SCOTLAND
Sunday Mail
By Marion Scott
SHATTERED survivors of care home abuse are to be thrown a £2million lifeline by the Scottish Executive.
Ministers are set to announce that the cash will bolster the work of support groups helping traumatised victims of institutional abuse.
Health Minister Andy Kerr is expected to unveil the funding next week, along with the appointment of an 'abuse tsar' to oversee the support given to survivors.
The plans will be revealed almost a year after the Executive denied a public inquiry to children who had been abused at care homes.
Kerr declined to discuss his proposed support plan in detail yesterday but confirmed: 'There will be an announcement in the near future.
'I want to see better support and services for survivors of sexual abuse.
'Last week, I met with members of the Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse Cross Party Group to talk about how we could improve the support we provide.
'We discussed a number of plans and I am keen to move forward on this issue.'
The move comes after decades of abuse was exposed at number of care homes, including the shameful regime in place at Scotland's De La Salle schools.
The Sunday Mail campaigned for De La Salle victims, including Charlie Watts, 55.
Born to a poor circus family, he was four when his dad ran off and he was placed in the care of the Catholic Church. He was then sent to St Joseph's, Tranent, East Lothian, where he was repeatedly abused by staff.
Posted by kshaw at June 12, 2005 06:41 AM