News

Friday, 19 February 2010
The Survivors Trust [PDF 1054.37k]

Weekly edition of The Survivors Trust non-member e-bulletin.

Friday, 5 February 2010
Quarriers’ Former Residents to be offered a Time to be Heard

Quarriers’ Former Residents to be offered a Time to be Heard

Progress towards a pilot forum initiated by Scottish Government for adults who were in residential care as children takes another step forward, with the announcement that the trustees of Quarriers have agreed to support the initiative.

Up to 100 former residents will now be invited to speak to the Time to be Heard pilot forum. The pilot – consisting of a panel of independent experts – will test out one way of giving a voice to people who were in care as children, by having the histories of their time in care acknowledged and recognised. Sessions will be held in private, with those who choose to come forward being offered support throughout.

Public Health Minister Shona Robison said:

"Time to be Heard is an opportunity for society to acknowledge the experiences of those adults who have survived abuse in residential care. By having their experiences recognised and recorded we hope to provide these men and women with some public acknowledgement.

“Quarriers is very clear about its responsibility to the survivors of abuse and is to be commended for supporting the pilot. This is positive progress for Time to be Heard – which will in turn be a real step forward for people who spent time in residential care as children.’’

Dr. Phil Robinson, chief executive of Quarriers, said:

“Quarriers fully supports the pilot forum and will work with the Scottish Government to ensure the Forum achieves its aims.”

Time to be Heard Chair Tom Shaw said:

"I welcome Quarriers' willingness to support Time to be Heard. I hope their positive approach will encourage others involved now or in the past in residential childcare to see the pilot forum as a progressive step forward."

Background

Time to be Heard is part of the Survivor Scotland strategy to help adult survivors who were sexually abused as children. The Pilot Forum is being funded by the Scottish Government. Up to £375,000 is available for this financial year and the same amount will be allocated in the next financial year.


Appointed by the Public Health Minister – supported by Justice and Education ministers – Time to be Heard’s Chair, Tom Shaw, was previously appointed by ministers as the independent expert to lead a review of the systems for children in residential schools and children's homes from 1950 to 1995. His Historic Abuse Systemic Review from 2007 has already had a significant impact on residential childcare in Scotland. The country's first Commissioner for Children and Young People, Kathleen Marshall, has been appointed as one of the commissioners who will sit with the chair. Consultant forensic clinical psychologist Anne Carpenter has been appointed as the other commissioner.

Quarriers was selected as a large national provider of child care in Scotland (30,000 people between 1878 and 1983), which has acknowledged that some children in its care were abused.

Thursday, 3 December 2009
Statement from Tom Shaw, Chair of the Pilot Forum

Statement from Tom Shaw, Chair of the Pilot Forum

I am pleased to report that the first meeting of the Pilot Forum’s Advisory Group took place on Tuesday 1 December. This is an important step in the process leading to the work of the Pilot Forum.

The Advisory Group is essential to the task which my Commissioners and I will undertake. The members, who include survivors, bring essential knowledge and understanding and will help us to ensure that the Pilot Forum reflects the needs of survivors who come to tell us their stories.

I am aware of the full consultation which took place and helped to shape the proposals for and nature of the Pilot Forum. I will ensure that the Scottish Human Rights Commission framework guides all our work. I will do my upmost to build a process that respects that framework accurately and honestly.

I would find it helpful, in addition, to have feedback which can assist the Advisory Group on work which the Commissioners and I will be doing. Anyone who has an interest in our work is invited to contribute to it. This can be done best by commenting on draft papers for our meetings. Whenever possible the draft papers will be published on the SurvivorScotland website and comments can made on the feedback section of that site. All responses will be welcome and considered. I hope it will be evident, over time, that not only is our forum open and inclusive, but it is also responsive to the needs and interests of survivors and those working with them.

I look forward to benefiting from the responses received and from the contribution of the Advisory Group. I believe that, in this way, we will not only build a process for the Pilot Forum which is fit for purpose, but reflects our remit and commitment to open and honest communication with survivors.


Tom Shaw
Chair

Wednesday, 2 December 2009
Advisory Group - meeting 1 - paper 6 [PDF 22.29k]

Wednesday, 2 December 2009
Advisory Group - meeting 1 - paper 5 [PDF 26.76k]

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