Islington Council Cuts Trauma Support for Child Abuse Survivors

0:00On April 21st, Islington Council just shut down its specialist trauma support for survivors of child abuse in their care homes, calling it a tough but, necessary move. This service, funded since 2018, helped hundreds dealing with historic horrors like rape and trafficking by staff. It ended on March 31st, right after a scandal labeled the Burles' darkest chapter. They're switching to a new setup run by mental health charity Islington Mind, with 50,000 pounds in funding for trauma-informed care. Officials say it's sustainable long term, built with survivor input and tied into broader NHS services. But the old team had five psychologists and hands-on help across three sites, tailored just for these folks. Survivors through the Islington Survivors Network are furious, feeling totally cut off at the knees. They say the council broke promises for a lifelong specialist aid, and the transition left them depressed with no quick access like before. Just a phone. Call away for therapy when things got bad.

1:02Campaigners call it tragic, losing pros who knew their full story. The network tried the new helpline, but it went dead, and they worry quality would drop without enough dedicated staff. Back in the 90s, a whistleblower exposed a suspected abuse ring from 1986 to 1992, but inquiries found botched. Probes, no prosecutions, and staff slipping away. Several leaders once admitted full culpability, and offered 10,000 pounds payouts to victims from 1966 to 1995. Now, as survivors push back, the fights on to make sure this new support actually delivers without leaving anyone behind.