Ageing while Black The experiences of Black Caribbean older people in England
Published on 1 September, 2025.
The Black Caribbean population is one of the oldest ethnic groups in the UK today. The ‘Windrush generation’ and their children are now in or entering older age. But ageing among people of Black Caribbean heritage – and other Black and minoritised ethnic groups in the UK – is under-researched and poorly understood by policymakers. Taking a life course approach, this report considers how people of Black Caribbean heritage age 50+ experience older age in England. In particular, it looks at how racism, discrimination and inequality accumulate across the life course and impact on older age, in relation to financial security, health and wellbeing. Drawing on qualitative interviews and focus groups with older Black Caribbean people, the report highlights some of the ways in which these processes lead to poorer health outcomes, reduced financial security, and create barriers to accessing essential public services. These in turn may also be compounded by ageist attitudes and age discrimination. We hope this report will inspire more governmental bodies, as well as researchers and community groups to think through these issues and develop solutions. It’s clear to us that more action is needed to ensure that older people of Black Caribbean heritage are able to age well in our society.