Grants received to raise awareness of Windrush compensation schemes

Paulette Wilson Credit: University of Wolverhampton

West Midlands organisations are set to receive £38k as part of the Windrush Community Fund.

The University of Wolverhampton and Windrush Legal Advice Clinic (WLAC) will receive more than £24,000 to raise awareness of the Windrush Schemes whilst Wellington Road Seniors Community Project in Bilston will receive £14,000.

These are two of 13 organisations to receive funding through the Windrush Community Fund. The £500,000 Windrush Community Fund allows community and grassroots organisations to bid up to £25,000 to deliver projects to help raise awareness of the Windrush Scheme (documentation) and Windrush Compensation Scheme.

The University of Wolverhampton and the WLAC will raise awareness by organising local awareness events run in conjunction with the University’s Art and Law faculties.

The WLAC began in honour of Paulette Wilson, a Wolverhampton-based immigrant who fought her deportation to Jamaica and brought attention to the human rights violations of the Windrush scandal.

The not-for-profit clinic is led by a team of professional volunteers including Bridgett Tatham, a partner in Brown and Jacobson, Jahnel Davis, Paralegal and Judith Tatham.

Degree students from the University of Wolverhampton Law School also work with the campaigners to assist with the triaging of clients.

Maureen Mitchell, the co-founder of the WLAC said: “We are keen to play our part and feel honoured to be able to raise much-needed awareness so that we can help our community across the Black Country secure the compensation they need.”

Wellington Road Seniors Community Project, which was formed by The New Testament Church, will conduct a series of workshops to promote the Schemes. It will help educate members of the Windrush generation and their families regarding the compensation scheme and take them through the process of the application.

Albert Watson from the New Testament Church said: “We are keen to play our part to help those in our community here in Bilston and the Black Country to get the help they need.

“It’s so important that everyone eligible for compensation is able to get it, as it could make a big difference to their lives.”

More than £35m has been paid to 940 members of the Windrush generation since 2019.

Minister for Safe and Legal Migration, Kevin Foster said: “This is another significant landmark and shows we are delivering on our commitment to those who are owed compensation. Since the scheme was overhauled, we have been able to get more money out more quickly.

“However, I know there is more to do and I will not rest until everyone who was wronged by successive governments has received what is now due to them.

“That is why the Community Fund is so important, to increase the number of people we can reach and encourage to apply for compensation.”

This is the second round of funding from the £500,000 Community Fund and the department has worked with the independent grant administrator, Voice4Change-England and the Windrush Working Group on the fund.

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