Council pays £1.5m+ in first year of redress scheme for people affected by abuse while placed in its children’s homes

Islington Council has said it has made 155 payments, totalling £1.535m, in the first year of its support payment scheme, which recognises the council’s “past failure to protect vulnerable children in its children’s homes.”

The London borough said the payment scheme, launched in May 2022, is “open for applications and enquiries” from people who experienced abuse while placed by the council in its children’s homes between 1966 and 1995.

Islington said other available support includes “trauma support and support to access care records, work and learning, housing and welfare advice, and community, health and wellbeing activities”. 

Of the 155 payments, 152 are payments of £10,000. Three are payments of £5,000, with further payments to be made at a later date.

Islington stressed that the support scheme is “not a compensation or redress scheme”, and that it “sits alongside” the existing civil compensation route, and does not replace it.

The council added: “It has no bearing on any civil compensation claims that abuse survivors may bring, except that, to ensure fairness and compliance with constitutional requirements, a scheme payment would be offset against any later civil compensation claim payment, and any previous civil compensation claim payment would be offset against a scheme payment.”  

Cllr Kaya Comer-Schwartz, Leader of Islington Council, said: “We’re deeply sorry for the council’s past failure to protect vulnerable children in its children’s homes, which was the worst chapter in this council’s history.  

“The Islington Support Payment Scheme is open, and people affected by abuse while placed by the council in its children’s homes between 1966 and 1995 can apply for a financial support payment of £10,000.  

“The scheme has made payments to 155 people so far, and more applications are being processed. We welcome more applications from people who experienced abuse while placed by the council in children’s homes between 1966 and 1995."

Cllr Comer-Scwartz added: “We particularly welcome more applications from people from Black and Asian communities who experienced abuse. People can also get in touch to find out more before making an application.  

“The council also offers a wide range of help to people affected by abuse, including trauma support, assistance with accessing records and advice on work, education, housing and welfare, as well as a support payment. 

“Islington Council today is a very different organisation from in the past, and protecting children from harm is our top priority.” 

Islington Council no longer manages any children’s homes.

The Support Payment Scheme is open to applications until May 2024.

Lottie Winson