Consultation on financial redress for abuse survivors
Adult survivors of abuse whilst in care are being encouraged to share their views on a possible financial redress scheme, by taking part in a consultation launching today.
Representatives of survivors have designed the consultation in partnership with CELCIS.
CELCIS will work with partners to consider responses gathered. These responses, alongside further research, will be used to develop options for a potential financial redress scheme that will then be presented to the Scottish Government. The consultation will close on Friday 17 November.
Joanne McMeeking, Head of Improving Care Experiences at CELCIS, said:
"CELCIS is pleased to support survivors of abuse in care with this important work and we hope that survivors of abuse can take part in the consultation. This is an opportunity for survivors to contribute their ideas about how a potential redress scheme might work best for them.
"Completing this consultation questionnaire gives survivors a way to have their ideas about alternative forms of financial redress seen and heard. All of the information gathered in the consultation will be used to present options to the Scottish Government for consideration when it decides whether to establish a financial compensation/redress scheme."
Survivors are supporting others to contribute to the consultation. Helen Holland, Chair of In Care Abuse Survivors (Incas), said:
"This consultation gives everyone who has experienced abuse in the Scottish care system the chance to share their views. This allows all of us the opportunity to have our voices and opinions heard as we continue to work forward towards redress and reparation."
The Scottish Government support all efforts to maximise participation in the consultation. Scotland's Deputy First Minister John Swinney said:
"I would encourage all survivors to take this opportunity to have their voice heard in this consultation. All responses will be considered by CELCIS to prepare an independent report setting out options for what a redress scheme could look like. I am hugely grateful to the survivor representatives who have developed this and can assure all those taking part that the Government will carefully consider the findings."
To take part
The consultation questionnaire will be circulated widely to survivor and victim groups, and can also be accessed online at the CELCIS website.
For further details please call: 0808 800 0031 (on Monday and Thursday, 9.30am – 4pm, or Tuesdays, 9.30am – 7pm). Alternatively email: celcis-redress@strath.ac.uk.
The consultation will close on Friday 17 November.
Media enquiries:
Mike Findlay, CELCIS Communications Manager
T: 0141 444 8512
E: mike.findlay@strath.ac.uk
CELCIS, based at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, is committed to making positive and lasting improvements in the wellbeing of Scotland's children living in and on the edges of care. At CELCIS we have over a decade of experience working alongside survivors, service care providers, service providers and Scottish Government.
Financial Redress
Financial compensation should be viewed in context of the Scottish Human Rights Commission (SHRC) Framework for Justice and Remedies for Historic Abuse of Children in Care, as well as the broader package of redress and reparations in Scotland reflected through the progress of the Action Plan Action Plan on Justice for victims of historic abuse of children in care
Scottish Ministers agreed to implement the recommendations of the Framework and requested that the SHRC and CELCIS lead on a dialogue with survivors of in-care abuse and former providers of care. From this dialogue, an Action Plan on Justice for Victims of Historic Abuse of Children in Care was developed and set out themes and commitments towards meeting two expected outcomes: acknowledgement and accountability.
The Interaction Action plan review group, a national stakeholder group includes representation from victims/survivors, victim/survivor support organisations, care providers, the SHRC, Scottish Government, Social Work Scotland and CELCIS. This group helped deliver the interaction dialogue and continues to monitor the progress of the Action Plan on Justice for victims of historic abuse of children in care. This consultation for survivors has been developed in collaboration between CELCIS and that national stakeholder group.
As well as gathering survivors' views through this consultation, CELCIS will review relevant financial compensation/redress schemes implemented in other countries and seek the views of interested and relevant others in Scotland.