Survivors of child abuse in Islington Care Homes deserve justice and compensation for the trauma they have suffered.

We are preparing for a legal challenge to Islington Council if they refuse to offer the requisite redress to survivors many of whom are severely traumatised. We need your support – please contribute now and share this page on social media.   

In the 90s, Liz Davies, social worker, reported the extent of the abuse in Islington Care Homes leading to extensive media coverage and 14 inquiries but as yet minimal and fragmented police or social services investigation.

ISN survivor evidence indicates that they were victims of organised crime by abusers who had infiltrated the Islington care system as residential care workers. Survivors speak of sexual assault, neglect, physical violence and emotional harm. Abuse, for many, continued for their entire childhood.

We can’t change the horror of what happened in the past but with your help we can seek redress and justice.

Who are we? 

Islington Survivors Network (ISN) formed two years ago to campaign for justice and healing for survivors of child abuse in 30 Islington children's homes and also foster placements.

Organised by volunteers, over 120 survivors have now come forward and received help to access their care files, give their accounts of the crimes committed against them, seek legal redress and pursue criminal prosecutions.

Through the efforts of ISN, the council now provide housing and support for the survivors as well as a dedicated Trauma Service based at St Pancras hospital.

What is our case? 

Last September, the council leader apologised to ISN survivors and admitted council culpability for the abuse. ISN is working with Leigh Day Solicitors in assessing the possibility of legal claims against the council to get justice and redress for the trauma experienced by so many survivors.

This led to lawyers Alison Millar (Leigh Day) and Sam Stein QC of Nexus Chambers (the Chambers of Michael Mansfield QC) acting pro bono and submitting an ISN redress scheme proposal to Islington Council which is currently under consideration.

There is an urgency for funding as the survivors have waited long enough - some since the 60s and 70s. To pursue individual claims may take years and can be a stressful, distressing process. A redress scheme would be in the survivors best interests and there is a precedent in the Lambeth redress scheme response to Shirley Oaks Survivor's proposal.

There is strength in numbers and crowdfunding would enable Leigh Day to obtain initial advice from a leading barrister with specialist expertise as to the possibility of promptly beginning a class action involving several Islington care leavers should the redress scheme not progress as ISN has requested.

Case background

On 1st August 1993, the Sunday Times reported a Scotland Yard police investigation of wealthy businessmen linked to a sex ring abusing children in Islington's care. The children had nowhere safe to go. Abuse took place wherever they were taken - holidays, work experience, libraries, sports clubs, churches and play schemes. It was not unusual for sibling groups to be in care, with traveller families and black and ethnic minority groups over-represented. The abuse networks were more extensive than was realised in the 90s and involved abusers of high public prominence.

In the relatively affluent Borough of Islington survivors are a hidden, secret underclass barely visible to the community.

It is time for justice, Crowdfunding for this legal consultation process will greatly assist our work in achieving redress.