Though the Church of England has approved the introduction of a Redress Scheme for historic abuse, it hasn’t begun accepting enquiries.
We understand that this must be very frustrating for survivors of abuse and their loved ones, but there are some things to know about the upcoming Scheme and why it is taking so long to begin. We answer some more commonly-asked questions in our latest article.
For older articles in this series, take a look back here:
- Church of England Redress Scheme – Am I eligible to claim?
- Compensation calculations in the Church of England Redress Scheme
Why has the Church of England Redress Scheme yet to open?
As mentioned above, the Scheme has been approved by the Church of England, but the remaining wait is now down to parliamentary procedure. Therefore, the Scheme will be open for applications upon successfully passing through parliament.
What is the timeline of the parliamentary legislative procedure?
As well as passing through parliament, there is also some preparation to be done to allow the church and the legal system to be able to accept, process and deal with such matters.
The anticipated timeline for the parliamentary legislative process currently looks like this:
- Now: The Designated Legislation Committee, the House of Commons, and House of Lords have found the Redress Abuse Measure expedient. The Measure has also received Royal Assent. This means that it will become law.
- Next step: The Rules that are to accompany the Measure will be set before parliament for approval.
- After approval: The opening date is then dependent upon the readiness of all parties to begin handling claims.
So, when will the Scheme open?
According to the latest information presented by the Church of England’s website, the Scheme should be open for applications in “the latter part of 2026.”
How long will the Scheme run for?
The Church of England Redress Scheme will be open to applications for five years from the date it opens.
Should I make an enquiry now, even though the Scheme hasn’t started accepting applications?
Though the Scheme may not be open for six months or more from the writing of this article, it is worth getting in touch with us to begin our part of the process.
If you provide all the information you need after we assess your circumstances, we have time before the Scheme opens to applications to begin putting your case together and have it ready for Submission on day one.
We appreciate that you have had to wait up to this point, but getting in touch with us as soon as you feel able will set everyone off on the right foot from the very beginning of this Scheme’s launch.
Further reading
Am I eligible to claim? – abuseclaims.co.uk
Church of England Redress Scheme – Church of England
Historic Abuse Claims – Oakwood Solicitors
WHAT TO DO NEXT
If you would like to know more about proceeding with a historical abuse claim via the Church of England Redress Scheme, 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.
