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Tag: compensation scheme

  • Black Equity Organisation launches the first directory of organisations to support victims of the Windrush Scandal

    PRESS RELEASE

    Source: Black Equity Organisation (press@blackequityorg.com)

    Hundreds of lives were shattered in the wake of the Windrush Scandal in 2018, jobs and homes lost, people being threatened with removal, and many others forced back to countries they hadn’t lived in since childhood. 

    Sadly, the very schemes – Windrush Scandal Compensation Scheme and Windrush Status Scheme – that were set up to compensate victims and address the government’s failure have compounded the stress of many of the victims, as the processes and requirements of the schemes are complex and difficult to navigate.

    Today, Black Equity Organisation (BEO) launches the UK’s first online Windrush Support Directory, Windrush Compensation Support Directory – BEO a centralised resource designed to help victims find trusted support to secure the compensation to which they are entitled.

    The directory brings together organisations and individuals spread across the country that can help claimants with their Windrush applications. From community organisations, Law Centres, University Legal Clinics and law firms, they can get the advice, support, or representation they need.

    Kehinde Adeogun, Director of Legal Services and Policy Black Equity Organisation said:

    “A recurring issue we see in our work on the Windrush scandal is the lack of a single, accessible place where people can find the support they need. Too often, claimants spend hours navigating fragmented information online. This directory is designed to change that, providing a clear, reliable route to support and helping to ease the burden on those already affected. We will continue to expand and update it over time.”

    Hosted on BEO’s website,Windrush Compensation Support Directory – BEO  the directory features an interactive map and user-friendly search tools. Users can enter their postcode, select the type of support they need, and set a travel distance to find relevant services. It is set up to help people who are making an initial Windrush Scheme application, challenging a compensation award at Tier 1 or Tier 2, or making a complaint to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman. The directory also highlights organisations offering remote advice and support, ensuring accessibility for those unable to travel.

    Independent Windrush Commissioner, Clive Foster said:

     “Behind every claim is a person, and a family, whose life has been turned upside down by the Home Office Windrush scandal. Too many have been left to navigate a complex and distressing process without the support they need.

     “BEO’s directory addresses a real and longstanding gap, bringing trusted advice and legal support together in one place for the first time. I would encourage anyone affected who has not yet accessed support, or who is struggling with their claim, to use it. Help is out there, and this makes it easier to find.”

    BEO hopes the directory will support the thousands of people affected by the Windrush scandal, improving access to justice and enabling more individuals to secure the compensation they deserve.

    Windrush Compensation Support Directory – BEO

  • NAO report on government compensation and financial recognition schemes

    STATEMENT OF RESPONSE

    Last week, the National Audit Office published its report on Government’s Compensation and Financial Recognition Schemes. I welcome this independent scrutiny, and I am grateful to the NAO for engaging directly with my office, and with community organisations during its preparation.

    The report highlights some genuine progress. Processing times have improved significantly, from an average of 14 months in 2020 to five months by 2025, with 62% of eligible claims now receiving a decision within three months. The single caseworker model has helped deliver a more consistent experience, though community groups continue to raise concerns about cultural understanding and empathy, which I will continue to monitor.

    However, there remains significant progress to be made. Forty-two claims have been in progress for over a year. For those individuals, many of whom may be older, that is simply too long. I have consistently raised that the proportion of nil awards, which account for 56% of concluded claims, and the risk this poses of retraumatising claimants and undermining trust in the scheme. The NAO’s report reflects those concerns. My office will undertake a sample-based review of nil-award decisions to understand what factors are contributing to these outcomes, identify trends, and develop proposals to achieve meaningful reductions. I will share findings with the Home Office and directly with affected communities in due course.

    The NAO notes reports that some cases initially refused were later reconsidered and compensation awarded following further engagement by solicitors. This suggests that access to appropriate support can have a meaningful impact on outcomes. While recent advocacy funding is welcome, there remains scope to strengthen provision, especially for those navigating reviews and more complex claims. Comparable compensation schemes have funded legal support, and I believe targeted, proportionate legal assistance would benefit claimants, improve the quality of applications, reduce the incidence of nil awards, and help limit costly and avoidable reviews.

    The Windrush generation deserves a compensation scheme they can trust and that delivers for them. There has been progress, but more must be done, and I will continue to hold the government to account until that happens.