BSL film announcing public hearings relating to St Vincent’s School for the Deaf and Blind, the Royal Blind School, and Donaldson’s School for the Deaf.
The Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (SCAI) has issued a British Sign Language (BSL) film providing details of public hearings relating to its investigations of St Vincent’s School for the Deaf and Blind, Glasgow; the Royal Blind School, Edinburgh; and Donaldson’s School for the Deaf, also in Edinburgh.
The video, which also includes subtitle captions, can be found via this link.
From August 2025 SCAI will examine the provision of residential care at all three establishments for children and young people (under the age of 18) with long-term healthcare needs, additional support needs, and disabilities covering the period up to the end of 2014.
Hearings information
Public hearings will be held at SCAI’s venue at Mint House, 20 West Register Street, Edinburgh, EH2 2AA.
Hearings in relation to St Vincent’s School for the Deaf and Blind will be led on 20, 21, and 29 August. Evidence will be BSL-translated by interpreters for members of the public.
Hearings in relation to the Royal Blind School will be led from 26 to 28 August.
Evidence in relation to Donaldson’s School for the Deaf will be led in autumn 2025. A separate announcement about this block of hearings will be made at a later date.
This phase of investigations will explore the nature and extent of all forms of physical, sexual, and emotional abuse including the abusive use of corporal punishment and restraint.
Reporting systems and the wide-ranging impact of abuse have been and continue to be aspects of SCAI’s investigations, as are staff recruitment, training, and organisational culture; these will also be explored during the case study.
The case study will include the presentation of evidence from individuals who experienced and/or witnessed abuse when in residential care in one of these settings, from relevant experts, from regulatory bodies, and from providers.
Contact us
Please visit the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry’s hearings page for the latest details or contact our Witness Support Team for further information:
- Through Contact Scotland BSL and/or Relay UK, who can provide a BSL interpreter
- Email: talktous@childabuseinquiry.scot
- Phone: 0800 0929 300