Scotland’s Redress Scheme: contributor list

I write on behalf of Scottish Local Government, who have committed to participating in the redress scheme for survivors of abuse in care in Scotland.

Scottish Local Government is committed to providing redress to survivors of historical child abuse and in doing so collectively acknowledges and seeks to address the wrongs of the past and the harm caused by historical child abuse, in a meaningful and tangible way.

 Local Government’s collective financial contribution over the next 10 years is a clear commitment to reparation for survivors of historical abuse and to the wider commitment to non-financial redress including acknowledgment, apology and therapeutic support. The scheme to which we are contributing will ensure that there is quick access to the redress that survivors are due, delivered in a trauma informed way.

Councillor Gail Macgregor
COSLA Spokesperson for Resources
December 2021

The Aberlour Child Care Trust (“Aberlour”, “we”) is writing to formally confirm its desire to participate in the Scottish Ministers’ Scheme to be established for the provision of redress and compensation to people who suffered abuse as children while in care (the “Redress Scheme”) in accordance with the Redress for Survivors (Historical Child Abuse in Care) (Scotland) Act 2021 (the “Redress Act”).  

In accordance with section 14(1)(c) of the Redress Act, we wish to make the following statement which confirms and amplifies the apology we have already made to those affected.  

We acknowledge and accept that there have been children in Aberlour’s care in whose cases we not only failed to provide the safe environment the children required, but we also failed to prevent abuse being inflicted on them. We accept that we failed in our responsibility to provide the care these children needed, and we further failed to keep them safe. We further acknowledge that we betrayed the trust which these children bestowed upon us, and we contributed to the significant difficulties which they were already facing. Finally, we acknowledge and accept that we contributed to these children’s existing trauma and in some instances inflicted fresh wounds. We recognise that these harmful experiences have not only had lifechanging implications but continue to have a significant effect on survivors’ lives.  

In recognition of these failings, we apologise profoundly and unreservedly to anyone who suffered abuse in our care. We also recognise the prolonged harmful effects of the abuse on the children and their immediate families. We therefore apologise to the families of both the survivors, and to the families of all those who are sadly no longer with us and to whom we are unable to offer our apologies directly.   

It is incumbent upon us to not only take responsibility for the past, but to decide what to do with the time that is given to us in attempting to make meaningful amends to survivors and their families.

We believe that Aberlour’s participation in the Redress Scheme is a step in the direction of making meaningful amends for the wrongs suffered by children in our care. Our involvement with the Redress Scheme is only a part of the many actions Aberlour has undertaken to make sure that our past mistakes will never be repeated. 

We will therefore continue to participate in the collective endeavour the nation has undertaken to acknowledge the difficult truths of the past and to make the appropriate amends to survivors and their families. We hope that this will allow for a healing process to commence which might one day lead to reconciliation.   

Aberlour remains open to discussing the above statement with all affected and/or interested parties. We are particularly keen on hearing from anyone who believes they have suffered abuse while in our care and you can contact us directly at enquiries@aberlour.org.uk. 

David Robb, Chair
SallyAnn Kelly, Chief Executive
For and on behalf of the Aberlour Child Care Trust
December 2021

Thomas Barnardo started to provide residential care for children as far back as the 1860s in London. The substantive provision of care for Scottish Children commenced in the 1940s when some children were evacuated in wartime from England to Scotland. From the outset and throughout our history it has been the mission of Barnardo’s to provide good quality, compassionate and safe care to the children we look after. We recognise that many of the children who have been in our care in the past and are in our care now have experienced challenging circumstances that make it even more important that our care is characterised by the very highest standards of compassion and safeguarding.

While it was always our intention to provide safe care, we must acknowledge that some of the children in our care and some adults who were children in our care have made allegations of abuse and harm and that those allegations have been substantiated. We are truly sorry for any pain or hurt that children suffered whilst in our care and for any failure on our part.

We acknowledge that the organisational failures at that time led to the abuse of some children living with us and created a climate of fear and insecurity when they should have felt nurtured and safe.

We have used what those who have reported abuse have told us to continue improving how we engage and train staff and how we monitor and evaluate the work we undertake to ensure that our support of children, young people and families is based on their needs, promotes their wellbeing and helps them aspire to and reach their potential.

Today we do have residential care as an option for some children. Our homes are small, and our staff are qualified to work with children. They are all subject to robust recruitment and selection processes, reference checking and extensive vetting prior to having any contact with children. Our staff receive a comprehensive induction, support, supervision and continuous personal development throughout their employment with us.

We have a child centred and age appropriate complaints system in all our Services to ensure that the children in our care can safely raise issues, that these are properly recorded from their viewpoint and that appropriate action is taken. We work very hard to ensure that children have a real voice and influence in the care they receive and the Services we provide. We have comprehensive Safeguarding Policies and robust Procedures.

On behalf of Barnardo’s Scotland

Richard Simpson
Head of Safeguarding and Quality
December 2021

We, the Congregation of the Daughters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul, welcome the launch of the Redress Scheme.

