COLD ISLANDERS

About

Cold Islanders is a UK based community initiative that curates events for and with the Caribbean community.

From the beginning, Cold Islanders has been driven by the goal to create, hold and nourish community spaces. This is through our programme of events created to encourage collective learning; such as through the likes of panel talks, creation; art classes, and connection; facilitated wellness spaces and intention setting dinners.

Community

Creativity

Care

Upcoming events

  • Book Club

    Saturday 26th October, 11-12pm at Holborn Library

    Join us at Bloomsbury Festival for a book club exploring 'The Mermaid of Black Conch' by Monique Roffey

    More info

  • Book Club

    Sunday 3rd November, 2-3pm at St Pancras Library 

    Join us at Bloomsbury Festival for a book club exploring ‘The Mermaid of Black Conch’ by Monique Roffey.

    More info

Want to get involved?

If you’re a venue, organisation or individual who would like to get involved in any capacity, drop Tamera a message. We exist because of our community and are eager to connect with more people who can help support and benefit from Cold Islanders.

Previous events

Folklore Storytelling

On a surprisingly sunny autumn day we headed to the library for a folklore storytelling sessions, where we read extracts of our favourite stories and explored the history of traditional carnival characters.

Thanks to Sean Reilly, Holborn Library, Stuart Keegan and Bloomsbury Festival for your collaboration!

Intention setting dinner

In the new year Cold Islanders invited Caribbean women to join us at a local restaurant for a dinner party focused around intention setting for the year ahead.

Thanks to No.63, Dalston for hosting us!

Cold Islanders Film Club

Over the summer 2024 Cold Islanders hosted a trio of film clubs where we gathered to watch The Harder They Come, Dancehall Queen and a selection of short films by local Caribbean filmmakers followed by a Q&A. 

London’s Screen Archives joined at each screening to share a trailer of their new ‘Undocumented’ project in partnership with The New Black Film Collective. Windrush Justice Clinic also joined Cold Islanders on the final evening to talk about the work they’re doing to help victims of the hostile immigration environment receive the compensation they deserve.


Thanks to Film London & Girl Dreamer for helping to fund the vision, The Orange Room for hosting us 🍊& Theo Angus for the snaps 📸

Black Adoption: A call to the community panel talk

We gathered with a panel of black adopters, adoptees and social workers to discuss the adoption process and why we need more black adopters.

Thanks to Holy Cross Church St. Pancras, Bernadette, Alison, Tiger-lilly,Christelle and Lou for your support and knowledge!

Community lunch and theatre trip

We partnered with Stratford East for an afternoon of food, domino’s, card games, DJ and free tickets to ‘The Big Life’!

Thanks to @poetic.phot, @djlongers, Nailah Cumberbatch
and @islandvibezkitchen for providing vibes, food and photos.

"You can see time and care put into this."

"Amazing, especially loved carnival characters and reading list."

"You can see time and care put into this." "Amazing, especially loved carnival characters and reading list."

"The atmosphere is wonderful, with everyone around us enjoying the event."

"I love the community spirit and coming together."

"The atmosphere is wonderful, with everyone around us enjoying the event." "I love the community spirit and coming together."

Follow our journey

Cold Islanders hosted an intimate gathering of poetry with @n1colereads at the launch of this years @bloomsburyfestival 🤩 Amid the hustle and bustle of a jam-packed evening at @conwayhall a few of us snuck away to the library to nestle into the s
Did someone say… book club? 👀 Yes yes, Cold Islanders is doing a one-off book club for @bloomsburyfestival because what’s better than gathering in a cosy library in autumn to share our love of literature. It’s a book that captur
A just like that Cold Islanders first film series celebrating Caribbean cinema has come to a close! From the stream of laugher and entertaining commentary throughout Dancehall Queen, people dressed to the T for The Harder They Come, tears shed during
Cold Islanders Film Club with… Tshelane Reid, a non-binary director, screenwriter and assistant director. They are interested in creating unique and innovative storytelling experiences that delve into societal issues and offer critical commen
Cold Islanders Film Club with Monique Needham, a British / Jamaican writer and director, born and raised in London. Passionate about broadening the type of stories told about her community. She was selected by Warner Bros Discovery to be a part of
Cold Islanders Film Club with… Remi Moses, a graduate from The London Film School, Remi is a black British born filmmaker who likes to tell stories about disability, invisible illnesses/struggles, and intimately complicated queer relationshi
Cold Islanders Film Club with… Danny Bailey, a multidisciplinary artist & a professional performer, using film and performance to empower underprivileged communities and promote inclusivity in the arts. He showcases experimental films
Cold Islanders Film Club with: Kasey-Anais Blondell, a writer and director born and raised in East London. Kasey is particularly interested in exploring the intersections of mental health, womanhood and identity in her films. Her cinematic focus is
Our final Film Club of the season is celebrating the works of local Caribbean filmmakers! Join us in a screening of five short films followed by a Q&A 🙌🏾 👉🏾 6th August, 7.30pm @the0rangeroom 🎫 £5.50, book via the link in our bio
One week till our next screening! This time of Dancehall Queen 👸🏾 You know the drill! Links in bio for your ticks, meet at @the0rangeroom for a 7pm start and feel free to hang afterwards for a drink and chat. 😌
Part 2 of our summer film series is Dancehall Queen! If you’ve never actually watched this movie outside of your living room, now is the time to roll through and watch Dancehall Queen with other film enthusiasts! 📍@the0rangeroom 📍16th July