We are . . . listening to survivors.

We recognise that those who have been victims of abuse in the Catholic Church can find it very difficult to disclose to anyone. Often they feel angry, betrayed, isolated, marginalised and powerless. They want to be believed and to feel safe.

We are committed to listening respectfully and compassionately to anyone who has experienced abuse as a result of their contact with the Catholic Church in Scotland. We are committed to working with survivors so that their experiences can inform safeguarding practice and help us to prevent future harm.

Our staff and members of the SCSSA Board meet with survivors in different contexts – sometimes individually, at other times in groups. The experience of listening to accounts of the trauma that has been experienced by survivors continues to inform our work.

Are you a survivor of abuse?

You may be browsing this website for various reasons:

because you are a survivor and you want to find help and support

because you now feel strong enough to tell someone about the abuse you have suffered

because you want to understand more about what support is available for survivors of abuse

because you are the relative or friend of someone who has shared with you that they have been abused

because you want to support someone known to you who is a survivor of abuse

because you want to know about the work of the SCSSA.

Do you wish to tell someone about abuse?

Thank you for deciding to tell someone about the abuse you have suffered. We understand that for anyone to reach this point demands significant courage. Please be assured that you will be treated with respect and compassion by all in our agency.

While the SCSSA is not primarily an agency that deals with the reporting of abuse allegations or concerns, we can point you to the appropriate contact within the Catholic Church in Scotland who can advise you about the support that can be provided for you. The contact details for the Safeguarding Advisor in each Diocese are provided here for you. You should directly contact the Diocese, the Religious Congregation or the organisation where the abuse occurred. (If you are uncertain about this, please contact us on 0141 332 7177 and we can direct you to the correct contact.)

The Catholic Church has a mandatory reporting policy of all allegations of abuse. This means that ALL allegations of abuse are reported to the Police, whether the accused is alive or deceased. Although all allegations will be reported by the Church to the Police, you have the right to decide whether or not to engage with the Police directly yourself. If you wish to make a statement to the Police, or if you decide that you are unable to do so at the moment, the Church's safeguarding personnel are still available to offer you support.

We hope that you will feel able to come forward and speak to someone.

Do you want to report a safeguarding concern?

What do I do if I have a concern about the welfare of a child or a vulnerable adult?

If you are concerned about the welfare of a child or adult at risk, do not delay in contacting the police, calling 999 or 101 if you think that a child or adult is be in immediate danger.

How do I report a concern or make an allegation?

If you are a member of the public, please refer allegations directly to the police. You can also report it to the Safeguarding office in your Diocese. (Contact details here).

What will the Church do when a concern is reported?

The Catholic Church in Scotland will report all allegations of abuse to statutory authorities, no matter whether the abuse happened recently or in the past, or whether the accused person is living or dead.

I am a volunteer in my parish. What do I do if someone reports a safeguarding concern to me?

If you are in any role within the Catholic Church in Scotland, you must refer allegations directly to the Safeguarding office for your Diocese or Religious Community. (Detailed advice is provided here.)

Should I report a concern to the SCSSA?

If you want to report any Safeguarding concern to the Church, you should contact your local Diocese (Contact details here). If you contact the SCSSA, we will immediately report any Safeguarding concerns to the local Church Safeguarding office for further action.