Trinidadian & Tobagonian Community in Birmingham

Where they come from

Trinidad and Tobago is a twin-island nation at the southern end of the Caribbean, just off the coast of Venezuela. Its people have African, Indian, Chinese, European and Middle Eastern roots. English is the official language. Many Trinidadians came to Britain in the Windrush era, and others have come since as professionals and students.

The community in numbers

At the 2021 Census, out of a city population of 1,144,919, 4,460 people living in the city had been born in Caribbean countries other than Jamaica, a group that includes Trinidad and Tobago.

Working for Birmingham

Trinidadians and Tobagonians work in healthcare, education, engineering, finance and the arts across Birmingham. Trinidad's oil and gas industry has given many Trinidadians engineering skills, and the community has produced teachers, nurses and artists who serve the city.

Much of the work that keeps Birmingham moving happens out of sight: the night shift on a hospital ward, the early start on a building site, the plumber who fixes a boiler on a winter evening, the teaching assistant who helps a child learn to read. People from every community in the city do these jobs, and Trinidadian & Tobagonian residents are part of that everyday effort to make Birmingham a better place to live.

Culture and community life

The steelpan, invented in Trinidad, is often said to be the only acoustic instrument invented in the 20th century, and Trinidad's carnival is one of the greatest in the world. Doubles, roti and pelau are favourite dishes. In 1994, Trinidad's Brian Lara scored a world record 501 not out for Warwickshire at Edgbaston.

Birmingham's strength lies in its variety, and the Trinidadian & Tobagonian community is a welcome part of it. As the city continues to grow and change, that contribution will remain part of the story of a place that has always looked forward.