Since the Church of England announced its Redress Scheme for survivors of abuse, we get many questions about it on a daily basis.
In this article, we aim to answer a handful of them to provide a little more clarity. Look out for future updates which will delve further into the Church of England Redress Scheme and what it hopes to be able to offer survivors of abuse.
What does the Church of England Redress Scheme offer?
Whether the abuse was recent or historical, the Scheme has been set up to offer:
- Financial redress for the injuries caused
- Therapeutic, emotional and spiritual support
- Acknowledgement of the abuse from the church, as well as an apology
Please note that even though the Redress Scheme has been announced, it has yet to open for claims submissions as of the date of this article’s publication. We are monitoring this situation at all times for developments, and we will be sure to provide further clarity as and when updates occur.
Am I eligible to claim for abuse within the Church of England?
In order to be eligible to make a claim under this scheme, your abuse must have occurred within the Anglican Church.
If the abuse happened outside of this organisation, please do get in touch with us regardless and our team will advise on other potential claims avenues.
Will I be eligible to make a claim?
There are two separate pathways to eligibility with Church of England:
- Close connection
This is achieved when it is established that there is a close connection between the role the person was authorised to undertake in the church and the abuse.
- Failure to act
This would be achievable if the risk of abuse was know to the church, but an appropriate person within the church failed to act within reason, which would have prevented it.
Can I receive help to complete my application?
Yes, you can. You could get help from a friend or a member of family, an advocate or a support worker. You can also instruct a Solicitor to assist. It will be necessary to state the personal details of the person who is assisting you with your application as part of the process.
Why has the Church of England Redress Scheme not opened yet?
The Church of England has approved the Scheme, but the draft legislation approved by the General Synod still needs to pass through Parliament. We will provide updates as soon as we have any in a future article.
The Scheme has yet to open to applications, but should I make an enquiry anyway?
Yes, if you feel able to. Starting the process with us now will allow us time to assess your edibility to claim and prepare your case in time for the launch of the Scheme.
Once it does open, we will then be able to submit it promptly as the preparation work will have already been done.
Further reading
Church of England Redress Scheme – Church of England
Sexual Abuse Claims – abuseclaims.co.uk
Historic Abuse Claims – Oakwood Solicitors
WHAT TO DO NEXT
If you have suffered physical or sexual abuse, get in touch today for a no-obligation consultation. Choose one of the methods on the right-hand side of this page or call us on 0113 306 9001.
