Scotland's Redress Scheme: combined annual report 2023

6.11 Salesians of Don Bosco

Published Redress Report

Section 99 Redress for Survivors (Historical Child Abuse in Care) (Scotland) Act 2021 (the Act)

I write as the Safeguarding Lead for the British (GBR) Province of the Religious Congregation the Salesians of Don Bosco, a Redress Scheme Contributor, sending this letter as the first Annual Report as required by Section 99 of the Act.

The Salesians of Don Bosco were the providers of the following historical residential care provision in Scotland:

1. St Teresa’s (residential care home for boys), Hillside House, Aberdour, Fife, KY3 ORH (1950-1960).

2. St John Bosco School (Approved School and then List D School for boys), Hillside House, Aberdour, Fife, KY3 ORH (1 960-1983).

3. Bosco House (residential care home for boys), 7 Hamilton Road, Mount Vernon, Glasgow, G32 9QD (1972-1984).

Not being a childcare provider in Scotland for nearly 40 years our current safeguarding policies and practices have been developed only in relation to our work in England. This has involved compliance with and adoption of the polices and guidelines of the Catholic Safeguarding Advisory Service (CSAS) and more recently the newly established Religious Life Safeguarding Service (RLSS) and the Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency (CSSA). There has been a renewed emphasis on care and support for abuse victims and survivors with the establishment of Safe Spaces’ to provide free independent counselling and support to anyone who has been abused in a Catholic or Anglican church context. Any who now approach us about past abusive experiences are offered a formal apology and the Safe Spaces support, in addition to the offer of meeting with us in person. We consider these policies are largely transferrable and will inform our practice as we seek to adhere to and adopt the principles in the Scottish legislation and to address our role and the requirements of being a Redress Scheme Contributor. In addition, we will check if our existing policies need adapting in light of the principles in the Scottish legislation as and when any practical eventuality arises where we need to apply these.

We have assisted past residents of our care provision in Scotland by promptly confirming dates of attendance and by providing details of any personal records in response to Public Access Requests (SAR5). We have also responded, usually within a day or two, to requests from Redress Scotland as to whether or not past residents have received any compensation payments from the Salesians. Total numbers have been as follows:

St Teresa’s St John Bosco School and Bosco House — 16 enquiries received in total.

We have not yet been informed of the details of any Redress payments made to past residents of the care provision we provided in Scotland and have had no direct contact from or with any individuals abused as children during their time at this care provision. Consequently, as yet, we have not been in a position to make any apologies.