Victims of the Windrush scandal have a new support mechanism in Bristol called Crossing Coasts.
Victims of the Windrush scandal have a new support mechanism in Bristol called Crossing Coasts.
On the 9th November people from Bristol and Bath gathered on the MV Balmoral, a ship and charitable trust in Bristol’s Harbour to explore how they could assist this project. Businesses, schools, universities and community joined Da Fuchaman and his band with food from Glenn’s Kitchen to see how they could help. Food, music and displays creating a unique Caribbean feel on the ship.
People pledged their support as advocates, willing to help a claimant tell the story of their life in the UK and where possible piece together evidence of this time-line. These advocates may be asked to assist with form-filling or could step-up further as the ‘third-party representative’ for the claimant.
This may be essential as claimants may be elders unsure of how to deal with online forms and zoom calls. A supportive advocate may not be enough for some claimants and legal representation could be needed. This support was offered by the University of Bristol Law Society with law students offering to manage cases assisted by qualified lawyers.
‘Crossing Coasts’ works on several fronts spearheaded by resources that celebrate Caribbean transnationals in Bristol and the UK across five generations of this community. The resource is a ‘Top Trump’ style card game that will be used in schools with individual collectable cards available in business and community venues across East Central Bristol. The rear of the cards provides contact details for the Crossing Coasts help-line 0117 3290387.
Schools working with St. Pauls Carnival education, Historic England Education and the My Future My Choice team have registered to receive free card packs for use in their curriculum and to encourage children to collect the cards at home to start conversations with their families.
On this evening we received offers of support from 12 advocates, seven schools and colleges and 13 venues. If you want to know more or get involved contact Hugh on 0117 3290387
I’m a diversity consultant and a design and communications consultant. I help people and organisations develop vision, communicate and deliver cultural change.