A community affected by immigration laws and austerity cuts packed into a talk in South Kilburn.

Confronting the hostile environment – from Windrush, to housing to Universal Credit’ was held at the Granville Centre in Carlton Vale on Saturday to mark the end of Black History Month.

Among the speakers was professional boxer Vernon Vanriel who gave a harrowing account of being separated from his family for 13 years, when illegally denied the right to return from Jamaica after 50 years in the UK.

People also heard from a solicitor fighting for Windrush victims, families from Hereford House who are facing eviction and a presentation on universal credit.

Sara Callaway, from Hampstead and Kilburn Labour Group who organised the talk, said: “The event brought together people affected by immigration laws, as well as by austerity cuts and homelessness. The consensus was that the Windrush scandal shows how much we all have in common and must work together for survival.”