COMMUNITY AND faith leaders are being brought together by the Home Secretary to advise on how the department can maximise the number of people applying to the Windrush Compensation Scheme.

The Home Secretary will co-chair a meeting of community leaders today (Sept 26), alongside Martin Forde QC, the independent adviser on the design of the Windrush Compensation Scheme.

Those attending the roundtable will be invited to join a Windrush Advisory Group, which will meet regularly with senior officials in the Home Office.

The group will aim to build trust with the affected communities so that people of all nationalities come forward to claim compensation.

It will also play a vital role in advising and shaping the Home Office’s ongoing outreach and engagement strategy on the Windrush compensation scheme.

Home Secretary, Priti Patel said: “The Windrush generation were failed by successive Governments and I want to ensure we reach all those affected through the Windrush Compensation Scheme through direct community engagement.

“This is why I am enlisting trusted faith and community leaders from across the UK to raise awareness of the support available and to work with us directly on delivering this scheme.

“By working hand in hand with our community partners the Government will be able to provide the essential support to members of the Windrush generation and address the suffering experienced by many people across a range of communities.”

Martin Forde QC, independent advisor on the Windrush Compensation Scheme said: “There have been a number of misleading claims made about the Compensation Scheme, but these could not be further from the truth. The Scheme has been designed to be easy to use, generous and sympathetic to the experiences of those who suffered.

“So my message is clear, if you feel you have suffered in any way please come forward and make a claim.”

The Home Secretary and Martin Forde will stress the importance for all those who have suffered to come forward so they can be helped to evidence their status in the UK and to engage with the compensation scheme.

The Home Secretary also plans to emphasise to community leaders that Immigration Enforcement will not take action against an individual as a result of them coming forward to the Taskforce or applying for the Windrush Compensation Scheme.

The Windrush Compensation Scheme was launched in April this year to provide payments to eligible individuals who did not have the right documentation to prove their status in the UK and suffered adverse effects on their life as a result.

It is open to almost anyone from a Commonwealth country who arrived and settled in the UK before 1973. Certain children and grandchildren of those arriving before 1973 and some close family members may also be eligible to apply.

It is also open to anyone from any nationality who has the right to live or work in the UK without any restrictions or is now a British Citizen, and arrived in the UK before 31 December 1988.

Individuals can apply to the Windrush Compensation Scheme by downloading the claim form from http://www.gov.uk/windrush-compensation.