January 14, 2026
Government Announces £600,000 Boost for Windrush Compensation Support — But Critics Say the System Still Fails Victims
The Home Office has released £600,000 in new funding for community groups helping people navigate the Windrush Compensation Scheme, in what ministers describe as an effort to make the process less “complex and traumatic” for victims of the scandal.
The money forms the second round of the government’s £1.5 million Windrush Compensation Advocacy Support Fund, which pays trusted grassroots organisations to guide claimants through the evidence‑gathering process and provide culturally competent support.
Anthony Brown of WD Legal with Windrush Commissioner (right) and Commissioner's chief of staff - Michael Drew (left) image credit: George Brown
Migration and Citizenship Minister Mike Tapp MP said the government recognises the emotional and bureaucratic burden placed on victims.
“We know that for too many people, the process of making a claim can be complex and traumatic,” he said. “This fund will help ensure that victims receive the justice they deserve.”
The Windrush scandal saw long‑settled Caribbean people wrongly classified as illegal immigrants, leading to job losses, denial of healthcare, financial hardship, and in some cases detention or threats of removal. Many are still fighting for compensation years later, and some have died before receiving anything.
Applications for the new funding round are now open, with virtual information sessions scheduled for 15 and 23 January 2026 and a deadline of 6 February 2026 for community organisations hoping to apply.
Campaigners say the additional support is welcome but warn that the real issue remains the structure of the compensation scheme itself — a system they argue continues to retraumatise the very people it was created to repair.
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