We have agreed with the Scottish Ministers to make a financial contribution under the terms of the Redress for Survivors (Historical Child Abuse in Care) (Scotland) Act 2021

The agreed contribution has been assessed by the Scottish Ministers as making a fair and meaningful financial contribution towards the funding of redress payments under this Act.

In making it, we explicitly acknowledge the wrongfulness of the historical child abuse which took place in care settings including residential institutions in which the day-to-day care of children was provided, and the harm it caused.

We offer our most sincere and heartfelt apology to those affected by abuse at any establishment under our control. Abuse of any kind is totally at odds with everything the Daughters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul stand for.

Sr Flynn
Provincial of the Daughters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul in Britain
December 2021

We are writing to you to confirm East Park’s participation in Redress Scotland.

East Park first opened as a residential home, offering education, in 1874.  It continues to operate to this day, still providing education and residential care, for children and young people with complex additional support needs and challenging behaviours, on the same site in Maryhill, Glasgow.

East Park welcomes the Scottish Government backed Scheme for those who experienced abuse as children while in the care of institutions and organisations before 2004.  All those who experienced life impacting abuse or harm while in such care, should be heard, and treated with dignity and compassion. East Park recognises the Redress Scotland Scheme as a national collective effort and fully endorses its underlying principles.

East Park acknowledges that there may have been times, during the period covered by the Redress Scheme, when it seriously failed in its caring responsibilities, and individuals were subjected to abusive actions.

East Park apologises wholeheartedly for any such abusive actions, and encourages any former residents so affected to contact Redress Scotland.

East Park also continues to warmly welcome former residents, whether this be for accessing records East Park may still retain, to meet with a current senior manager, or to arrange a visit.

We thank you in advance for your support of our participation.

Kieron O’Brien                                                     
Executive Director                      

Gerald Wells
Chairperson of East Park
Board of Trustees                                                                                                                                           

We are writing to confirm Harmeny Education Trust’s participation in Scotland’s Redress Scheme.

Since December 1995, Harmeny Education Trust has held responsibility for running Harmeny School, providing care, education and therapeutic services for children who have experienced early years trauma through abuse and neglect. Prior to this, the school was run by Save the Children, from 1958 to 1995.

The Redress Scheme is a vital response to the courageous efforts of survivors of abuse in care in Scotland who, for many years, campaigned for justice. We acknowledge the importance of survivors being listened to, and believed, with compassion, dignity and respect, and are committed to playing our part in the collective response.

Harmeny Education Trust offers our unreserved and sincere apologies to anyone who suffered abuse or harm while in our care. While nothing can undo the hurt and pain suffered, we hope that being part of the redress scheme confirms our commitment to making amends.

We are dedicated to providing the highest quality services and the safety and wellbeing of children in our care are core to our values, practice and ethos today. We are committed to seeking new and innovative ways of involving our children and young people and their families in developing our services. We very much encourage former pupils to get in touch, and to visit the school if they wish, welcoming their feedback so that we can continuously improve.

We would like to assure anyone making an application for redress that we will respond with compassion and openness, fully cooperating in line with the values and principles of the scheme.

Yours sincerely,

Neil Squires - Chief Executive
Jennifer Scott - Chair of the Board of Trustees
On behalf of Harmeny Education Trust.

The Trustees of the Congregation of the Poor Servants of the Mother of God acknowledge with sadness the wrongfulness of any and every form of abuse and harm suffered by children in care in many institutions in Scotland in former years.

In solidarity with other religious orders, the Congregation wishes to be part of Scotland Redress Scheme.

The Trustees appreciate the compassion, graciousness and effort that the Scotland Redress Scheme on behalf of the Scottish Government portrays in setting up this Scheme for the benefit of Survivors.

They hope and pray that such unfortunate situations will never arise again.

Sr.  Rosarii O'Connor
Congregational Leader and Chair of Trustees
December 2021

Rossie Young People's Trust has worked very closely with your staff over the past two years to contribute to the development of all aspects of the Scheme.

Rossie Young People's Trust is a provider of care, education, health and psychological services to the most vulnerable young people across Scotland and the UK. We are a high performing and sector leading service that has invested heavily in ensuring all young people who live with us get the best quality services, provided by highly trained staff who understand the trauma our young people will have experienced in their lives. Our relentless determination for improvement  demonstrates that we abhor any form of abuse or neglect. We recognise, and are both privileged and proud that we are pivotal in the lives of our young people and continue to make significant positive differences to their futures. We count ourselves fortunate that our former residents stay in touch and know they can rely on our support if they need it. Our young people are part of the "Rossie Family" regardless of the length of time it has been since they lived with us.

As a service provider we have been actively engaged with the Scottish Government in discussions related to the development of Redress Scotland. This is a national historical scheme for children and young people who were placed in residential care and did not receive the care, support, kindness and development opportunities they deserved.

As part of the national landscape of care providers we have chosen to be part of the collective endeavour to demonstrate that abuse of children and young people of any form is not acceptable to us. Consequently, we are making a financial contribution to Redress Scotland in recognition of the harms which have been done through historical child abuse.

