The Church of England Redress Scheme page states that the scheme “is not yet open for applications.” At the time of writing (July 2024) it is already 840+ days overdue from the initial promise by the Church in public statements.
The scheme is designed to give ‘redress’ to those victims and survivors of abuse from within the Church, some of whom continue to suffer highly compromised lives due to the suffering of their abuse.
House of Survivors has a number of predictions:
Considerable pressure will be needed to hold the Church to what it has so far promised. In the collective experience of survivors, the Archbishops’ Council is not noted for its transparency. We are aware that there are senior figures hidden within the folds of the hierarchy who will be looking to negate or at least delay the promises so far made.
Having said that, our prediction is that the Scheme will hopefully be underway by September 2025. The general election has already delayed progress, as a new Ecclesiastical Committee in Parliament will need to be formed so that decisions so far agreed by Synod can go through their final parliamentary process.
We estimate the eventual bill for the Church of England to be in excess of £half a billion. Compare this with the increase on funds made by the Church Commissioners in an average year. It’s about the same.
It is notable that Ecclesiastical Insurance who have contributed much harm to survivors and considerable reputational damage to their main client the Church, have exited stage-left. They and their parent trust, Benefact Trust, have abandoned responsibility and left their client to sort out the mess. We predict that questions will continue to be raised in Synod, but ultimately the symbiotic relationship between Church and its insurer will be maintained. There is too much vested interest for it to be otherwise. But the relationship will never be as cozy as it once was. Trust between the two has evaporated.
House of Survivors predict 2025 and 2026 will begin the ‘years of apology’. Senior figures will finally face calls from many survivors for accountability and apology for many bad behaviors towards us as we carried forward our cases. Apology is a vital part of redress, but is likely to be contentious in some situations; senior figures have been slow to recognise that transparency and apology will be necessary.
House of Survivors are two survivors who curate a ‘narrative wisdom’ site. As such we cannot offer support or advocacy. But our advice to any considering the Scheme would be to begin to think about a possible advocate before the Scheme opens. Our understanding is that the Church will be paying advocates and solicitors separately and not out of the Redress Scheme fund.
We will try to update this page as frequently as possible to provide information on timings, eligibility and Terms of Reference when available. Prior to activation of the Redress Scheme, survivors may be eligible to claim support from the Interim Support Scheme (ISS).
More information can be found below, along with all major news articles on the scheme to date.
Main Church of England National Redress Scheme page
https://www.churchofengland.org/safeguarding/redress-scheme
Redress Scheme FAQs
https://www.churchofengland.
Church of England Redress Blog
https://www.churchofengland.
We have collated prominent articles on the redress scheme below. The article links are listed in chronological order, to follow the timeline from the first (top) to last (bottom).
Church of England’s £200million compensation scheme will pay out victims of historic sex abuse by bishops and clergy
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8774635/Church-Englands-200million-compensation-scheme-pay-victims-historic-sex-abuse.html
Sept 26, 2020
Daily Mail
Church of England approves compensation for sexual abuse survivors
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/sep/28/church-of-england-approves-compensation-for-sexual-abuse-survivors
Sept 28, 2020
Guardian
Towards a Theology of Redress
https://survivingchurch.org/2020/10/16/towards-a-theology-of-redress/
Oct 16, 2020
Surviving Church
What do we mean by Redress?
https://survivingchurch.org/2020/10/19/what-do-we-mean-by-redress/
Oct 19, 2020
Surviving Church
BLM and Redress Schemes
https://survivingchurch.org/2020/11/20/blm-and-redress-schemes/
Nov 20, 2020
Surviving Church
Interim Support Scheme and Redress Scheme
https://survivingchurch.org/2021/07/25/interim-support-scheme-redress-scheme/
July 25, 2021
Surviving Church
Redress project update December 2022
https://www.churchofengland.org/safeguarding/redress-scheme/redress-project-update-december-2022
Dec 19, 2022
Church of England
Church of England national Redress Scheme
https://www.churchofengland.org/media/press-releases/church-england-national-redress-scheme
June 20, 2023
Church of England
Church’s redress scheme for survivors ‘to start next year’ with £150m from Commissioners
https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2023/23-june/news/uk/church-s-redress-scheme-for-survivors-to-start-next-year-with-150m-from-commissioners
June 20, 2023
Church Times
Church of England to set up £150m fund for victims of church-related abuse
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/church-of-england-church-commissioners-general-synod-church-in-wales-england-b2361051.html
June 20, 2023
Independent
Church of England says abuse compensation scheme ‘broadest yet’
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-65961083.amp
June 20, 2023
BBC
No limit on what CofE will spend on abuse redress scheme says Bishop
https://premierchristian.news/en/news/article/no-limit-on-what-cofe-will-spend-on-abuse-redress-scheme-says-bishop1
June 21, 2023
Premier Christian News
General Synod Digest: Bishop Mountstephen tells Synod that grace and law will work together in Redress Scheme
https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2023/14-july/news/uk/general-synod-digest-bishop-mounstephen-tells-synod-that-grace-and-law-will-work-together-in-redress-scheme
July 14, 2023
Church Times
Church of England abuse – proper redress and accountability needed for survivors
https://www.leighday.co.uk/news/blog/2023-blogs/church-of-england-abuse-proper-redress-and-accountability-needed-for-survivors/
Sept 18, 2023
Leigh Day blog
Synod approves next step for national redress scheme
https://www.churchofengland.org/safeguarding/safeguarding-news-releases/synod-approves-next-steps-national-redress-scheme
Nov 14, 2023
Church of England
PCCs may have to foot the bill for abuse claims, Synod members warn
https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2023/17-november/news/uk/pccs-may-have-to-foot-bill-for-abuse-claims-synod-members-warn
Nov 14, 2023
Church Times
Church of England takes next step towards Redress for abuse victims
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/church-of-england-b2446986.html
Nov 14, 2023
Independent
Church of England Synod approves next steps for national redress scheme
https://anglican.ink/2023/11/14/church-of-england-synod-approves-next-steps-for-national-redress-scheme/
Nov 14, 2023
Anglican Ink
General Synod Digest: Survivor Redress Scheme pushed forward with reservations
https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2023/24-november/news/uk/general-synod-digest-survivor-redress-scheme-pushed-forward-with-reservations
Nov 24, 2023
Church Times
Ecclesiastical Insurance will not take part in redress scheme for victims of church-related abuse
https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2024/16-february/news/uk/ecclesiastical-insurance-will-not-take-part-in-redress-scheme-for-victims-of-church-related-abuse
Feb 16, 2024
Church Times
Church of England announces administrator of its national redress scheme
https://www.churchofengland.org/media/press-releases/church-england-announces-administrator-its-national-redress-scheme
March 20, 2024
Church of England
Survivors could be paid £660,000 in C of E’s four-stage redress scheme
https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2024/26-april/news/uk/survivors-could-be-paid-660-000-in-c-of-e-s-four-stage-redress-scheme
April 25, 2024
Church Times
National Redress Scheme: Proposed financial award framework and approach to funding
https://anglican.ink/2024/04/26/national-redress-scheme-proposed-financial-award-framework-and-approach-to-funding/
April 26, 2024
Anglican Ink
Redress Scheme Update
https://www.churchofengland.org/safeguarding/safeguarding-news-releases/redress-scheme-update
July 9, 2024
Church of England
General Synod digest: Redress Scheme for survivors passes revision stage
https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2024/12-july/news/uk/general-synod-digest-redress-scheme-for-survivors-passes-revision-stage
July 12, 2024
Church Times