Assisting Survivors in Claiming Compensation
In recent years, the UK government has established a number of compensation schemes to acknowledge the harm and injustices caused by certain policies or historic laws. Among the best-known of these is the Windrush Compensation Scheme.
The Windrush generation refers to those who arrived in the UK from Caribbean countries between 1948 and 1973. Many took up jobs in the nascent National Health Service and other sectors affected by Britain’s post-war labor shortage. The name “Windrush” derives from the HMT Empire Windrush ship, which brought one of the first large groups of Caribbean people to the UK in 1948. As the Caribbean was, at the time, a part of the British Commonwealth, those who arrived were automatically British subjects and free to permanently live and work in the UK.
In 2018, the UK government acknowledged that thousands of Commonwealth citizens, many of whom were from the “Windrush” generation, had been wrongly detained, deported, and denied legal rights. Although these individuals had legally immigrated to the UK in the aftermath of WWII to help the country rebuild, policy changes left many unable to prove their right to remain, making it difficult for them to access employment, housing, healthcare, and other essential services. The Windrush Compensation Scheme was launched in 2019 by the UK government to compensate those affected for the losses and hardships they suffered as a result of these illegal and discriminatory policies.
Latham began offering support to claimants seeking redress, and in 2021 when it became clear that victims would not be offered access to legal aid, Latham was at the forefront of the creation of the Windrush Legal Initiative, alongside seven other law firms and the Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit (GMIAU). Several of the Latham lawyers involved in this project are descended from, or related to, members of the Windrush generation — adding a layer of personal significance to their work.
"It is a special privilege to be part of the redress efforts to right the wrongs suffered by LGBTQ+ veterans serving the UK armed forces. It takes courage to pursue the applications, which often involve revisiting incredibly difficult parts of an individual's life. We are proud to be able to support members of the community in this way."
Hayley Pizzey, Counsel, London
To date, the Initiative has secured nearly 30 compensation awards totaling over £1.4 million for Windrush claimants, with the highest award coming in 2025.
In addition to advising our clients on their claims, GMIAU and our lawyers have identified systemic issues in how the UK Home Office reviews compensation claims, and their efforts evolved to include contributing data to oversight bodies and identifying cases for judicial review. These joint efforts culminated in a report presented to the UK Parliament in 2025 that featured client case studies and led to a renewed governmental commitment to reparations.
Our London lawyers also support LGBTQ+ veterans applying for payments under the UK government's LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme. Launched in 2024, this scheme provides payments that recognize the impact of the historic “gay” ban on LGBT armed forces personnel. It is open to individuals who served between 1967–2000 and who were dismissed or administratively discharged, or who experienced other negative impacts such as abuse, discrimination, or exclusion in the UK armed forces due to their sexual orientation or gender identity.
The government has earmarked £75 million to demonstrate its “commitment to supporting veterans alongside recognizing the historic hurt caused.” In collaboration with UK military charity Fighting With Pride, our lawyers interview applicants, guide them through the application process, and help gather necessary evidence. To date, our lawyers have assisted on over 40 applications and appeals, with total awards under the scheme totaling £700,000.