Carole Richardson
Chair, Board of Governors
December 2021

I write as the Provincial of the British (GBR) Province of the Religious Congregation the Salesians of Don Bosco, that works as the registered charity the Salesians of Don Bosco UK, to inform you of the Salesian Trustees' decision to participate in the Redress Scotland provision as a Payments Determined Contributor.

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 (19501960).
2.    St John Bosco School (Approved School and then List D School for boys), Hillside House, Aberdour, Fife, KY3 ORH (1960-1983).
3.    Bosco House (residential care home for boys), 7 Hamilton Road, Mount Vernon, Glasgow, (332 9QD (1972-1984).

Accompanying your introduction of the Redress Bill, as Deputy First Minister, was the clear statement that 'Scotland has a moral imperative to address the wrongs of the past, while acknowledging that nothing can ever make up for the suffering that survivors have endured' as a result of abuse suffered as children in care.

As a past provider of childcare provision in Scotland, we the Salesians of Don Bosco, acknowledge with the deepest regret our share in the wrongs of the past, and our responsibility to reach out to those who were abused in the homes and school that we provided. The fundamental principles of dignity, respect and compassion for survivors of abuse, that underline the Redress Scheme, are principles with which we identify and which we wish to embrace as a scheme Contributor.

St John Bosco, our founder, working for the poor and homeless youth of 19th century Turin saw the young he worked for as 'that part of human society which is so exposed and yet so rich in promise'. Abuse can, and does, impact that promise.

We commend the Scottish Government's initiative in introducing and securing parliamentary approval for the Redress Scotland provision.

Rev J G Briody SDB
Provincial
December 2021

We are writing to you to confirm Save the Children's participation in Redress Scotland.

Save the Children is committed to playing our part in the collective national effort to address historic child abuse. Survivors want, and deserve, to be listened to, heard, and believed and be treated with dignity and compassion. We recognise the importance of this scheme to survivors and acknowledge the strength and courage of all those who have come forward, campaigned for, and shaped the redress scheme.

Save the Children offers our sincere, unreserved and heartfelt apologies to anyone who suffered harm and abuse as children while in our care. We have a responsibility to promote the welfare of all children, to keep them safe and take action in relation to any incidents of abuse. There is no time limit on our accountability to children. Any and all claims of abuse are distressing. Nothing can undo those wrongs but we hope by signing up to the redress scheme and working with the Scottish Government, we can encourage survivors of abuse to come forward and access redress.

Between 1958 and 1995 Save the Children managed Harmeny School, providing specialist services to children with complex social, emotional and behavioural needs. Following a review in the  early 1990s, it was agreed Harmeny would become an independent charitable body. The school was transferred to the Harmeny Education Trust in 1995, which remains responsible for the School today. Save the Children has not provided residential care services in Scotland since 1995.

In our work with families today, the safety of children is paramount in all we do and this is reflected in our safeguarding policies and practice. We are committed to ensuring we strive to protect the children and families we work with to the highest possible standards. And we will continue to learn lessons from  our past. We are fully committed to working with you and  others to  support children to  reach their potential and to ensure this is done as safely as possible.

Thank you to you and  your officials for  all  your  work in  establishing  the  scheme and  your support in  our participation.

Yours faithfully,

Gwen Hines
Chief Executive

Claire Telfer
Head of Scotland

7 December 2021

The Scottish Prison Service on behalf of Scottish Ministers,  fully support and are committed to the opportunity to participate in the redress scheme for survivors of historical child abuse in care in Scotland.

As part of the national collective to endeavour to address the harms of the past, it is of vital importance that we firstly acknowledge the harm that children experienced whilst in our care and state that the experiences of children who have experienced abuse are not to be underestimated.  We understand that we cannot repair those experiences, but we do want to do all that we can in redress. 

In taking this step, the Scottish Prison Service accept unreservedly that many children were hurt and damaged while in our care.  We believe those children suffered physical and emotional trauma and abuse when we were entrusted with their care.  We acknowledge and wholly accept the pain and suffering inflicted on victims and survivors which has a profound and enduring impact. 

Without reservation, we apologise for the suffering to each child and deeply regret the way their lives have been impacted by the enduring effects of abuse.  In acknowledging the wrongfulness and the harm of historical child abuse, we are sorry for not listening better, are sorry for not hearing better and are sorry for not always trusting the words of children.  We fully accept we must do better to protect all children in our care. 

As a participant in the scheme we note that we will be publicly listed as the Scottish Prison Service, through the Redress Payments Determined route (a case by case approach). As part of this we will contribute up to two-thirds or £10,000, whichever is greater, of every application which Scottish Ministers determine is to be allocated to the Scottish Prison Service.  

Teresa Medhurst
Interim Chief Executive, SPS
December 2021

The Congregation of the Sisters of Nazareth apologises wholeheartedly and unreservedly to each child who suffered any form of abuse whilst in our care in Scotland. We are deeply saddened by the pain and distress that you suffered and may be continuing to suffer. We hope this renewed public apology and participation in the redress scheme will assist with the process of healing and reconciliation.

Sister Brenda McCall
Superior General
January 2022