News story

Windrush Compensation Scheme and taskforce community events

To raise awareness of the Windrush Compensation Scheme a series of community events will be held across the country.

A group of people.

The Home Office is to hold a series of public events around the country, reaching those who have been negatively impacted by Windrush and ensuring they are aware of the help that is available to them.

This will be the 2nd part of an extensive engagement programme, having already held 17 events across the country between April and June 2019.

Over the next year, events will be held in Lewisham, Wolverhampton, Liverpool, Sandwell, Leeds and Southwark, among other locations. The Home Office is also attending some events in partnership with, and arranged by external partners, in Telford, Ilford, Stoke-upon-Trent and Essex among others.

Immigration Minister Seema Kennedy said:

We are determined to right the wrongs of successive governments and that’s why our taskforce will travel to events across the country, from Liverpool to Lewisham, giving hands-on advice and support.

The scheme has been designed to be as generous as possible and so I would urge anyone who thinks they may have been affected to attend an event and find out more.

The events are aimed at affected individuals, community leaders, lawyers, charities and support groups. Members of the Commonwealth Citizens’ taskforce will offer practical information on the Windrush Compensation Scheme in addition to help and support on how to make a claim.

The Windrush Compensation Scheme was launched in April this year to provide payments to eligible individuals who did not have the right documentation to prove their status in the UK and suffered adverse effects on their life as a result.

It is open to almost anyone from a Commonwealth country who arrived and settled in the UK before 1973. Certain children and grandchildren of those arriving before 1973 and some close family members may also be eligible to apply.

It is also open to anyone from any nationality who has the right to live or work in the UK without any restrictions or is now a British Citizen, and arrived in the UK before 31 December 1988.

You can read more information on Windrush Compensation Scheme community events, the Windrush Compensation Scheme and how to apply on the Windrush Compensation Scheme page.

Published 2 September 2019