Professional, compassionate advice for Child Abuse claims against the church
People place a great deal of trust in the church. Sadly, that trust is sometimes misplaced and child abuse has been known to take place within the church. If you feel that you have suffered such abuse, we can help you establish the facts and decide whether or not to pursue the church for compensation.
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How does child abuse occur within the church?
Within any organisation, people within positions of trust and authority can occasionally abuse that power. Sadly, the church is no exception and child abuse has occurred within the church over the years.
Compared with other organisations, churches have some unique risks which make them more susceptible to child abuse. The church is not regulated by any external organisation, so any complaints of child abuse are dealt with internally. Those investigating the complaints are not impartial and in fact have a vested interest in protecting the good name of the church and the individuals accused of abuse. Nobody else holds the perpetrators to account.
A number of high-profile investigations have uncovered failings in the way that child abuse complaints were handled. Many were ignored or covered up, with the reputations of those accused being prioritised over the safety and welfare of innocent children. In some instances, those accused have continued to hold senior roles within the church even after being convicted of abuse.
Our Director, David Greenwood has many years' experience in child abuse claims against the church. He has also written two books and appeared on a number of documentaries exploring the ways that abuse has occurred and been covered up within the church.
How can legal advice help me?
If you have suffered abuse, just speaking to somebody about it could be a considerable weight off your mind. Many of the people we speak to have stayed quiet about their abuse for years - often for most of their lives. It may be that you have kept your silence, or it may be that you did report the abuse but weren't happy with the way your complaint was dealt with. Either way, we can talk to you about what happened and can help you determine whether or not you can pursue a claim against the church.
We recognise that talking to anyone about your abuse can be very distressing. Our team are all experienced specialists in this type of work and all conversations are confidential. Once you have spoken to us, you are not obliged to take any legal action. The final choice is entirely yours, but we will ensure that we explore the facts with you so you can make an informed decision.
When abuse victims successfully claim for compensation they feel a sense of justice for what they have suffered in the past and the compensation settlement can help them move on with their lives more positively. In some cases, they might also get the satisfaction of knowing that they have helped prevent further abuse.
Our Child Abuse Compensation specialists
When can I make a claim?
We strongly recommend that you contact us as soon as possible. Whilst some time limits do apply to compensation claims, the courts often make exceptions in the case of child abuse claims. This is because they recognise that victims of child abuse often aren't comfortable talking about their abuse until years later, if ever.
The sooner you feel able to speak to someone the better. We can advise you on whether or not we feel you have a realistic claim, given the amount of time that has passed and your other circumstances. You should not be put off from getting legal advice just because the abuse happened years or even decades ago.
How can Switalskis help me?
With Switalskis you can be sure that our team is highly experienced not only in child abuse compensation, but specifically with claims against the church. Thanks to the work of our director David Greenwood, we have significantly raised awareness of the extent of child abuse in the church and the ways that abuse can be ignored or covered up.
All of our child abuse compensation team are experienced specialists. They are very aware of how distressing it can be to discuss past child abuse and have helped many others through this process. You can speak to them by phone or in person. Where possible we look to offer a home visit so that you feel more at ease and can speak freely. If you have a preference for speaking to a male or female solicitor, this can also be arranged.
Call our free, confidential child abuse helpline on 0800 138 4700 or contact us through the website if you'd like to discuss your circumstances with one of our solicitors.
