On the 20th June 2023 the Church of England submitted plans for a national redress scheme for survivors of Church-related abuse with over £150 million allocated for compensation.
This comes following the Church’s Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) hearings where it was found that the Church of England had failed to protect children and young people from sexual predators within their midst in addition to an ignorance towards safeguarding in favour of protecting the reputation of Clergy and the Church.
The purpose of the Scheme is to provide a more victim and survivor centric way for the Church to address previous failings in respect of safeguarding. All survivors of sexual, physical, psychological and emotional abuse including spiritual abuse, relating to the Church will be eligible to apply for compensation under the proposed scheme.
Under the plans there is to be a presentation and debate at the Church’s General Synod in July 2023 and it is hoped legislation will progress through Synod in forthcoming sessions after which parliamentary approval will be obtained. Funding is then to be released once the key parameters of the scheme are in the place.
Establishing a structured redress scheme is an essential step by the Church of England in taking responsibility for the damage and hurt caused to the victims and survivors of church-related abuse. We understand that the eligibility of applicants will first be assessed and there will be different bands of financial settlement for survivors, dependent on the nature of the abuse and the way that their case was handled. We eagerly await these plans.
You can register your interest with Farleys by clicking here and completing the short form.
Religious abuse can happen in any religion, and within religious settings; including churches, mosques and synagogues. If you or a loved one has been subjected to abuse by a religious figure or institution, rest assured that we are here to help.
At Farleys, we recognise that the status of abusers can often make it harder for survivors to come forward, often for fear that they might not be believed. That is why you can count on your specialist abuse claims solicitor to listen without judgement, and be clear and direct with you. We want to make the abuse claims process as stress-free as possible for you.
With decades of experience behind us, we know that in recent years there has been a significant increase in the number of cases reporting abuse that has been committed by established members of the clergy and Church. The exposure of the deep-rooted levels of systematic abuse within the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of England has revealed the extent to which abuse can occur within voluntary organisations. It also revealed a series of cover ups that have taken place over the years, including historical abuse committed within various religious bodies throughout the UK.
Survivors of such abuse often have to contend with feelings of shame or guilt, which can sometimes develop into self-blaming tendencies. All that can make it much harder to open up to someone else about the abuse.
As leading specialists in this highly emotive and complex area of law, we understand the struggle our clients face when required to speak out about their past for the very first time. Our dedicated team support abuse survivors throughout the process, treating every case with the sensitivity and discretion it deserves.
The extensive experience our team possesses allows us to identify the best course of action, ensuring you finally gain a sense of closure and justice over past events. We will also work tirelessly to ensure you receive the support required to allow you to move forward with your life, working closely with top clinical specialists.
