Scotland Redress Scheme For Historical Abuse Survivors

Scotland’s Redress Scheme is for survivors of historical child abuse in care in Scotland. It is now open for applications. It makes redress payments to people who were abused while in care as children before 1 December 2004, and some next of kin. It has been set up to recognise and acknowledge what happened, and the harm this abuse caused. The scheme covers:

physical abuse
sexual abuse
emotional abuse
neglect

You can apply if you were abused:

as a child (when you were 17 years old or younger)
before 1 December 2004
in Scotland
in a relevant care setting

What is a relevant care setting?

The Scheme only covers certain care settings. These are known as “relevant care settings” and include:

children’s homes
“List D” or approved schools
penal institutions, including young offenders’ institutions and borstals
residential care facilities (including hospitals) which provided long-term residential accommodation
school hostels and some other accommodation provided for a child to go to school
secure accommodation
boarded out
foster care

There might be other settings that are relevant, depending on your circumstances.

At Hugh James we have many years’ experience of successfully guiding applicants through redress schemes including:

The two Jersey redress schemes
The Northern Ireland redress scheme
The Lambeth redress scheme
Redress schemes in Australia

If you would like to talk to us in confidence about applying to the Scottish Redress Scheme, then please contact us today.

How to apply?

We are available to talk to you free of charge. Please note that if you engage a solicitor to advise you that the Scheme provides for the payment of legal fees. We will not charge you.

Alternatively, you can go the Scheme’s website at: https://www.mygov.scot/apply-for-scotlands-redress-scheme

If you apply, you may be offered:

a payment
an apology, if you would like one, and help to get an apology from others
emotional support

Key contact

Alan Collins

Partner

Alan Collins is one of the best known and most experienced solicitors in the field of child abuse litigation and has acted in many high profile cases, including the Jimmy Savile and Haut de la Garenne abuse scandals. Alan has represented interested parties before public inquiries including the Independent Jersey Care Inquiry, and IICSA (Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse).

Internationally, Alan works in Australia, South East Asia, Uganda, Kenya, and California representing clients in high profile sexual abuse cases. Alan also spoke at the Third Regional Workshop on Justice for Children in East Asia and the Pacific in Bangkok hosted by Unicef and HCCH (Hague Conference on Private International Law).