Guyanese Community in Birmingham

Where they come from

Guyana lies on the north coast of South America and is culturally part of the Caribbean. It is home to rainforests, great rivers and Kaieteur Falls, one of the world's most powerful waterfalls. Many Guyanese came to Britain in the 1950s and 1960s, and others have followed as students and professionals.

The community in numbers

At the 2021 Census, out of a city population of 1,144,919, 2,281 people living in the city had been born in South America, a group that includes Guyana.

Working for Birmingham

Guyanese residents work in healthcare, education, social care, engineering and business, and many of the first arrivals worked as nurses and in transport. Their children and grandchildren serve the city as doctors, teachers, lawyers and public servants.

Healthcare, education and the skilled trades are three of the pillars of the city's economy. The NHS is one of Birmingham's biggest employers, its universities teach tens of thousands of students, and there is steady demand for electricians, plumbers, carpenters, decorators and handymen in every neighbourhood, alongside business, transport, hospitality, retail and the city's growing digital and creative industries. People from every background keep these sectors running, and the Guyanese community shares in that effort.

Culture and community life

Pepperpot, a slow-cooked meat stew, is the national dish, eaten especially at Christmas. Mashramani, the republic day carnival in February, and Diwali and Phagwah, celebrated by Indo-Guyanese families, are joyful festivals. Cricket is a passion.

For anyone who wants to learn more, the best introduction is the simplest one: say hello. Birmingham's communities are at their best when they meet, share food and learn from one another, and the Guyanese community is a warm part of that everyday exchange.