Action For Race Equality – Windrush Justice Programme has officially launched
Action For Race Equality – Windrush Justice Programme has officially launched
In June 2020 Windrush lawyer and campaigner Jacqueline McKenzie began work to research and explore the landscape for grassroots organisations working on the implications of the Windrush scandal.
The focus of the research was how organisations could be supported to sustain their advocacy and action on Windrush, particularly among communities directly impacted by it. These, mainly small groups and organisations have been leading the work on seeking justice for the victims of the Windrush scandal seeking compensation, and policy change often without funding.
A final report found that there is a huge gap between need and the service provision in areas including: advice; advocacy; community events; service delivery; research; arts; oral history; media engagement: and evaluation.
What’s Different About The Windrush Justice Programme?
Approximately 75% of the funding will be onward granted to organisations which are providing advocacy support to victims of the Windrush scandal, initially across England and Wales, where the main concentration of Windrush victims is situated. The remaining funds will be used to provide organisational development and manage the programme.
The money will enable them to:
- Pay caseworkers to support those needing help, as many are undertaking this work in a voluntary capacity which is not sustainable
- Cover admin costs
- Fund experienced case workers
- Demonstrate they are citizens by accessing the Windrush Task Force to regulate their status
- Access and complete the application for the Windrush compensation scheme
- Signpost to other organisations offering support including signposting more complicated cases to solicitors (providing pro bono support)
- Enable organisations to mobilise more case workers or volunteers to reach more people to support
ARE made a clear commitment to co-designing the programme with the grassroots groups. Their input led to a shift in the application process, moving away from forms to a conversation-based assessment of needs.
In our engagement with people working in small groups, they told us that this funding would be very useful to enable them to:
- Strengthen their fundraising capabilities
- Develop policies that new small organisations need (e.g. safeguarding, data protection)
- Help develop their capacity to manage finances
- Develop processes to support staff/volunteers become regulated immigration advisors as set out by the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner if this is something organisations/individuals wish to achieve.
Click here for more information on the Windrush Justice Programme