The stakeholder engagement team within the Windrush Scheme in the UK Home Office is offering grassroots organisations in the North East the opportunity to collaborate to promote awareness on Windrush. The focus is primarily on any nationalities affected by the Windrush scandal including South Asian, East Asian, African and Caribbean communities.
In 2018 when the Windrush Scandal came to light, the Windrush Engagement team was set up to work with the community and reach out to the people who were impacted. This entails working collaboratively with grassroot organisations to have discussions about how the Windrush scandal came about, who it impacted and what action was taken by the Home Office to right the wrongs.
They have been attending events up and down the country along with being part of other media campaigns. The Windrush Help and Engagement Team can support stakeholders in a number of ways. Past events the team have supported with include:
- Information presentations: explaining about the Windrush Documentation scheme and Compensation schemes. Who is eligible for both schemes. What categories can be claimed for under the Compensation scheme.
- Q&A session: This general follows the information presentation where we allow the audience to ask questions about the schemes. Personal cases are encouraged to be addressed separately in a 1:1 with a member of the team.
- Information stands: A tabletop event in which leaflets, applications about the scheme are available. Members of the team are available to answer questions about both the Documentation and Compensation schemes.
- Consultations: Members of the team are available to talk with current/potential claimants privately and answer questions.
- Advocacy training: Training sessions for individuals who are active in assisting Windrush customers in making application to the scheme.
If you are a grassroots organisation supporting the communities affected, email the team at wcsstakeholder@homeoffice.gov.uk to find out what support you can access.
Click here for more information about the UK Government’s Windrush scheme