Liam Goggin
Director of Public Law Practice Area
English
Being sexually or physically abused as a child is one of the most devastating things that can happen to a person, and it can affect every part of your life. We know that speaking about what happened takes enormous courage, and we understand that it may have taken you years to come forward. When you are ready to talk, we are here to listen.
Most survivors tell us that making a claim for recent or historical child abuse is not about money. It is about accountability, making sure the abuse does not stay hidden, getting the support you need, and having what happened recognised after many years. Coming forward can also help improve current safeguarding measures and protect other children in future.
Our Abuse team has extensive experience helping survivors across England and Wales, can support you in taking the first steps towards a compensation claim, and we will do everything we can to make the process as straightforward as possible.
Contact us for a case assessment, and we will discuss how we may be able to help. Ask whether you qualify for Legal Aid or whether we can deal with your claim on a No Win, No Fee basis.
Fill in the form below to get in touch with one of our dedicated team members, or call our team today on: 0800 260 5010
Child abuse is when a child is harmed by an adult or another child, whether sexually, physically, or emotionally. Child abuse also includes neglect, where a child's basic needs, such as food, education, and healthcare, are not met. Abuse can be a single incident or continue over many years, and more than one person may harm a child.
Children can suffer abuse in many settings. We have experience in claims relating to abuse in care, schools, sports clubs and religious or other institutions.
Historic child abuse refers to abuse that happened when someone was under the age of 18 and took place many years ago. This can include sexual abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse or neglect. Many survivors are not able to speak about what happened for years or even decades. There are many reasons for this, including fear, trauma, shame or manipulation by the person responsible.
Depending on the circumstances, compensation may be available through a civil compensation claim, an application to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) or, in some cases, through a specific redress scheme. We can explain which options may be available in your circumstances and support you through the next steps.
While many survivors seek legal advice years after the abuse took place, compensation may also be available where the abuse happened more recently. If the child is under the age of 18, a parent, guardian or another appropriate adult may be able to bring a claim on their behalf.
Child abuse is generally grouped into four categories:
This could include hitting, slapping, shoving, burning, and kicking a child. It can also involve using objects to punish, hurt or injure a child.
Sexual abuse is when a person engages in sexual contact with a child. These cases can be complex and distressing, and our Abuse Solicitors have the experience to manage your claim with sensitivity and compassion.
This includes name-calling, humiliation, harassment, threats, and allowing a child to witness another person being abused. Emotional abuse can leave mental scars as painful and long-lasting as physical ones.
Neglect is when a child's caregiver fails to provide basic needs such as food, housing, clothing, healthcare, education, and safety. According to the NSPCC (the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children), neglect is the most common form of child abuse in the UK.
You may be able to get Legal Aid to cover part or all of your claim, depending on your financial situation. If not, we may be able to offer a No Win, No Fee agreement, which means you will not pay our legal fees unless your claim is successful. You may still need to pay disbursements such as court fees or expert reports, but these can often be covered by an After the Event insurance policy. Your case handler will explain this in full.
Compensation for child abuse is assessed on the individual circumstances of your case. Factors that may be taken into account include the type of abuse you experienced, how it has affected your life, any physical or psychological injuries, financial losses and any future treatment, care or support you may need.
The time limit to make a claim arising from abuse in childhood depends on the nature of the abuse that you experienced.
For claims arising from childhood sexual abuse, there is no strict time limit. That said, where possible these claims should be issued at court before you turn 21. This is because after you turn 21, the Defendant may be able to argue that your claim should not be allowed to proceed if any delay in you bringing a claim has had a negative impact on the evidence available, meaning there can no longer be a fair trial.
For other types of childhood abuse (those not involving sexual abuse), claims need to be made before your 21st birthday. The courts can allow claims to proceed outside of this time frame, provided there are good reasons for the delay in making the claim and that there can still be a fair trial.
We understand that speaking about abuse can be incredibly difficult, and we will always treat your personal information with the utmost confidentiality. If court proceedings become necessary, we may be able to apply for an Anonymity Order. Court proceedings are generally held in public, which means journalists and members of the public can attend hearings and report on them. An Anonymity Order can help protect your identity by preventing your name and other identifying details from being published or reported. Whether an order is granted will depend on the circumstances of your case.
The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) is a government-funded body that compensates survivors of violent crime, including childhood abuse, where the scheme's criteria are met. If your abuse happened a long time ago and there is no longer a living person or existing organisation to claim against, the CICA may provide a route to compensation.
Our Child Abuse Solicitors have a national reputation for being compassionate, caring, and driven to get survivors the compensation they need to move forward. Members of our team have advised on national inquiries and are also members of the Association of Child Abuse Lawyers (ACAL) and follow its Code of Conduct.
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Yes, you might be able to claim on behalf of someone who is still a child, or who has suffered a serious injury affecting their mental capacity, by acting as a Litigation Friend. We will provide all the support and legal advice you need.
Evidence can be hard to obtain, as it is often the child's word against their abuser's. We work with expert witnesses in psychology and psychiatry who can assist the court on whether, on the balance of probabilities, compensation should be awarded. If your claim is with the CICA, you will usually need a police report number and medical evidence of your injuries.
You may be able to claim through the CICA. If the abuse happened at a local authority or private institution, a claim may be brought against those bodies where it can be shown they were negligent in protecting you.
No. A civil claim and a criminal case are separate processes. You can still bring a compensation claim even if your abuser is found not guilty in a criminal trial.
There is no right or wrong time to seek legal advice. When you feel ready, contact us on 0800 260 5010 or request a call back at a time that suits you. If we believe you may be able to make a claim, we'll explain your legal options clearly and help you decide on the next steps.
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