Father who became homeless describes Windrush experience as ‘worse than hell’

A father who ended up homeless as a result of he couldn’t show his proper to work within the UK has described his prolonged expertise with the Windrush compensation scheme as “worse than hell”.

Fitzroy Maynard mentioned he had been unable to get work for round a decade after shedding his job as a residential caretaker in 2007.

Having come from Antigua as a baby in 1980 and later labored within the UK for years, he discovered himself sofa-surfing after being unable to show to potential employers that he had the suitable to work within the UK as he lacked the related documentation.

Changing into tearful as he recalled his determined state of affairs, the 57-year-old mentioned: “It’s been worse than hell. Simply think about you haven’t any cash, you haven’t any meals, you’ve got nowhere to sleep, you’re freezing, you’re in the identical garments for weeks, you don’t know what’s going to occur.”

He mentioned he had been provided some compensation by the House Workplace however none to cowl his lack of entry to employment “as a result of they’ll’t see a motive why it was their fault”.

He mentioned: “I’m not claiming for shedding my job, I’m claiming for lack of entry to employment after I misplaced my job. They actually suppose both individuals can’t learn or we’re silly. I’m fed up with the behaviour as a result of they know precisely what they’re doing.”

He mentioned he’s decided to combat for what he’s entitled to and insisted anybody utilizing the scheme wants the help of a authorized skilled.

He mentioned: “They carry on saying individuals don’t want a lawyer to do that (however) individuals want a lawyer.”

Mr Maynard, who lives in Hackney, north London, and now works as a part-time handyman whereas he’s a full-time carer for his eight-year-old daughter, mentioned he feels celebrations being held this yr to mark the Windrush seventy fifth anniversary are solely taking place due to the “distress” that has been induced to individuals”.

He mentioned: “This celebration has solely come due to distress to individuals. They (the Authorities) are solely beginning to recognise it as a result of they’ve accomplished a number of unhealthy and so they’re making an attempt to make it proper.”

Human rights charity Praxis, which has helped Mr Maynard and others, mentioned the compensation scheme “solely provides critical insult to critical harm” for victims of the scandal, and known as on it to be made unbiased from the House Workplace.

Praxis chief government Sally Daghlian mentioned: “Maybe unsurprisingly, the division that shredded hundreds of lives is now failing at compensating its victims for the hardship they needed to endure.

“The compensation scheme must be faraway from the palms of the House Workplace and managed by an unbiased physique working carefully with the communities affected, offering a simplified and speedy course of with skilled, unbiased illustration accessible for claimants.”

Lawyer Jacqueline McKenzie, who has helped individuals declare compensation via the scheme, mentioned “individuals don’t place confidence in the system” resulting from their poor experiences with the House Workplace.

She mentioned: “They’re saying ‘we’re being re-traumatised, the method of truly making a declare is re-traumatising us’.”

The House Workplace mentioned it continues to pay attention and reply to suggestions to make sure the scheme is working successfully for all.

A spokesperson mentioned: “We proceed to make enhancements so individuals obtain the utmost award as shortly as attainable.

“This contains establishing a evaluate course of for these dissatisfied with their compensation supply.

“Nonetheless, we all know there’s extra to do, and can work tirelessly to verify such an injustice isn’t repeated.”