Dr Liz Davies

A SURVIVOR of the Islington children’s homes scandal has been denied financial support packages as an appeal panel concluded that her abuse did not take place within the “qualifying period”.

Sophie (not her real name) was placed in Highbury Crescent and Grosvenor Avenue children’s homes from 1998-1999 where she says she was physically and sexually abused.

However, despite being told that there is “no question” that she had suffered abuse or that she had been in those homes, Sophie’s timeline of events means that she is not eligible for the scheme which gives payouts to those who suffered abuse between 1966 and 1995.

Sophie told the Tribune: “It feels so so so heart-shattering because I never looked for this scheme. I was never trying to get any kind of money. I already tried in my earlier years and I was told no, so I was like ‘OK, it’s not happening for me’. Now, they’ve confirmed that the abuse took place, but because you’re not in the time period, they won’t do anything.”

The mum-of-two, who is in her 30s, was in care from the age of seven – and says she was abused in foster placements prior to living in the children’s homes.

“I feel like I was homeless from the age of seven. I’d have to go to review meetings with about 12 people there. I felt I needed to fight my own battles. I don’t have any fight left in me,” she added.

Sophie says she reported the abuse in the children’s homes at the time, and again to the police when she was in her early 20s.

She said: “I think it’s affected me more than I know, and that’s quite scary. I’m quite resilient. I think I let my resilience take over my trauma, and I’ve now felt it at a later stage. It’s affected my mental health. I’ve had half of my life taken away from me. I’ve not had any support, any recognition that this happened.”

Dr Liz Davies, a former social worker who has campaigned for decades for survivors to be compensated, said that the scheme has been a “painful, cruel process” for them.

She said: “To go through the appeal must have been incredibly painful. You just see a woman’s face on the screen. It’s been very distressing for many survivors. One person just cried the whole way through. It’s just been such a painful, cruel process. For all of them, even the very capable ones.”

Dr Davies, who set up the Islington Survivors Network and has helped hundreds of survivors navigate the payment scheme, said that it had been “completely mismanaged”.

“When a survivor comes forward to the council, they would interview them and take a statement. They were not trained to interview survivors and they didn’t know what they were doing. They were asking really, really intrusive questions and they didn’t know the nuances,” she said.

Dr Davies, who is now compiling evidence to bring to the Local Gover­n­ment Ombudsman, said: “There’s no justice. There’s no liability attached to it. It was a very unique scheme, not everyone can get a civil claim, so it was a whole new way of looking at it. More than 400 survivors have got this payout. This is an achievement, but it’s because of us [ISN].”

An Islington Council spokesperson 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 support payment scheme was specifically designed for survivors who experienced abuse when placed by Islington Council in its children’s homes. It accepted the independent White Report’s recommendation that 1966 to 1995 repre­sented an appropriate period for the scheme, which was legally and financially complex.

“The scheme was open for two years to ensure that the maximum number of applicants were able to take up the offer within the time frame, and the eligibility criteria were made clear.

“The scheme was designed to be as straightforward and quick to access as possible, aiming to minimise the need to re-live past trauma or the risk of further trauma or harm.

“It’s essential to note that this was not a compensation scheme and any survivors of non-recent child abuse who were placed in a care home by Islington Council can still pursue a civil compensation claim if they wish – regardless of whether or not they qualified for the support payment scheme.

“Survivors of non-recent child abuse in Islington can still get a range of support from the council, including trauma support, access to emo­tional wellbeing services, help to access care records and advice and support for housing, welfare, learning and employment – accessible at islington.­gov.uk/survivorsupport.”