Leicester’s free legal advice clinic receives Home Office funding to help Windrush victims
(Credit: IWM (FL 9448))
The University of Leicester's free Legal Advice Clinic has been awarded £40,000 by the Home Office as part of the Windrush Compensation Advocacy Support Fund. This funding will enable the clinic to provide essential practical and advocacy support to individuals affected by the Windrush scandal, helping them to navigate the compensation process with confidence and dignity..
The Clinic’s trained student advocates will assist claimants in:
- Understanding the Windrush Compensation Scheme
- Gathering documents to support a claim
- Articulating their story effectively
- Accessing support services where needed
The Legal Advice Clinic is one of ten community organisations to be awarded funding from the government's Windrush Compensation Advocacy Support Fund. Minister for Migration and Citizenship, Seema Malhotra MP, said: "I am delighted to congratulate these ten outstanding organisations on their successful applications. Each brings unique expertise and deep community connections that will make a real difference to victims.
"The Home Office Windrush scandal was an appalling injustice that should never have happened. We are determined to right these wrongs and ensure that Windrush communities finally receive the recognition and justice they deserve. These advocates will provide the culturally sensitive support that victims need to tell their stories and access the compensation that is rightfully theirs."
The clinic offers free legal advice and support to the public. Students from Leicester Law School are trained to give legal advice and support, closely supervised by qualified solicitors.
To date, the Legal Advice Clinic has helped clients claim a combined total of £120,000 from the Windrush Compensation Scheme.
Director of the Legal Advice Clinic, Laura Bee, said: "This funding will enable the Clinic to reach even more potential claimants, supporting them in deciding whether to make a claim, and preparing their claim documents for submission. It is vital work, and provides our Windrush project students with opportunities to demonstrate to their clients and to themselves just how valuable their help and support can be. It is very important work; the students take their roles incredibly seriously, and appreciate the opportunity to be part of the solution to this very difficult historical problem."
Supervising Solicitor of the Legal Advice Clinic, Afsha Sharif, said: " This work is deeply human and a powerful example of how legal education can be used to help real people and promote justice. The Windrush project allows our students to walk alongside claimants on their journey towards justice, learning to combine legal knowledge with empathy. They see the law in action and understand how a set of rules can be used as a tool for restoring dignity. They learn how to listen, advocate and support with compassion whilst helping claimants navigate the complex system with confidence. The funding will enable our Clinic to expand its outreach, allowing students to engage in meaningful community work to support even more individuals affected by the Windrush scandal. It is a privilege to supervise such impactful work.
More information about the University of Leicester's Legal Advice Clinic can be found here.