Scotland's Redress Scheme: combined annual report 2025

4.1 Aberdeen Association of Social Service operating as VSA

Introduction

This report is provided in response to the Scottish Ministers’ request for Aberdeen Association of Social Service (t/a VSA) to prepare and send an annual redress report for the period 7 December 2023 to December 2024.

This fulfils VSA’s requirement to produce a ‘redress report’ under the Redress for Survivors (Historical Child Abuse in Care) (Scotland) Act 2021 (section 99). This report covers the following areas:

• Funding for emotional, psychological, or practical support
• Advice and assistance on accessing historical records
• Advice and assistance on tracing and reuniting families
• Activities relating to providing a meaningful apology to survivors
• Other relevant examples of support provided to survivors.

Funding for emotional, psychological, or practical support

VSA has not provided direct funding for support for individuals abused as children during the period covered by the scheme. However, as and when survivors contact us either directly or through their representatives, we will offer a trauma-sensitive, open and compassionate response.

Advice and assistance on accessing historical records

VSA has aligned our historical records request and subject access request processes with our current trauma-informed approach to the care, safeguarding and protection of those in our care.

This means we are open, sensitive, and compassionate in all dealings with people who seek to access information. We provide clear and transparent information to requesters about what information we might hold about their life and why we hold that information. We are honest with requesters that although we have extensive historical records, they are incomplete, and we may not always be able to provide evidence of time in care for requesters.

All responses to record requests from individuals or their next of kin who were resident within the qualifying time frame contain information about the Redress Scheme. In all our responses to record requests we acknowledge that historical casefiles are typically brief and usually focus on the practicalities of admission and discharge rather than the experience of any individual whilst resident.

We extend an offer to individuals to meet with either a member of Data Compliance team, our CEO or Operational Director to discuss their experience in person. We ensure that a trauma-trained Operations Director is involved in the process. Where appropriate we offer in person or virtual professional and specialist support to requesters to review their records, to help provide some answers and most importantly because some of the content could be re-traumatising for requesters. Requesters may not wish to access the support initially, and we ensure that this offer remains open should the requester wish to come back later.

Advice and assistance on tracing and reuniting families

Where a requester is seeking to trace or reunite with their family, we will signpost them to appropriate organisations who may be able to assist them with their search for information.

We also have an open dialogue with organisations that are providing direct support to requesters either during a redress application or during their search for information about their past.

Activities relating to the provision of a meaningful apology to survivors

VSA has not been made aware of redress payments made to past residents of our establishments. We have not had any contact from any individual seeking an apology.

Other relevant examples of support provided to survivors

VSA is fully committed to developing best practice so we can continue to provide a trauma-informed response to support and meet the needs of those who make requests, as well as safeguard the children that we currently care for.