Windrush Justice Fund: Restoring Dignity & Rights

Aim: Having provided assistance to several people abroad, we are concerned that many more are still out there and need our help...

Help us secure justice for those affected by the Windrush scandal. Your contributions will support legal assistance, advocacy, and community outreach in the Caribbean, ensuring that those affected receive the recognition and reparations they deserve. Stand with us to help reclaim their right, honour their legacy and fight for equality and justice. Every donation counts—let’s stand together and make a difference!

WINDRUSH SURGERIES IN THE CARIBBEAN

In January 2025, a team of pro bono lawyers and advisers will be flying out to Barbados, for what will be the first of several Windrush surgeries planned for 2025 across the Caribbean, to provide on the ground help and support to individuals and families that have been affected by the UK Home Office’s hostile environment policies. We are aware that many people were deported, or asked to leave the UK voluntary, because they were wrongly classed as illegal. Some travelled on holiday and were prohibited to re-enter the UK, so were forced to start a new life abroad. 

Having provided assistance to several people abroad, we are concerned that many more are still out there and need our help, either to return to the UK or to apply for compensation for the losses and injustices they have suffered. The aim of these ‘roadshows’ in the Caribbean will be to provide information about both the Windrush Documentation Scheme and the Windrush Compensation Scheme; providing guidance on how to apply and to help people gather the evidence needed to submit their application.

Our team will be away for a period of 10 days, holding drop-in clinics in various locations and venues across the Barbadian island. We are being supported by members of the Barbados Senate, who will accompany us during our time there. We will be airing on the radio and TV, giving out flyers and using word of mouth to promote and inform citizens of the work we do, inviting those in need to meet with us at the drop-in clinics, where we will offer our assistance in fighting their cases.

WHO WE ARE

United Legal Access is a legal and social justice organisation that provides legal support in the community, with a focus on providing legal assistance, legal education and advocating on behalf of individuals from the global majority community and diaspora, as well as individuals who are often disadvantaged, marginalised and face discrimination usually due to policies and laws that prejudice them. 

One of the projects we have been running since August 2019, is the Windrush Justice Project, which is a pro bono project supporting people from Commonwealth countries, seeking redress for the injustices they have experienced due to the Home Office’s hostile environment policies.

ULA team at a recent Windrush info session at the Barbados High Commission in London

ULA team and Bonnie, pro bono manager for one of our pro bono partner law firms

BACKGROUND

The Windrush Generation were members of Caribbean Commonwealth countries, who were invited by the British government, after the war in 1945, to help rebuild the country – where they would be able to live and work. During and following the World War II, there was an increase in migration to the UK from the British Caribbean Colonies, the most notable period of this type of movement was between 1948 and 1973. These were known as the “Windrush Years”, named after the ship that brought them, the HMT Empire Windrush, to the Tilbury Docks Essex.

Although and Act of Parliament from 1971 entitled people from the Commonwealth, who arrived before 1973 to the “right of abode” or “deemed leave” to remain in the UK, it hadn’t automatically given them documents to prove it.  Nor had the Home Office consistently kept records confirming their status.  So, without making a further application and paying a fee, they had no way to show the UK was their rightful home even though, in most cases, they had known no other. Some of those who arrived in the country were children who arrived on their parents’ passports, however, as the Home Office destroyed thousands of landing cards and other records, many of them lacked the documentation to prove their right to remain in the UK.

Following the Home Office’s hostile environment policy, a series of measures that made it difficult for people without legal status to remain in the country, many of them were falsely classified as illegal immigrants. People who had lived in the UK lawfully for decades were made to feel like criminals, made to question their identity, and in some cases made destitute and separated from their families. Some lost their jobs, access to housing, healthcare, bank accounts, driving licenses and much more. Many were detained, deported and refused entry back into the UK after visiting their relatives in the Caribbean, forcing them to live in countries they had not known their entire life and separated from their families – though they had done nothing wrong; some were even told that “they did not exist”. 

“An unjust law is no law at all.” ~ St Augustine of Hippo

THE SCHEMES AVAILABLE FOR REDRESS                                                      

The Windrush Documentation Scheme was formed in 2018 and helps long resident Commonwealth citizen migrants to regularise their immigration status confirming their right to remain or to apply for British Citizenship. The Windrush Compensation Scheme, formed in 2019, is intended to provide redress for certain losses and detriment experienced by those who had difficulty proving their lawful status in the UK. 

Even though some people could complete an application by themselves, the requirement to provide evidence, information and write statements to support a claim has been an exhaustive and difficult task for many to do. With our legal experience, we help them build a solid case to ensure they claim the compensation they are entitled to and are properly compensated for their loses. 

ULA volunteers at Windrush Info Session in Reading

 ULA Windrush Info Session with the Home Office Engagement Team in Croydon

ULA and Reading Windrush Alliance Windrush Session in Reading

WHAT WE HAVE DONE SO FAR

Since we started the Windrush Justice Project in August 2019, we have reached out to over 315 people through legal education presentations and workshops in the community and have helped 97 people to receive documentation and apply for compensation. So far, a total of £1.4m in compensation has been awarded to 33 of the claimants we have helped. The others are awaiting a final award decision. The number of claimants coming forward continues to increase as they learn about our work.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

We are raising funds to cover the cost of the flights to the Barbados and our accommodation during our time there. Along with the fees associated with flying out to the Caribbean, we also require assistance to help fund the time that will be spent on cases during the trip and on our return. On average, we spend 15 hours on each case from the first initial contact to submitting the claim and receiving a final award offer. In terms of costs this equates to £1,575 per case (covering the role of a caseworker, supervising solicitor and the legal administrator involved in the case). We are seeking sponsors to help fund at least one case or inviting you to give according to your willingness and means.

There are a few rewards we have been able to offer our supporters, which you can learn more about on this page. Please note, there are only a limited number of rewards, which can be claimed on a first come first serve basis. There will be more rewarded added as they become available, but this is not guaranteed. 

WANT TO SUPPORT OUR WORK BEYOND OUR CURRENT INITIATIVE?

If you are interested in our cause, would like to partner with us or provide regular financial support for projects like this one – please email Sibon Phiri-Twaibu at [email protected] – we would love to hear from you.

Or visit our website at www.unitedlegalaccess.com for more information. 

We hope we can count on your support!