Source · Select Committees · Home Affairs Committee
Recommendation 10
10
Accepted
Paragraph: 42
Proactive Home Office trust-building vital for Windrush compensation applicants
Conclusion
Given the continued uncertainty around the number of eligible claimants and the fact that some eligible claimants currently lack the confidence, patience or trust in the Home Office to apply for a scheme administered by the Department, we strongly welcome the removal of the formal end date for the scheme. However, we implore the Home Office to be even more proactive in rebuilding trust with members of the Windrush community.
Government Response Summary
The government highlights its ongoing proactive engagement efforts, including funding grassroots organizations to run awareness events and the £500,000 Community Fund, and states it continues to seek new ways of collaborating with community groups.
Paragraph Reference:
42
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
Since 2019, we have offered funding to grassroots organisations to cover their costs in partnering with us to run awareness-raising events. All information on eligibility for this is available at: Windrush: engagement events – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). Over 200 public outreach and engagement events have been held across the country, and we continue to hold these events, mostly in partnership with local councils and community organisations. The £500,000 Community Fund, which is aimed at supporting grassroots organisations to promote the Windrush Schemes, was launched as a priority as soon as an independent grant administrator could be secured, and relevant commercial matters dealt with. As well as overseeing the monthly monitoring and support sessions provided by the independent grant administrator, we have also bolstered our own support to community groups by sharing material and information helpful to the groups’ project delivery; continuing to engage with groups directly; and we have also arranged future sessions to continue in our support of community groups. Through our proactive engagement we are seeing our relationships with community groups improve as mutual understanding of our respective objectives grow. We hope to continue building on these relationships to enable us to work together on future projects beyond the lifetime of the Community Fund. Details of the organisations funded under Phase 1 of the Community Fund can be found at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/windrush-community-fund-phase-1-projects/ windrush-community-fund-phase-1-projects We continue to look at new ways of working collaboratively with grassroots organisations and community groups, building on their knowledge, insights and trust of their communities, to provide the social interaction needed to raise awareness of the support available to progress applications through the Windrush Schemes, and encourage those who are eligible to come forward and apply.