What is the Church of England Redress Scheme?

A new redress scheme is being established by the Church of England to provide support to those who have suffered abuse. Winston Solicitors are here to offer expert, confidential legal advice and guide you through this process with compassion and care.

To discuss Church of England claims call 0113 320 5000

Seeking Justice and Support: The Church of England National Redress Scheme

What is the Church of England Redress Scheme

The Church of England is in the process of launching a National Redress Scheme to provide a measure of justice for individuals who have experienced abuse in a church-related setting. This scheme is a crucial step in acknowledging the suffering of survivors and offering financial compensation, therapeutic, emotional and spiritual support, along with a formal apology.

winston-solicitors-what-is-the-church-of-england-redress-scheme.jpg

The Scheme, which initially intended to become available to victims in February 2025 has been delayed due to further findings of the Makin Report.

Published in November 2024, the report, authored by Keith Makin uncovered decades of horrific child abuse perpetrated by John Smyth QC, a prominent evangelical figure, and exposed a subsequent cover-up within the Church of England. The report sent shockwaves through the Anglican Communion, leading to the resignation of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby.

Key Findings: A Litany of Failures

The report details the "prolific and abhorrent" abuse committed by Smyth, which involved violent beatings and psychological torment of teenage boys at Christian holiday camps and in his home. The investigation found that senior figures within the Church of England were aware of the abuse as early as the 1980s but failed to act, effectively enabling Smyth to continue his abuse.

The report concluded that there was an "active cover-up" by some Church leaders to protect the institution's reputation.

Impact and Fallout: A Church in Crisis

The publication of the Makin Report precipitated a crisis within the Church of England. The most immediate consequence was the resignation of Archbishop Justin Welby, who admitted that his own past inaction and the Church's overall failings made his position untenable.

The report issued 27 specific recommendations aimed at transforming the Church's safeguarding policies and culture. These include calls for greater transparency, independent oversight of safeguarding, and a more victim-centred approach.

The Makin Report stands as a damning indictment of institutional failure and has forced a painful reckoning within the Church of England over its handling of abuse and the protection of vulnerable individuals. It has become a crucial document in the ongoing global conversation about accountability and justice for survivors of abuse within religious institutions.

How Winston Solicitors Can Help You

At Winston Solicitors, we understand that coming forward to talk about abuse is incredibly difficult. Our dedicated team of specialist solicitors is committed to providing a safe, supportive, and confidential environment for you to explore your options. We are here to listen to your story with empathy and to provide clear, expert guidance on the Church of England's Redress Scheme.

Our primary goal is to empower you to make informed decisions about your future and to ensure you receive the full measure of redress to which you are entitled. We will stand by you at every stage, offering the legal expertise and personal support you need.

Navigating any legal process, especially one as sensitive as this, can be daunting. Our experienced team at Winston Solicitors can provide invaluable assistance by:

Offering a Free, Confidential Consultation: We will listen to your experiences in a safe and non-judgmental space, helping you to understand your options without any obligation.
Advising on Your Eligibility: We can help you to determine whether you are eligible to apply to the Redress Scheme based on the information released by the Church of England.
Guiding You Through the Application: Our solicitors will assist you in preparing a comprehensive application that accurately and sensitively details your experience, ensuring all necessary information is included.
Acting as Your Advocate: We will represent your interests throughout the process, communicating with the scheme administrators on your behalf and ensuring your voice is heard.
Maximising Your Redress: We will work to ensure you receive a fair and just outcome, encompassing not only financial compensation but also access to the therapeutic and supportive measures offered by the scheme.

Client feedback

I'd just like to say a personal thank you to Joe for making what has been an incredibly stressful period of my life such a smooth transition and completed so quickly and efficiently. Every step of the process was explained clearly and the updates and communication throughout were exceptional. A pleasure to deal with, I couldn't recommend highly enough. Thank you Joe and thank you Winston Solicitors.

Kyle D., Bristol

Incredibly efficient and fast friendly service. Leasa and Julie were super helpful and proactive we didn’t have to chase once throughout the process. Will be recommending to anyone moving house! Thank you!

Anonymous, West Yorkshire

Your service is excellent! We would like to sincerely thank you for your professional guidance and support throughout the purchase of my property. Your clear communication, attention to detail, and efficiency made the entire process much smoother and less stressful for me. Your service helped us to opt for a good property. We sincerely appreciate the time and effort you dedicated throughout the process to ensure everything was handled properly and completed on time. As we have already recommended you to our friends, we will continue to do so in the future. Thank you again for your excellent service, and we look forward to working with you again in the future.

A.V, Lancashire

Superb, professional and efficient service. First class and professional communication from start to finish. Couldn't recommend highly enough and would not hesitate to use again.

Kyle

Amazing experience, Samantha provided an exceptional service to my partner and I. She was efficient and kept us up to date with anything which was going on. So impressed.

Angus

Excellent, good communication and everything ran smoothly.

Matthew

very happy with the service. it was efficient and professional i would definitely use them again for conveyancing.

David

Winston has helped us twice over the last 3 years: they work very efficiently, the portal they use is simple to navigate and keeps the client up to date, the team is easily contactable by phone. Many thanks to Leasa & Julie & the team, we'll maybe speak with you again in the future !

Susan