Aims/priorities: This fund aims to support organisations to help provide essential advocacy support for Windrush Compensation Scheme (WCS) claimants.
In Year One, the fund's purpose is to support established organisations experienced in providing Windrush Compensation advocacy support with the WCS process. Advocates will help WCS claimants articulate their stories and submit viable and eligible applications.
Who can apply? The following can apply:
- Unincorporated charities or community organisation, community interest companies (CICs), and companies with a charitable purpose.
- Registered charities.
- A consortium or partnership (where the lead organisation is one of the above.
Groups must:
- Have secure systems in place to ensure claimants’ data is securely stored, saved, and destroyed (evidence of successful organisation’s privacy policy will be required).
- Be based in the UK and are already providing an advocacy service to WCS applicants within their community (groups must demonstrate that they are a trust member of their community).
Unincorporated charities or community organisation, community interest companies (CICs), and companies with a charitable purpose must:
- Have established for charitable and public benefit purposes.
- Have a governing body with at least three members.
- Provide a valid governing document for the organisation.
- Provide audited accounts for the last 2 financial years or an income-expenditure statement for two years if established after April 2022.
Registered charities must:
- Provide a valid registration number issued by the Charity Commission.
- Have a governing body with at least three members.
- Provide a valid governing document for the organisation with a set of rules
- Provide audited accounts for the last 2 financial years or an income-expenditure statement for two years if established after April 2022.
Consortiums and partnerships must:
- Have a lead organisation that meets one of the above criteria for eligibility.
- Provide details of the lead organisation and how it is structured.
- Provide details of partners and their role in the project.
- Provide audited accounts for the lead organisation.
Grant amount: A total of £1.5 million is available across three years.
Grants of between £10,000 and £40,000 are available.
Application process: Applicants will be notified of any decisions made on 30 June 2025.
Guidance notes and an online application form are available from the GOV.UK ‘Find a Grant’ website.
Deadline: The deadline for applications is 9 May 2025.
Contact information: Email: WCSAdvocacySupportFund@homeoffice.gov.uk