This announcement provides more information about future Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (SCAI) case study hearings.
Phase 10 of SCAI’s investigations concerns the provision of residential care for children and young people in establishments run by local authorities. This phase will also cover any establishments run by voluntary providers if they were used by local authorities to place children into care.
This is a category of residential care that requires to be investigated under SCAI’s wide-ranging Terms of Reference.
It is expected that public hearings for this phase will commence in the second half of 2025.
Investigation of establishments in this category has been ongoing throughout the life of the Inquiry, and many relevant statements have already been provided. Applicants and other witnesses who have relevant evidence to provide are encouraged to come forward.
As part of its preparatory work, SCAI regularly reviews the stages that all its investigations have reached and may, if necessary, add to its list of focused investigations.
Ponton House in Edinburgh has now been added to SCAI’s list of focused investigations under the category ‘Non-religious/Voluntary organisations’. The full list can be found here. The listed investigations are ongoing, and further information on which institutions are to form part of a case study will be announced in due course.
Lady Smith, Chair of the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry, said: ‘The Inquiry’s wide-ranging Terms of Reference include requiring us to investigate the provision of residential care for children in establishments run by local authorities.
‘They also require investigations to focus on establishments into which local authorities placed children in care.
‘We plan to hold public hearings and expect that they will be able to commence in the second half of 2025.
‘Our investigations have been ongoing throughout the life of the Inquiry.
‘A number of people have already come forward, but we would encourage anyone with relevant information to get in touch with the Inquiry’s witness support team as soon as possible.’
The Inquiry’s witness support team can be contacted on 0800 0929 300, or emailed at
talktous@childabuseinquiry.scot
Individuals can also write to the Inquiry by post at SCAI, PO Box 24202, Edinburgh EH3 1JN.
SCAI launched a new website earlier this year which includes a range of features to improve accessibility, such as the ‘Recite Me’ assistive toolbar and a series of short videos with captions and British Sign Language interpretation.
Further details about this case study will be announced in due course.