New project launched to help Windrush residents in Northampton

The project has been launched to help residents who were members of the Windrush generation. Photo by Chris J Ratcliffe.

Northamptonshire Rights and Equality Council (NREC) launched the project on Monday (June 1) to help those people who arrived from the Caribbean, and other Commonwealth countries, in the 1960s, ’70s and ’80s.

The project will help those in need who wish to sort out their nationality status and obtain proof that confirms they can stay in the UK.

It comes two years after the Windrush scandal, in which thousands of people were affected by the Government’s new ‘hostile environment’ policy which was designed to make it more difficult for illegal immigrants to remain in the UK.

But a sizeable number of the Windrush generation – named after the ship on which citizens first arrived from the Carribean in 1948 – were affected despite having the right to stay in the UK. Some were wrongly deported, wrongly detained, lost homes, lost jobs or were refused healthcare, pensions and access to social security.

Paul Crofts, a board member of NREC, said: “This project is aimed at people who may not have sought advice or help in the past. This is about raising awareness that there’s a project which can provide free advice and support for people who want to check their status.”

The project is being financially supported by the Windrush Justice Fund and NREC is also working in partnership with Central and East Northamptonshire Citizens Advice.

Anyone who wants to seek advice and support to make an application under the government’s Windrush Scheme, and obtain the required documentary proof of their status, can contact NREC by telephone on 01604 400808.

You can also email [email protected] or text 07393 181 482. The advice is free and confidential.