Scotland's Redress Scheme: combined annual report 2025

4.8 The Congregation of the Poor Servants of the Mother of God

The Congregation of The Poor Servants of The Mother of God does not currently have any Residential Care Services for Children in Scotland. We have relevant policies and procedures, including safeguarding training, HR and Safeguarding Personnel in those countries where we have Social Services for children and vulnerable adults. We acknowledge with sadness the wrongfulness of any and every form of abuse and harm suffered by looked-after children in the many Institutions in Scotland over the years and we apologise profusely for whatever part we played in the abuse of children and vulnerable adults in our care.

To date, to the best of our knowledge, no complaint of abuse has been made by any former resident of St. Mary’s, Galashiels. For the foreseeable future, we do not intend to include the Redress Report on our website.

Consequently, since our last Report, sent on 29th February 2024:

1. No funding has been sought or made available for emotional, psychological or practical support.

2. No advice or assistance has been sought or made available on accessing historical records.

3. No advice or assistance has been sought on tracing and uniting family members.

4. We are prepared to provide a private and/or public apology to any former resident of ours who, at some future date, may make a complaint of abuse against the Congregation of the Poor Servants of the Mother of God.

Sister Mary Whelan SMG

General Councillor and Trustee