Recommendation 12

HM Government Deferred

We are committed to maximising our reach to both Caribbean and non-Caribbean communities. From the outset, we have held engagement events in partnership with key stakeholders and networks in both Caribbean and non-Caribbean communities. Most recently an event was held with the Birmingham Commonwealth Association whose strong links to academia, businesses, and individuals from across the Commonwealth help to increase our reach into impacted communities. As part of our work to look beyond the Caribbean, Home Office analysis has identified five priority countries wider than the Caribbean – India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Ghana and Nigeria that we are particularly keen to focus on and we are taking forward work with those communities. In August 2020 we launched a national communications campaign targeting African, South Asian and Caribbean communities. Activity included recruitment of campaign ambassadors to reach individuals from across these target communities; and advertising and bespoke partnership activity in multiple languages with over 30 diaspora media outlets. The campaign reached over 12 million people and awareness of Government support on Windrush among African communities rose from 18% to 89%; and increased by 25% among South Asian communities to 78% (Omnibus survey, BMG/Britain Thinks, March/Dec 2020). The next phase of activity is currently in development following insight research with participants from South Asian, African and Caribbean communities. The campaign will raise awareness of eligibility and tackle misconceptions about the Compensation Scheme, especially for South Asian and African communities who are less likely to be aware that they could apply. It will include tailored activity, such as video, radio and online community content, shared across diaspora media channels, and will be supported by trusted community voices. We are also recontacting individuals from all communities who have been granted documentation under the Windrush Scheme but who have not yet applied for compensation to signpost them to the Compensation Scheme and urge them to consider applying. Our communications media continue to seek to reach and resonate with communities beyond the Caribbean, exemplified by a recent video case study featuring a compensation recipient who had arrived in the UK from Ghana as a child. New communication materials, including a partner pack which contains materials and adverts that can be used by others, feature diverse photography and will be translated into a range of languages. As well as engaging UK partners, we are working with British High Commissions overseas to support them in using the materials across local channels and raise awareness of the Compensation Scheme among their networks who can signpost support. These materials can be found at: UK Partner Pack Overseas Partner Pack We have engaged with High Commissions of priority countries, including the Caribbean countries, and offered bespoke staff awareness sessions on the Schemes so officials can use their networks to reach impacted communities and encourage individuals to apply to the Schemes, particularly those who may now live overseas. We have also delivered a staff awareness session to officials in India, and a further session has been organised and advertised for officials in other countries, including Pakistan. We are conscious of the need to ensure that our outreach activity remains as effective as possible, and all outreach projects supported through the Community Fund will be evaluated once project delivery is completed. We have appointed an independent grant administrator to formally and independently evaluate projects to assess whether and to what extent they have met Community Fund objectives, and to assess their impact on affected communities. In addition, once the Community Fund is closed, around Summer 2023, we will begin our own evaluation of the Community Fund to assess and evaluate its effectiveness in engaging with communities and promoting awareness of the Scheme.