Blogs
Reggae on the Bay! – We salute our partners
Posted on 01st June 2026 0

We are hosting a free community event for 500+ people on a protected National Trust beach.No permanent infrastructure. No fixed power supply. Access via a single ferry crossing. Everything — stage, PA, marquees, barriers, first aid, signage — arrives on the morning and leaves the same evening. And we do it all for the community.

Reggae on the Bay returns for its second year on Sunday 21st June 2026 at Shell Bay Beach, Dorset — a free, open-access celebration of 78 years of Windrush arrival, delivered by **Afro*Disiac Live Radio CIC**.

This is not a standard festival. It is a community-led cultural event, free to attend and built on the belief that African – Caribbean heritage deserves to be celebrated openly, joyfully, and without financial barriers — on one of the most beautiful stretches of coastline in England.

THE CHALLENGE OF THE BEACH

Shell Bay is a protected natural environment. It is not an event venue. There are no power points, no loading bays, no back-of-house areas. The site sits behind sand dunes at the end of a narrow road, accessible only by the Sandbanks Ferry.

Running an event here to professional standards — with SIA-licensed security, qualified first aid teams, sound management within strict decibel limits, crowd control systems, environmental protection zones, safeguarding protocols, and full emergency procedures — requires a level of planning and partnership that goes far beyond what most free events attempt.We are proud that we do it properly. And we can only do it properly because of the organisations and individuals who stand alongside us.

BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS — THE PEOPLE WHO MADE IT HAPPEN

Getting an event like this onto National Trust land does not happen overnight. It requires trust, patience, and the right people on both sides of the conversation.

We want to pay particular tribute to Tom Clark, Senior Volunteering and Community Manager at the National Trust, and Jamie, Senior Visitor Experience Officer at the National Trust, who have been instrumental in making this partnership a reality. Their belief in what this event represents — and their willingness to work with us to navigate the complexities of delivering it in a protected coastal environment — has been genuinely transformative. They have helped break down barriers that might otherwise have kept this event from ever happening.

This is what meaningful institutional partnership looks like in practice. Not a logo on a banner — but two people sitting at a table and finding a way to make something possible.

OUR CONFIRMED PARTNERS FOR 2026

We are grateful to the following organisations for their commitment to this year’s event:

  • National Trust — site stewardship, environmental guidance, and guided nature walks linking African-Caribbean storytelling to the Dorset coastline
  • Arts Council England — cultural funding that sustains the free-access model
  • Home Office Windrush Customer Support & Engagement Team — on-site provision of Windrush Compensation Scheme information, ensuring attendees can access support they may be entitled to
  • RNLI — water safety provision and on-site consultations, keeping our community safe on the coastline
  • Duppy Share — cultural and event partnership
  • Turtle Bay — community partnership and support
  • Our Family Affair — organising coach travel from London and surrounding areas, ensuring the event is genuinely accessible beyond Dorset

WHAT THIS PARTNERSHIP MAKES POSSIBLE

This year’s programme includes:

  • Live music and bar on the beach — celebrating the sounds and cultural legacy of Windrush
  • Windrush Deck Chair Conversations — capturing stories from the Windrush generation
  • Drumming workshops and cultural activities open to all ages
  • Windrush Poetry
  • National Trust guided nature walk along the Dorset coastline
  • RNLI water safety session and consultations
  • Dance workshops and cultural food stalls
  • Dominos mini competition
  • Beach games for families
  • Windrush Compensation Scheme information point — staffed by the Home Office engagement team
  • All of it on the beach. All of it for the community.
  “As a third-generation member of a Windrush family, this event means everything to me. Standing on that beach, watching people connect with their heritage, their history, and each other — that is why we do this. Every challenge we overcome to make this happen is worth it. This is our story, told on our terms, in one of the most beautiful places in England.”

 Rachel Kasujja, Stage Operations Manager — Afro*Disiac Live Radio CIC

If your organisation shares our commitment to cultural access, community heritage, and inclusive events — and would like to explore a partnership for 2026 or beyond — we would love to hear from you.

Free tickets and community membership at reggaeonthebay.co.uk