Guidance

Windrush Cross-Government Working Group: terms of reference June 2020

Published 28 July 2020

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/windrush-cross-government-working-group-terms-of-reference/windrush-cross-government-working-group-terms-of-reference-june-2020

Purpose

The Windrush Cross-Government Working Group brings together stakeholders and community leaders with senior representatives from a number of government departments. The purpose of the Working Group is to:

  • improve uptake of the Windrush Schemes (the Windrush Scheme and the Windrush Compensation Scheme), through advising the Home Office on its strategic approach to engagement and outreach; advising on the design and delivery of the Windrush Schemes Community Fund, and making decisions on recommendations to the Home Secretary on successful bids
  • provide strategic input into the Home Office response to the Wendy Williams Lessons Learned Review
  • co-design and deliver the response to cross-cutting issues to provide wider support to the Windrush generation and their descendants
  • support the design and delivery of practical solutions to address the wider challenges that disproportionately affect people from BAME backgrounds

Objectives

The Working Group will provide a regular forum for stakeholders and government representatives to:

  • provide oversight of the promotion and take-up of the Home Office Windrush Schemes, supporting and advising on issues where these arise
  • provide feedback and insights from affected communities, and expertise and experience of developing and delivering practical, evidence-based solutions in addressing challenges
  • engage in an open and honest dialogue on the issues impacting on affected communities, building trust from both a community and government perspective
  • work in partnership to co-design and deliver an action plan setting out agreed programmes and projects, with clear deliverables and milestones
  • ensure a cross-government approach is central to developing and delivering programmes and projects

Chair

The Working Group will be co-chaired by the Home Secretary and Bishop Derek Webley.

Membership

Members will include key stakeholders and community leaders representing the affected communities.

Stakeholder members will bring a balance of skills and experience to cover community engagement and specific sector expertise. Members will include representation at a senior level from a number of government departments:

Stakeholder and community leaders

  • Bishop Derek Webley (Co-Chair)
  • Bishop Dr Joe Aldred (Pentecostal and Multicultural Relations, Churches Together in England)
  • Duwayne Brooks (Managing Director, Active Community Engagement and Development)
  • Blondel Cluff (Chief Executive, West India Committee)
  • Loanna Morrison (Journalist & Founder of London Apprenticeship Fair)
  • Arike Oke (Managing Director, Black Cultural Archives)
  • Kunle Olulode (Director, Voice4Change)
  • Dr Tony Sewell (Chief Executive, Celebrating Genius)
  • Paulette Simpson (Executive Director, The Voice)

The Independent Adviser to the Windrush Compensation Scheme will also sit on the Group to provide advice to members.

Government representatives

  • Home Secretary (Co-Chair)
  • No.10
  • Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
  • Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
  • Department for Education
  • Equalities Hub (Cabinet Office)
  • Department of Health and Social Care
  • Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
  • Department for Work and Pensions
  • Representation from other government departments and administrations as necessary, including across the Territorial Offices and the Devolved Administrations

New members may be invited to meetings for their expertise or experience on certain topics. This will be by exception and following consultation with the Group for their input and suggestion on such members, and final agreement by the co-Chairs.

Ways of working

When discussing and agreeing new approaches, programmes and projects, the Working Group will work within the parameters of existing government policy and regulatory frameworks.

Membership, biographies and terms of reference will be published on GOV.UK. Announcements and updates on the Group’s programme of work will also be published on GOV.UK.

Working Group members can raise issues with the secretariat outside the parameters of the Group.

Record of meetings

Meetings will be held under Chatham House Rules. The main points discussed, and actions agreed will be recorded, rather than a verbatim account of deliberations.

Secretariat

Secretariat for the Working Group will be jointly led by the Home Office and Equalities Hub (Cabinet Office). The Secretariat will be responsible for arranging meetings, circulating papers and recording minutes of meetings. Agendas and papers will be circulated at least three working days in advance of meetings. Minutes will be circulated and agreed within two weeks of meetings.

In collaboration with the Chairs, the Secretariat will also be responsible for maintaining and tracking progress of the agreed action plan.

Frequency

The Working Group will meet quarterly. Sub-groups to develop and maintain progress on specific issues will be set up and meet monthly.

The Working Group will meet for the duration of the Windrush Compensation Scheme, which is currently open until April 2023. The date will be kept under review.

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