Scotland's Redress Scheme: combined annual report 2025

4.3 Action for Children

Introduction

Action for Children’s support for children began in 1869, when Reverend Dr Thomas Bowman Stephenson took action to help children living on the streets, and we opened our first service in Scotland in 1955.

Action for Children’s absolute priority is to keep children and young people safe, and we have robust safeguarding policies and procedures in place to ensure the lessons of the past have been learnt.

Action for Children have been a contributor to Scotland’s Redress Scheme since 7 November 2023.

As well as providing a fair and meaningful financial contribution to the scheme, the Redress for Survivors (Historical Child Abuse in Care) (Scotland) Act 2021 requires contributors to the Redress Scheme to report annually on their wider (i.e., non-financial) redress activities, such as providing emotional, psychological, or practical support for people who were abused as children; providing assistance to survivors to access historical records; providing assistance in tracing and reuniting families; or providing apologies to survivors.

This report covers our non-financial redress activities from 7 December 2023 to 6 December 2024.

Non-Financial Redress activities

Providing assistance to survivors to access historical records

Action for Children are compassionate, trauma-informed and sensitive in our approach when supporting survivors seeking to access their records. We recognise that accessing records can be retraumatising and offer support to assist people accessing their records to answer questions and queries they may have. We also recognise that survivors accessing their records may not wish support in the first instance and the offer remains open should they wish to seek support at a later date.

Funding for emotional, psychological, or practical support to survivors

Action for Children fundamentally recognise the importance of providing emotional, psychological or practical support to survivors of abuse at a time that is right for them. During the reporting period, Action for Children has not had such requests made from survivors of abuse in Scotland and therefore has not provided funding for support for individuals. However, should an individual contact us for such support we will initially offer one to one support to discuss with the survivor the most appropriate way to meet their needs. This may include counselling support or where appropriate signposting to specialist organisations who may be able to offer ongoing support.

Advice and assistance on tracing and reuniting families

Action for Children recognise the importance of providing advice and support to survivors of abuse. During the reporting period, Action for Children has not received requests made from survivors of abuse in Scotland regarding advice and assistance on tracing and reuniting families. However, should an individual contact us for such support we would initially offer one to one support to discuss with the survivor the most appropriate way to meet their needs. This may include signposting to specialist organisations.

Provision of apology to survivors

In our public statement published 7 November 2023, stated that, whilst we have always striven to provide care and support of a high quality for children and young people that places children at the centre of what we do, we acknowledge and deeply apologise for the harm caused in our care settings to victims of historic abuse and recognise the damaging impact that child abuse has on victims.

During the period covered by this report Action for Children has not had the opportunity to provide a direct apology to any individual survivors in Scotland. We remain committed to doing so.

Information about how safeguarding policy and procedures are implemented by the organisation, including any further developments of activities in place to improve care and protection

During the reporting period Action for Children have continued to provide monthly Q and A sessions available to all staff and facilitated by the safeguarding service. This alongside a robust training offer and clear safeguarding policy and procedures ensure that staff have a good understanding of their responsibilities and organisational expectations. This is further enhanced by regular management supervision, team meetings and internal and external safeguarding audits. Our safeguarding team also regularly conduct unannounced and announced visits to children’s homes to check that children are being cared for safely.

Action for Children is committed to fulfilling The Promise ensuring that past harms are not only acknowledged but that they shape a brighter and safer future for all children. Ensuring as the Promise states that Scotland becomes the best place in the world for children and young people to grow up in, where they feel loved, safe and respected and realise their potential.

The Promise calls us to listen to the voices of children, young people, and those impacted by care. The Redress Scheme honors that commitment by not only providing financial redress but also recognising the harm caused, ensuring lessons from the past shape future systems of care. At Action for Children, we are committed to listening, empowering, valuing, and involving young people in decision making throughout the organisation. For us to keep the Promise we know that ‘voice’ is that key pillar we must build and strengthen.

We have developed a network of Staff Promise Champions. This network which aims to support all colleagues to develop and oversee the systems, processes, culture, and practices are in place to ensure we keep the promise and improve the outcomes for children and young people who we support, care for and love.

Our staff have been involved in the Scottish Physical Restraint Action Group sharing our practice externally and leading on positive behavior support across our care settings.

Conclusion

Action for Children remain committed to its responsibilities both to the overall Redress Scheme as well as individuals who seek support. We are committed to provide a sensitive and trauma-informed approach when supporting survivors of abuse and to do so in a sensitive way at a time that is right for the individual.

Fiona Steel

National Director Scotland

Action for Children