We are pleased to be part of this year’s European Mental Health Conference. Taking place in Prague from 9 September to 11 September, the conference promotes collaboration across sectors and services to deepen understanding of mental health. Participants can share learning from a range of areas including research, practice development, projects and personal experience.
Sara Zielinska, Programmes Manager at Redress Support Service, and Flora Henderson, Alliance Director at In Care Survivors Alliance, will be leading a presentation at the conference. Here, Sara and Flora will be discussing ‘Building a Psychological Floor for Justice: Trauma Informed Support for Survivors of Historical Child Abuse in Care.’
For many people who experienced child abuse in care settings, seeking justice through the redress process is not simply an administrative process. Whether accessing childhood records or applying for redress, people are often asked to revisit experiences that they have spent years learning to live with. Whilst these processes can bring recognition and validation, they can also surface powerful memories and emotions, triggering distress, shame, anger and trauma responses.
Throughout such a process, people need space to understand how seeking justice may impact their mental health and wellbeing, and consider how they might cope when distressing memories or emotions surface. Link Workers at Penumbra Mental Health provide this vital support through the Redress Support Service.
In ‘Building a Psychological Floor for Justice’, Sara and Flora will consider how safety and stability is built into the support journey so that people no longer face a stark choice between seeking justice and protecting their mental health. At Redress Support Service and In Care Survivors Alliance, we want to strengthen the support available to people with lived experience of abuse and neglect, while sharing our learning to encourage wider system change.
Redress Support Service is delivered by the In Care Survivors Alliance. The Alliance comprises four partners: Health in Mind, Penumbra Mental Health, Glasgow Psychological Trauma Service and Scottish Government.
Building a Psychological Floor for Justice: Trauma Informed Support for Survivors of Historical Child Abuse in Care
11 September 2026
10:20-10:40
As part of European Mental Health Conference 2026
9 – 11 September, 2026
An annual event and learning platform for people working or interested in understanding more about mental health.
October to December 2025
Summary of activity of the Redress Support Service
The Redress Support Service continued to support people on their redress journey in October to December 2025. Our summary of activity report highlights key figures, feedback and further information about the work we do.
For example, we received feedback such as:
“[My Link Worker] took the time to understand the difficulties I experienced in childhood and how they continued to affect me throughout adulthood. What made the biggest difference was the way she engaged with me — I always felt she was on my level, never speaking down to me or showing any judgment.”
(Feedback shared about the Redress Support Service)
July to September 2025
Summary of activity of the Redress Support Service
The Redress Support Service continued to support people on their redress journey in July to September 2025. Our summary of activity report highlights key figures, feedback and further information about the work we do.
For example, we received feedback such as:
“It made me feel more relaxed about discussing what happened in the past.”
“What I appreciated most was being listened to. [My Link Worker] never once made me feel unheard. She was patient and truly took me seriously, which is something I haven’t often experienced.”
(Feedback shared about the Redress Support Service)
April to June 2025
Summary of activity of the Redress Support Service
The Redress Support Service continued to support people on their redress journey in April to June 2025. Our summary of activity report highlights key figures, feedback and further information about the work we do.
For example, we received feedback such as:
“I think it worked well because you seem very calm and you’ve allowed it to go at a pace that suited myself. You were patient with. In the beginning I was very untrusting. The way you’ve conducted with myself, you were never over personal, you always kept nice and professional, build that safety net that helped me to open up and it helped me.”
(Feedback shared about the Redress Support Service)
January to March 2025
Summary of activity of the Redress Support Service
The Redress Support Service continued to support people on their redress journey in January to March 2025. Our summary of activity report highlights key figures, feedback and further information about the work we do.
For example, we received feedback such as:
“It was a very hard process to go through but at the same time very therapeutic. [My Link Worker] has a lovely, kind manner. Very empathetic. I found it extremely easy to open up to them.”
(Feedback shared about the Redress Support Service)
“Very welcoming and understanding of the sensitive nature of my case.”
(Feedback from someone supported by Wellbeing Scotland)
October to December 2024
Summary of activity of the Redress Support Service
The Redress Support Service continued to support people on their redress journey in October to December 2024. Our summary of activity report highlights key figures, feedback and further information about the work we do.
For example, we received feedback such as:
“It was all in my time and I was listened to very attentively. I was made to feel very much at ease. This was totally invaluable to me.”
(Feedback shared about the Redress Support Service)
“Thanks very much for your perseverance and for looking in all possible places.”
(Applicant feedback provided by Birthlink)
July to September 2024:
Summary of activity of the Redress Support Service
The Redress Support Service continued to support people on their redress journey in July to September 2024. Our summary of activity report highlights key figures, feedback and further information about the work we do.
For example, we received feedback such as:
“Very helpful, it was just what I needed. When I started redress, I had no idea how it was going to affect me. Having someone to talk to has helped me so much. Thank you.”
(Feedback shared about the Redress Support Service)
“Very understanding and supportive.”
(Applicant feedback provided by Wellbeing Scotland)
April to June 2024:
Summary of activity of the Redress Support Service
The Redress Support Service continued to support people on their redress journey in April to June 2024. Our summary of activity report highlights key figures, feedback and further information about the work we do.
For example, we received feedback such as:
“I feel more positive and mentally stronger after being given the support I received.”
(Feedback shared about the Redress Support Service)
“Excellent level of service. Wellbeing staff did a brilliant job. It completely removed the emotional stress of trying to locate and track down records held.”
(Applicant feedback provided by Wellbeing Scotland)
January to March 2024:
Summary of activity of the Redress Support Service
The Redress Support Service continued to support people on their redress journey in January to March 2024. Our summary of activity report highlights key figures, feedback and further information about the work we do.
For example, we received feedback such as:
“Having a Link Worker who was always respectful, compassionate, gentle and understanding was great. The communication was excellent also. My Link Worker always called and emailed when he said he would.”
(Feedback shared about the Link Worker team)
“It has been very helpful as I didn’t have a clue how to fill the forms out. Once you got involved it was fairly easy. It made a big difference just to know that you (Birthlink) could point me in the right direction.”
(Applicant feedback provided by Birthlink)
October to December 2023:
Summary of activity of the Redress Support Service
The Redress Support Service continued to support people on their redress journey in October to December 2023. Our summary of activity report highlights key figures, feedback and further information about the work we do.
For example, we received feedback such as:
“[They] gave me hope and encouragement to see the way forward and the strength to see it through.’’
(Feedback shared about the Link Worker team)
“Helpful. Understanding and patient. My support worker was caring throughout the process. Communication was good and easy to understand. The record search holder kept me informed.”
(Feedback shared by Birthlink)