Digital initiative aims to help people understand what support is available to them

Credit: PA/PA Archive/PA Images

The Home Office is to host online engagement events to help those affected by the Windrush scandal access support and advice in obtaining compensation.

Before the UK went into lockdown, the department claimed that it regularly held physical events around the country at which Windrush victims could talk to officials from the department’s Commonwealth Citizens’ Taskforce and the government Windrush Compensation Scheme, who would provide advice on available support and compensation, and how to access it. These events were put together with the support of local community groups or charities and were typically hosted place in places of worship or local-authority facilities.

Having been suspended in the wake of the coronavirus crisis, they will restart in digital form later this month.

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The Home Office said that it “will work closely with stakeholders who will host or co-host the events using their own online conferencing channels, and manage any registration for the event”.

It added: “This will be guided by stakeholders, who will identify the most effective platforms for the communities they work with, subject to those channels meeting security requirements.”

The Home Office will call on its charity and community partners to help raise awareness of the events, and will also promote them via social media.

Home secretary Priti Patel said: “Reaching all those affected by Windrush is a priority and these online events make sure that the vital outreach and engagement on Windrush continues during the pandemic. This will help ensure that all those who need help applying for compensation or to the Windrush Taskforce can continue to get any support they need.”

The government said it hopes to return to hosting physical events to support Windrush victims as soon as it is safe to do so. 

In the meantime, details of digital events will be published here.

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