We have a monthly column in the Law Society Messenger. You can see the full January edition here. This month, GMLC volunteer Arwa Graf gives her perspective of GMLC’s work and vision. I’m currently in my final year of the LLB at Manchester Metropolitan University. I began volunteering at GMLC when I was 18, during…
We would like to express our thanks to local firm Alison Law Solicitors, who have generously offered to donate £200 per month to GMLC for the rest of 2019. “Our firm has always been committed in ensuring that access to justice is made available to everyone regardless to their financial circumstances” – Habib Rahman, Alison…
We are pleased to announce that our project with the Manchester Law School has been nominated for Manchester’s Pro Bono/Community Initiative Award. As part of our Legal Advocacy Support Project (LASP), students from Manchester Metropolitan University’s Law School receive GMLC’s professional training and supervision, meet disabled and unwell people who have been refused benefits, prepare their cases…
We stand in solidarity with those affected by the appalling treatment of the Windrush generation. At our premises in Moss Side, Manchester, we have been receiving dozens of inquiries from our local community worried about their immigration status. Whilst GMLC currently does not offer immigration advice, we offer some guidance for those affected.
But we also say that this scandal was not an anomaly, but a consequence of the Government’s ‘hostile environment’ immigration policy. We are campaigning for a change in the law to protect people’s rights.
This page is regularly updated, as new information becomes available.
“We can’t just scrabble to give advice to people queuing out the door. The focus needs to be on challenging legislation and the treatment of migrants as a whole” says GMLC employee Roz Burgin.
https://www.gmlaw.org.uk/2018/04/30/we-need-new-laws-so-that-windrush-never-happens-again/
We ask, for reasons set out in our article, in addition to compensation based on individual circumstances, a minimum amount is given to everyone affected by the scandal with an additional set amount given to anyone who travelled back to the UK after a visit abroad.
We also propose that clear and simple details of the compensation scheme, and ways of applying for it, are publicised widely, including directly with all advice agencies working in the communities affected.
https://www.gmlaw.org.uk/2018/06/06/gmlc-response-to-the-windrush-compensation-consultation/
“We propose that the government agree to pay everyone affected by the ‘Windrush’ scandal a minimum level of General Compensatory Damages. This is in addition to compensation payments to be made based on a persons’ individual circumstances” – GMIAU
“There needs to be both a political and commercial response to right the tragic wrong[s] which has been done to far too many, by providing a reparative payment that truly reflects the harm done to all those who have been wronged. A baseline figure [£10,000] should be given to all and be increased on a case by case basis depending on the complexity of each case” – Kenworthys Chambers
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