The Jersey Redress Scheme, which was launched on 1 July 2019, is available to people who as children suffered abuse or harm between 1945 and 2005 while in care at a government children’s home, foster care placement or while being housed at Les Chênes secure residential unit.
The programme followed a previous scheme launched in 2012 that was only open to those who had suffered abuse in full-time residential care. This was before the publication of the Independent Jersey Care Inquiry report, which catalogued a string of failings in Les Chênes secure residential unit and government foster care, as well as residential care.
The current scheme was originally due to close to new applications on 31 June 2020 but the deadline was extended to 31 August 2020 due to Covid-19.
So far, a total of 176 applications have been accepted into the scheme, with 137 offers of redress accepted by applicants. The other applications are still being determined.
Housing and Children’s Minister Sam Mézec said: ‘This scheme recognises that, over a period of many years, the government did not act as it should have to protect children from harm and abuse in foster care and in Les Chênes secure residential unit, as well as residential care. We are sorry that we failed those children and their families. I would urge anyone who feels this may apply to them to contact the scheme before the end of this month.’
Meanwhile, a petition against spending £200,000 on a memorial for those who suffered abuse within Jersey’s care system has reached almost 3,000 signatures, but is due to end later this month.
Following the inquiry report, a citizen’s panel was set up to examine and make recommendations as to how Jersey could honour child abuse survivors and ensure the failings would not be forgotten. One of these recommendations was a permanent memorial to those who suffered abuse.
The petition was set up by a child abuse survivor who opposed the panel’s recommendation.
Senator Mézec said that work on the memorial had been delayed as a result of the pandemic but that an update would be provided on the progress of the project shortly.
