What is Windrush Day and when is it celebrated? What you need to know

Every year Windrush Day is marked in the UK, following the arrival of the HMT Empire Windrush.

76 years ago, saw more than 800 passengers from the Caribbean on board as they moved to the UK and became known as the 'Windrush generation.'

Each year, on the same day as the boat's arrival, Windrush Day is marked to celebrate the contributions made by those who travelled from the Caribbean to the UK.

The first Windrush Day was held in June 2018, following the independent 'Lessons Learned Review' which was published by Wendy Williams for the Home Office, according to the Evening Standard.

The HMT Empire Windrush. (Image: PA)

When is Windrush Day?

Every year, Windrush Day takes place on the same date, June 22, to mark the date HMT Empire Windrush arrived in England.

What is Windrush Day?

Windrush Day celebrates the contribution of the Caribbean migrants and their families who arrived in the UK in 1948 on the HMT Empire Windrush.

When did the Windrush Generation come to Britain?

The HMT Empire Windrush first docked in England on June 22, 1948, at Tilbury Docks in Essex, bringing people from the Caribbean who answered Britain’s call to help fill post-war labour shortages.

People from the Caribbean who answered Britain's call to help fill post-war labour shortages. (Image: PA)

What was the Windrush scandal?

In April 2018 it was found that some immigrants who arrived legally in the UK between the late 1940s and early 1970s were facing deportation and being denied access to healthcare due to paperwork issues.

Officials were forced to defend a decision to destroy thousands of landing card slips recording the arrival of Windrush generation immigrants into the UK.

The Home Office apologised, Amber Rudd lost her job as home secretary and Sajid Javid was drafted in, becoming the first person from an ethnic minority background to head the Home Office.

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What is the Windrush 'Lessons Learned Review'?

The review was published in 2020 and saw Wendy Williams independently assess the events leading up to the Windrush scandal.

The report discusses what happened to those affected by the Windrush scandal and how it was "foreseeable and avoidable".

It also states 30 recommendations for change and improvement to help those affected by the scandal and to ensure it doesn't happen again.