The scandal which set off in 2018 has led to a number of people being wrongly detained, denied legal rights and deported. There are now close to 600,000 citizens from the commonwealths over the UK who are unsure what will happen to them as the days pass.
Desmond Jaddoo, the founder and chair of the Windrush foundation UK, is hosting a tour across the West Midlands, helping those who are unsure of their status in the UK and providing free legal advice. The tour starts on the 7thOctober, until the 18thNovember. The tour reaches those in Wolverhampton, Birmingham, West Bromwich, Coventry and Solihull.
“The Afro and Caribbean community suffer the lack of strong political representation and a voice... a constructive voice.”
Desmond, along with the rest of the Winsdrush Movement UK team, are working with the Home office to advise those affected of the compensation scheme and help them in the process of their status. There is 1:1 sessions available which provide, not only free legal advice, but a chance to talk openly about their experience with Windrush, to assess what the next steps are.
Around 50-100+ people attend these meetings, a mix between those affected personally by Windrush and those who want to help- “I call them the messengers and they are some of the most important people.”
The sessions that the tour provide are surrounded by “trusted faces” from the Home Office. Desmond states “it’s about encouraging people to turn up with no fear of being detained.” The meetings provide a community and safety net for those who live in fear. The West Midlands tour is a chance to “report what has gone wrong, but report on the remedies put in place as well.”
Within the areas that the Windrush Movement UK has already held these meetings at, Desmond and the team have been able to provide accommodation locally for those struggling and have not yet been helped through the compensation scheme. The organisation’s aim is to “help everyone with absolutely anything.”