'I suffered abuse at a children's home but was denied support cash on a technicality'

Max experienced drug addiction due to negligence while placed in children's homes, but was denied compensation because he entered care a year late. Islington's Support Payment Scheme for abuse survivors only accounts for those in homes prior to 1995. Max's situation, in which he suffered severe abuse and neglect, aligns with that of others who received support. He faced disregard for his educational needs, ultimately resulting in addiction and ongoing struggles post-care. Support was lacking during critical transitions, leading to long-term challenges.

Max expressed his distress after being denied financial support by the council simply because he entered children's homes in 1996 instead of 1995, despite similar experiences of abuse. He said, 'I'm just gutted. I'm really pissed off. I'm going to solicitors.' He described the injustices he faced, and claimed the cut-off point for compensation is unfair and fails to account for similar abuse suffered by children past the threshold.

Jane Frawley from Islington Survivors Network commented on the unfairness of the council's compensation scheme, stating: 'It's the same sort of abuse by the same staff in the same home, but if you lived there two months earlier you could get the money. It's absolutely ridiculous.' This highlights systemic failures in providing justice and support to survivors.

Max recounted his traumatic experiences in Northampton Park children's home, noting that staff were negligent regarding substance use and educational needs: 'They would allow children to smoke cigarettes and drugs... My educational needs were neglected, with staff failing to notice my dyslexia and ADHD.' Such neglect severely impacted his future opportunities.

After aging out of care at 18 without assistance, he said: 'I wound up living in a hostel and my drug use escalated.' He described falling into addiction and suffering the consequences of a lack of support from the system that was meant to protect vulnerable children. He now faces ongoing challenges as a consequence.

Read at www.islingtongazette.co.uk