Action for Race Equality (ARE) acknowledges the Home Office’s announcement of the £1.5 million Windrush Compensation Advocacy Support Fund (WCASF), aimed at providing dedicated advocacy support to victims of the Windrush scandal. Our Chief Executive, Jeremy Crook OBE, has issued a statement addressing the significance of this initiative and the essential steps needed to ensure justice for those affected.
“ARE welcomes the announcement of the Windrush Compensation Advocacy Support Fund (WCASF). Survivors of the Home Office Scandal deserve fairer, faster and more just treatment, that reflects the harm they’ve experienced.
As we have learnt from our own Windrush Justice Programme, grassroots civil society organisations are a critical bridge providing vital support to those trying to access the unwieldy and, often re-traumatising, compensation scheme.
However, advocacy support alone is not enough. Data from the Government fact sheet shows that since 2019, the Home Office have received 9,715 applications and from these, have made 5,276 £0 offers. This falls far below success rates of other national compensation schemes. The Windrush Compensation Advocacy Support Fund cannot replace the requirement of legal support to help applicants navigate a legally complex system.
We look forward to working with the incoming Windrush Commissioner to engage with stakeholders, get the scheme right, and improve outcomes for victims.”
– Jeremy Crook, Chief Executive, Action for Race Equality
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