Scotland’s Redress Scheme

Children 1st can confirm that the charity is a member of the Scottish Government’s Financial Redress scheme which has been set up for survivors of historical abuse whilst in care. We are aware of how vulnerable children in public care are and that they need the utmost care and protection. Children 1st were part of a public care system that did not always provide the love and care needed for generations of children.

Children 1st offers an unreserved apology to anyone who was abused whilst in our care and sees membership of the scheme as an important step in addressing the failings of our past. Children 1st, or as we were formerly known, the Royal Scottish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Children (RSSPCC), is truly sorry for any failure to protect children from harm and abuse that occurred while they were in our care. We are committed to acknowledging and learning from the past and to continually developing our practices and people to maintain the highest possible standards in the support, care, and protection of children. Children 1st has decided to join the redress scheme because as the RSSPCC we ran children’s shelters and a children’s home between 1884 and 1981 and we believe it is possible that abuse occurred during that time.

We want to offer our unreserved, whole-hearted apologies to anyone who suffered harm as a child whilst in our care. Nothing can make up for the traumatic impact of abuse and harm in childhood, but we hope that by signing up to the scheme and working with survivors and the Scottish Government we can contribute to the collective endeavour to acknowledge, apologise and learn from survivors in order to protect future generations of Scottish children.

We thank those survivors who have shared their stories and encourage anyone who suffered whilst in our care to get in touch with us. We commit to listening with respect, care, openness, compassion and sensitivity.  

If you would like to access your records or discuss your search for information about your past, please email infogov@children1st.org.uk

For any media enquiries please contact communications@children1st.org.uk