Praxis and Windrush - a message from our CEO

This has been an exciting time to be at Praxis - we have been at the centre of exposing the Windrush scandal and the impact of the ‘hostile environment’ on people who have lost their jobs, homes and like ‘Albert Thomson’ been denied vital medical treatment because the Home Office refused to recognize their lawful residence.

We first met Albert when he was homeless and destitute due to his immigration status – despite having lived lawfully in the UK for 44 years, he could not access services, as didn’t have the documents now demanded of migrants at every turn. When Albert was denied cancer treatment - unless he could pay £54,000 - we helped him find a solicitor to challenge this. We also helped him to tell his story to the media, in an effort to get the treatment to which he was entitled and raise wider awareness of this growing problem. Albert was not alone.

After Albert’s story was published in The Guardian, there was an unprecedented wave of public and political outrage. The stories of Albert and many other Windrush citizens were in the headlines and for two weeks the story was the top of the political and media agenda. Jeremy Corbyn raised Albert’s case twice during Prime Minister’s Question Time. Praxis was called on for expert comment and evidence based on our knowledge and experience; over the last three years we have helped an increasing number of long-standing residents struggling with similar problems, as changes in policy have left them unable to prove their status.

I was pleased to have the opportunity to appear on Channel 4, Al Jazeera, and write in The Guardian and contribute to many articles, calling for a ‘fast, fair and free system’ to regularize long-residents’ status. I spoke on a panel chaired by David Lammy MP at a packed meeting in the Houses of Parliament where Windrush residents told their stories and the immigration minister Caroline Nokes apologized for the way they had been treated. Together with partners and campaigning journalists we have achieved significant change and are pleased that a new Home Office Unit has been set up to deal sympathetically and quickly with Windrush and other long-standing Commonwealth citizens. We are watching how it works!

What the ‘Windrush Scandal’ has exposed are the many flaws and cruelties inherent in the current immigration system that make the work of Praxis ever more vital; supporting individuals caught up in bureaucratic and personal nightmares. None of this work would be possible without your support. Please keep donating to Praxis, so we can keep pushing for a fair system that treats people with dignity and respect.

Sally Daghlian OBE,

Praxis CEO