Church of England Sexual Abuse Compensation - Who Can Claim?

If you experienced sexual abuse connected to the Church of England, you may be wondering whether you can claim compensation. Even if the abuse happened many years ago, you can still apply for Church of England sexual abuse compensation through the Redress Scheme.

Many survivors spend years, or even decades, before feeling ready to talk about what happened. There is no right time. Whether you are ready to make a claim now, simply looking for information, or supporting someone close to you, you are welcome to take things at your own pace.

This page explains how the Church of England Redress Scheme deals with Church of England sexual abuse claims, who may be eligible to apply, and what support and compensation the scheme can offer. We explain everything in plain English, without legal jargon, so you can understand your options before deciding what, if anything, you want to do next.

Throughout the page, you'll also find sections headed "Where this comes from in the rules." These contain the exact wording from the legislation that created the scheme. You don't need to read them to understand how the scheme works, but they're there if you'd like to see the legal basis for what we've explained.

The Church of England Redress Scheme recognises many different forms of sexual abuse. It covers far more than rape or sexual assault.

Examples include:

• Sexual activity that you were forced, pressured or manipulated into.
• Penetration of any part of your body without your consent.
• Sexual touching without your consent.
• Being made to watch pornography or sexual acts.
• Someone exposing themselves to you.
• Being secretly watched, photographed or filmed for a sexual purpose, including upskirting.

You do not need to worry about finding the right legal term for what happened to you. If you have experienced any of these behaviours, they may be covered by the scheme.

The exact legal definition is set out in the Rules below.

Where the Church of England sexual abuse terms come from in the rules

The ‘sexual abuse’ by one person (A) of another (B) includes the following.

1. the use by A of coercion or physical force to cause B to engage in sexual activity without B’s consent;
2. the penetration by A of B’s vagina, anus or mouth with a part of A’s body or anything else without B’s consent;
3. the sexual touching by A of B without B’s consent;
4. the use by A of coercion or physical force to expose B to pornography or to sexual activity taking place in person;
5. the exposure by A of A’s genitals to B;
6. conduct by A towards B of a kind which comes within section 67 or 67A of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 (voyeurism, upskirting)."

Rule 2(2), Abuse Redress Rules 2025. The list above is what the scheme counts as Church of England sexual abuse, in plain terms.

The legal definition of sexual abuse uses the word "includes," which is important. It means that the list is not exhaustive. Instead, it gives examples of the types of abuse the scheme recognises.

If what happened to you involved sexual behaviour without your consent, it may still fall within the scheme, even if your experience is not described word for word in the definition. Every application is considered on its own facts. You do not need to work out whether what happened fits a particular legal label. Your role is simply to explain what happened, as best you can. The Redress Body will decide how it should be categorised under the scheme.

To qualify for the scheme, there are two main things that need to be true.

Firstly, the person responsible for the abuse must have held a role within the Church of England, or you must have had good reason to believe that they did.

Secondly, there must be a close connection between that role and the abuse. In other words, the person's position within the Church must have given them the opportunity, trust or authority that allowed the abuse to happen.

This does not only apply to ordained clergy. Depending on the circumstances, it could include people such as:

• Priests or vicars
• Lay ministers
• Churchwardens
• Sunday school leaders
• Youth workers
• Choir directors
• Teachers at Church of England schools
• Chaplains
• Residential care workers
• Organists
• Volunteers carrying out Church activities

What matters is not the person's job title, but whether the abuse was connected to the role that they held within the Church.

Where eligibility comes from in the rules

The two-part test for who can apply is set out in Section 3 of the Abuse Redress Measure 2025. In short, it asks whether the person had authority to perform a role in the Church of England (or you reasonably believed they did), and whether there was a close connection between that role and the abuse.

If you would like more information about who can apply under the scheme, including the full wording of Section 3 of the Abuse Redress Measure, take a look at our Who Can Claim Under the Church of England Redress Scheme? page.

If the person who experienced the abuse has sadly died, you may still be able to make an application on their behalf. Our guide to claims for deceased relatives explains who can apply under the Section 4 dependants' provisions.

Many survivors worry that they do not have enough evidence to make a claim. The scheme recognises that abuse often happened many years ago and that people may never have reported it at the time.

You can still apply if:

• You never reported the abuse to the police.
• Your abuser was never charged with a criminal offence.
• Criminal charges were brought but did not result in a conviction.
• Your abuser has since died.
• You have never spoken about the abuse before.
• The abuse happened many years, or even decades, ago.

The Redress Scheme does not apply the same standard of proof as a criminal court. Instead, it considers whether it is more likely than not that the abuse happened.

