Yvonne Bowling, Co-Chair of the Diocesan Racial Justice Advocates Group, recently attended a conference organised by the Windrush National Organisation. The conference brought together stakeholders, representatives from the Home Office and faith leaders to look at the Windrush Compensation Scheme. The scheme, which is operated by the Home Office is meant to compensate those whose lives have been impacted by the Windrush Scandal.
Delegates heard how the Home Office’s historic immigration policy, where race had been a significant factor, had put many families through years, and in some cases, decades of misery – broken families, shattered careers as well as being denied access to healthcare. Meanwhile those who were wrongly deported or detained say the way they have been mistreated is unforgivable. This has resulted in a deep lack of trust between the affected communities and the Home Office.
The government’s compensation scheme has also been heavily criticised with victims claiming it is taking too long to access the financial support they were promised.
A Home Office team made a presentation at the conference in which they emphasised that they are trying to rebuild trust and make the scheme better. However, they said, “sometimes people do not want to speak to us, but we understand it’s about trust…we need to work together; we need to start from somewhere and make a difference. We are working on new strategies to help bereaved families”.
In a video address, Under-Secretary of State for Migration and Citizenship Seema Malhotra promised to reset and deliver change to put things right for victims of the scandal. “We will ensure that those affected receive the compensation that they deserve.”
Yvonne reflected: “What the Windrush National Organisation is doing is incredible. Maybe they could visit the Diocese of York in the future. It would be an important step forward in our work for them to see what we are doing.
“At the conference we heard a damning indictment of past Home Office immigration policy. Many Caribbean migrants have lost faith and fear the UK immigration system.
“It is my impression that there is a major change of heart within the Home Office which they plan to convert into action and rebuild trust in the damaged community, working with partners such as the Diocese of York.
“I have been liaising with members of the Home Office team and listening to them put in place new plans. I see change coming from the Home Office; they are also looking at ways of speeding up the compensation scheme”.
The Racial Justice Advocates Group was set up to following the landmark 2021 report From Lament to Action on tackling racism within the Church of England. A team of Racial Justice Advocates work across the Diocese of York. They have published a Racial Justice Charter and supported the roll out of Racism and Unconscious Bias training for clergy, staff and laity across the diocese.
