Scotland's Redress Scheme: combined annual report 2025

4.19 Royal Blind Asylum and School Trading as Sight Scotland

In accordance with our responsibilities under Section 99 of Redress for Survivors (Historical Child Abuse in Care) (Scotland) Act 2021 (The Act) please find below the report of the Royal Blind Asylum and School Trading as Sight Scotland for the period between 7 December 2023 and 6 December 2024.

We have been contacted by one survivor of abuse that occurred while in our care, through representatives of the survivor. We are working with the representatives to determine what support the survivor needs from us as an organisation (as per s.99(2)(a) and s. 99(2)(b)). To date we have been asked to provide any pertinent school records for the survivor. Due to the passage of time, we no longer hold those enrolment records, and as such have not been able to provide the survivor with any pertinent school records. To date, we have not been asked to provide advice and assistance on tracing and reuniting families (as per s.99(2)(a)(iii)), or to take action relating to the provision of an apology to such individuals (as per s.99(2)(a)(iv)).

We continue to offer support to the survivor, and to any other survivors that were in our care that make contact with us and will do our utmost to provide records from our archives in support of any requests for information. If we become aware of any further specific cases we will work with the survivor to provide funding for emotional, psychological or practical support if requested (as per s.99(2)(a)(i)), advice and assistance on tracing and reuniting families if requested (as per s.99(2)(a)(iii)), take action relating to the provision of an apology to such individuals if requested (as per s.99(2)(a)(iv)) or any other support the survivor needs from us’ (as per s.99(2)(b)).

We have in place a safeguarding manager and have a policy whereby all staff, whether engaged in childcare or not, undertake safeguarding training. Care, Education and Nursing staff and volunteers working directly with service users (this definition includes children as well as vulnerable adults) will be expected to undertake Safeguarding training both at basic and advanced levels. This will be a combination of e-learning and face to face training. Staff are expected to successfully complete the advanced training module every year.

We first published our statement on Redress on our website on 31 May 2022 Sight Scotland - Redress Statement

We are fully supportive of the work being carried out by the Redress, Relations and Response Division of the Scottish Government and will continue to engage with them when called upon to do so.