This is known as the civil standard of proof. It means an application may succeed even where there was not enough evidence for a criminal prosecution or conviction.

Where this comes from in the rules

The scheme decides cases on the balance of probabilities, meaning more likely than not. This is the civil standard of proof, a lower threshold than the criminal standard (“beyond reasonable doubt”) that a criminal court applies before it can convict.

If you have anything that helps show what happened, it can strengthen your application. This might include:

• Medical or counselling records
• Diaries or journals
• Letters or emails
• Statements from people you told at the time, or later
• Reports made to the Church, the police or another organisation
• School, employment or other records that place you where the abuse happened

Many survivors have none of these, particularly if the abuse happened many years ago. That does not stop you from applying. Your solicitor will help you identify what evidence is available and prepare your application. You are not expected to do this on your own.

Where the assessment comes from in the rules

The scheme decides cases on the balance of probabilities, meaning more likely than not. This is the civil standard of proof, a lower threshold than the criminal standard (“beyond reasonable doubt”) that a criminal court applies before it can convict.

If your application is successful, the Church of England Redress Scheme calculates compensation using a five-step framework set out in the Rules.

In simple terms, it considers:

• how serious the abuse was
• whether any aggravating factors apply
• the long-term impact on your life
• whether there are exceptional circumstances.

Awards range from £5,000 to £660,000.

Where the assessment comes from in the rules

The five-step calculation, with awards ranging from £5,000 to £660,000, is set out in Schedule 1 of the Abuse Redress Rules 2025. The first step ranks the severity of the abuse. Later steps apply aggravating factors, an impact award, and any exceptional uplift.

For many survivors of Church of England sexual abuse, one aggravating factor is particularly important.

If you were under 18 when the abuse happened, the Rules recognise this as an aggravating factor that can increase the value of your award.

Where this comes from in the rules

Rule 12(4) of the Abuse Redress Rules 2025 treats abuse where the survivor was under 18 at the time as an aggravating factor in its own right.

The Rules also consider how the Church responded after the abuse.

For example, they look at whether concerns were ignored, whether you were believed when you reported what happened, whether anyone tried to silence you, or whether Church officers already knew the person posed a risk.

You can read more about these factors on our Church of England Redress Scheme Compensation page.

Many survivors worry that making an application will feel like going through a court case. The Church of England Redress Scheme is different.

You will not be cross-examined or asked to give evidence in court. Instead, your application is prepared in writing with the support of your solicitor. You decide what you are comfortable sharing, and you can work at a pace that feels right for you.

If you need to pause your application, you can.

Where the application process comes from in the rules

Rule 26 of the Abuse Redress Rules 2025 gives the applicant the right to pause an application.

Speaking to a solicitor does not commit you to making a Church of England sexual abuse compensation claim.

Many people spend weeks or months reading about the scheme before deciding what they want to do. The first conversation is simply an opportunity to ask questions and understand your options.

The Church of England Redress Scheme is not the only way to seek compensation. Some survivors may also be able to bring a civil claim through the courts.

One important difference is that, if you accept a Redress Scheme award, you give up your right to bring a civil claim against the Church for the same abuse.

Because of this, it is important to understand both options before making a final decision.

Winston Solicitors advises on the Church of England Redress Scheme. If you are considering a civil claim, we recommend speaking to an independent solicitor who specialises in civil litigation involving clergy or institutional abuse.

Our Church of England Redress Scheme vs Civil Claim page explains the differences in more detail.

Stacey Flegg explains

"One of the questions I hear most often is whether someone's experience would qualify under the scheme. The definition of sexual abuse is wider than many people realise, and every application is considered on its own facts. Another point people sometimes miss is that the Church's response can also affect the level of compensation. If concerns were ignored, you were not believed, or the Church knew someone posed a risk and failed to act, those circumstances may be taken into account when your application is assessed. Most importantly, you do not need to have every piece of evidence before asking for advice. The first conversation is simply an opportunity to understand the scheme and decide whether it feels right for you."

Stacey Flegg leads Winston Solicitors' Church of England Redress Scheme team, supporting survivors across England and Wales. Because the team works regularly with applications under the scheme, they understand how the Rules are applied in practice and what information helps present an application as clearly as possible.

Wherever you are in the process, Stacey Flegg will be happy to answer your questions.

The first conversation is free, confidential and comes with no obligation to proceed. It is simply an opportunity to understand how the Church of England Redress Scheme works and whether it may be right for your circumstances.

Winston Solicitors supports survivors across England and Wales with applications to the Church of England Redress Scheme. Stacey can explain the process in plain English, answer your questions and help you understand the next steps, whenever you feel ready.