Inspired Fellowship For All wherever he went.

Since then the Association has been operating a drop-in centre at the Vestry Hall weekly, promoting the atmosphere where unity is recognised. Advice and information on most topics can also be obtained.

Albeit temporarily, the Association has been able to acquire accommodation in 2003 in the borough of Merton by way of the partnership use of the refurbished Taylor Road Centre. Amongst other activities are our keep fit classes and social gatherings.

The remodelling and relaunching of our new website in 2004 by Miss Andrea (firstly launched in 2002) has brought us further up to date with new technology.