It was a real honour to attend, and co-chair, the Windrush Justice Inquiry Symposium, which took place on Wednesday 14th January 2026 at London South Bank University.
The symposium brought together Windrush scandal victim-survivors, activists, advocates, academics, health professionals, lawyers, students, community representatives and politicians.
The day was the culmination of almost three years of discussion and planning by members of the Windrush Justice Clinic (WJC), on whose advisory board I sit.
In that time, WJC members have worked within and alongside WJC partner organisations North Kensington Law Centre, Southwark Law Centre, Claudia Jones Organisation, Jigsaw House Society, Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit (GMIAU), King’s College London, and the University of Westminster to provide not only practical assistance to Windrush scandal victim-survivors but to also strategise about the shape and form that a People’s Inquiry into the Windrush Scandal should take.
In early 2023, I connected WJC with my friend the barrister Priscellia Robinson, who agreed to become Chief Inquiry Officer. Priscellia’s energy and dedication led her to produce an incredible community-led investigatory report into the systemic injustices faced by the Windrush scandal victim-survivors generation and their descendants. It was launched last July (see here).
The symposium then built on Priscellia’s report and recommendations.
Symposium participants discussed, among many other things, how to centre the victim-survivors in a People’s Inquiry; how to ensure victim-survivors are not retraumatised by the process; and whether we wished the Inquiry to be about truth and reconciliation or punishment.
I am so proud to be a part of this critical initiative. Though I may not have managed to get to every meeting due to my work diary, I am 100% committed to WJC and the People’s Inquiry work that so many good people are doing.
A huge overall massive thank you to LSBU’s Catherine Evans (pictured with me above) who put blood, sweat and tears into obtaining support and funding from universities, coordinated endless meetings and invited along really brilliant speakers and participants.
I am proud that a bespoke symposium for victim-survivors will be taking place at Bernie Grant Arts Centre on the 7th of February 2026.