Abuse Survivors Blog

This week, 4-10 February 2019, is the third annual Sexual Abuse & Sexual Violence Awareness Week.

This awareness week was established in 2016 to highlight awareness of sexual abuse and violence and generate discussion on this difficult topic. With this in mind it seems an appropriate time to reflect on the work of the Independent Sexual Violence (‘ISVA’) and in particular the training they undertake to equip them with the skills they may need in fulfilling this unquestionably challenging and diverse role.

Speaking out for the first time takes great courage and it can be difficult to know where to start.  

Here are 5 things which might offer you assistance and encouragement if you are considering taking this step in 2019:

Two of Emmott Snell Solicitor’s clients (referred to in this article as Mr X and Mr Y to protect their identities) have successfully obtained substantial out of court settlements after bringing compensation claims against Hampshire County Council and Surrey County Council for sexual assaults they suffered whilst placed at children’s homes.  

Compensation settlements and awards from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (as a result of psychiatric or physical injury) will be taken into account by the Department of Work and Pensions when assessing a person’s entitlement to means tested benefits.

Many victims of childhood sexual abuse suffer significant psychological injury as a result of the trauma they have experienced. Some victims of childhood sexual abuse self-harm as a way of dealing with this trauma which often results in physical scars.

On 24^th July 2018, the Court of Appeal unanimously agreed in the case of JT v First Tier Tribunal  that the 'same roof rule' was incompatible with Article 14 of the European Convention on Human Rights.  

On 12 July 2018 representatives of Emmott Snell Solicitors attended the annual APIL/ACAL conference. 

APIL is a non-profit making organisation that has been campaigning and fighting for the rights of injured people for over 25 years. The Association of Child Abuse Lawyers (ACAL) is also a non-profit making organisation, which was set up to support and assist victims, lawyers, and professionals involved in obtaining compensation for those who have suffered abuse (sexual, physical or psychological) abuse as children.

During the course of our lifetime most of us will require assistance from healthcare professionals including Consultants, GPs, nurses, therapists or healthcare/hospital workers. It Is fair to say that this is a time when we feel at our most vulnerable and in need of reassurance.

Every year a significant number of workers are made ill and/or injured at work. According to statistics released by the Health & Safety Executive :

• 137 workers were killed at work
• 31.2 million working days were lost due to work-related ill-health and non-fatal workplace injuries
• 1.3 million work-related ill-health cases

On Tuesday 8 May 2018 May, Tracey Emmott and Jacqui Morton of Emmott Snell Solicitors had the pleasure of visiting and meeting with representatives of Victim Support, Bedfordshire at their offices at Bedford Heights.

The purpose of our visit was to find out more about the services that Victim Support offer, and to present a cheque for £415.63 that we raised by participating in the 2017 sponsored Bedford Legal Walk.