10 | THE VOICE OCTOBER 2020
ADVERTORIAL
Compensation for Child Abuse Survivors
L
ambeth Council has enlisted the charity Voice4Change England and Black Thrive, a local grassroots partnership, to support the Black community’s access to a Redress Scheme that compensates those who survived neglect and abuse in the borough’s former children’s homes. The Lambeth Children’s Home Redress Scheme provides compensation and support to victims of child abuse, and those put in harm’s way, whilst at the homes which were open from the 1930s until the ‘80s and ‘90s. The two non-profit organisations are working to reach people of Black African and Caribbean heritage, as they are currently underrepresented amongst those who have claimed redress. The Lambeth Children’s Homes Redress Scheme has been extended to the new closing date of 5pm on 1 January 2022.
Lambeth Council invites Black African and Caribbean people to claim Redress in a safe and confidential space
COUNSELLING
In January 2018, Lambeth Council launched the Lambeth Children’s Homes Redress Scheme, a first of its kind in England. It aims to support individuals who were abused or were at risk of being abused at Shirley Oaks and other former Lambeth Children’s Homes. The Redress Scheme was set up to avoid re-traumatising survivors by offering an alternative to going through the courts – which is the usual route for compensation claims. As well as financial compensation survivors are offered independent legal representation funded by the council, a formal apology from the council, a meeting with a senior council representative and free counselling support. There is also specialist advice available to help with housing, welfare, benefits, further education and employment. By June this year more than 1,600 people had applied to the
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Black Lives Matter shows us that systemic Redress Scheme, and England, racism and inequality Voice4Change the national voice for over £46.4 million has the black and minority been paid out in comfor black people is still ethnic third sector says: pensation. “Recent events and the a persisting issue global focus on Black Lives Matter shows us that sysSUPPORT both abroad and temic racism and inequality But the council has obfor Black people is still a perserved that people with in the UK sisting issue both abroad and in Black African and Caribbean backgrounds, who are eligible, have not come forward to claim their compensation in
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expected numbers. Potential barriers identified include insufficient clarity of information on how to apply, concerns about how Redress could impact other support claims and put personal information at risk, fear of re-traumatisation, and other factors.
APPLICATION
In response following their appointment Voice4Change England and Black Thrive launched a new website on 24 June to help improve access to the scheme by supporting people with their redress application, clarifying any concerns and addressing barriers people may have when applying. Kunle Olulode, Director of
the UK. “The underrepresentation of Black people accessing this Redress Scheme is more than likely to be the result of structural barriers and lack of proactive action to engage with the community.
ENTITLED
We must do better and ensure that everyone receives the compensation they are entitled to.” Natalie Creary, Director of Black Thrive, a mental health ini-
tiative set up to address institutional racism in Lambeth, says: “Many victims and survivors of the abuses that happened between the 1930s to 1990s may no longer live in Lambeth. Whilst we at Black Thrive have experience engaging communities across Lambeth and will use our expansive network to get the word out locally, we need to do much, much more. We must ensure any survivors who are no longer in the borough, who may have fallen under the radar of care and support services, and who may have limited access to digital media are reached and encouraged to come forward.” Go to the Lambeth Redress website to find out more: https://lambethredress.co.uk/ Disclaimers apply - full details at www.lambeth.gov.uk/ email-disclaimer
