Government announces £500,000 fund to mark annual ‘Windrush Day’

The Government has set aside £500,000 to mark an annual ‘Windrush Day’.



22 June is set to become an annual celebration of the contribution of Windrush migrants and their descendants to British life, the government has announced.

Ministers have set aside a grant of £500,000 which will be available for groups who wish to hold community or educational events.

Communities Minister Lord Bourne said that marking the date as the anniversary of the landing of the Windrush vessel in the UK, would “honour the enormous contribution” of the Carribean migrants who arrived in the UK in the 1950s and 60s.

“It will keep their legacy alive for future generations, ensuring that we all celebrate the diversity of Britain’s history,” he said.

As part of the celebration there will be a national service of thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey in London.

Ministers came under fierce scrutiny over the Windrush scandal, which saw British citizens threatened with deportation unless they were able to prove their immigration status as part of the Government’s controversial ‘hostile environment’ policy.

In the wake of the scandal, Home Secretary Amber Rudd was forced to resign from her ministerial post. She was later replaced by Sajid Javid.

Arthur Torrington, director of the Windrush Foundation, said that the annual celebration was a moment of “great satisfaction” which would help “cement” the importance of the community's contribution to the UK.

“It will cement in the national consciousness the important contribution of those who travelled to from the Caribbean to Britain 70 years ago to build a better life and participate in making Britain a stronger nation,” he said.

The announcement comes one week after the Home Affairs Select Committee heaped pressure on the Government to establish a hardship fund for migrants facing financial difficulties while they wait to have their compensation claims processed.

Chair of the committee Yvette Cooper said: “Some of the Windrush generation are facing destitution. People are having to settle legal bills, or are facing bailiffs due to debts run up when they were forced to give up work or had their social security payments stopped through no fault of their own.

“The government must step in to help people immediately. Due to the seriousness of this issue, the home affairs select committee has agreed an urgent short report recommending that the government create a hardship fund, immediately, for those of the Windrush generation facing financial difficulties.”