Anger as survivors of abuse in a black children’s home are excluded from compensation scheme

A campaign group has accused Lambeth council of “double discrimination” after survivors of abuse in a black care home were excluded from its compensation scheme.

The Melting Pot ran care homes for black children in Brixton from 1970 to 1991, where children were verbally and sexually abused by staff and visitors.

They were also forced to shoplift for food and clean clothes.

But survivors of the Melting Pot are not eligible for financial compensation from the Lambeth Redress Scheme.

The scheme was set up to compensate people who were abused or lived in fear of being abused while in Lambeth’s care as children.

Lambeth council has said that the Melting Pot was a charitable organisation which was not run by the council – and therefore not covered by the Redress Scheme.

But the Shirley Oaks Survivors Association (SOSA) is calling for the council to change its decision.

It argues that the council is responsible for the survivors of the Melting Pot, as the authority placed many children in the homes and provided funding for their upkeep.

Raymond Stevenson, founder of SOSA, said: “We’re calling for Lambeth council to do the right thing. It’s not vast amounts of money and the right thing is to compensate these people.

“They failed to put them in a safe environment. Even if it was a private home they have an obligation to make sure children are in a safe environment.”

The Independent Inquiry for Child Sexual Abuse found that at least 80 children known to Lambeth council were placed in their homes between 1974 and 1990.

Some of them were subject to care orders from Lambeth.

One survivor told the Independent Inquiry for Child Sexual Abuse that her life in the Melting Pot was “horrible”.

She described how she was sexually abused repeatedly, saying: “Whenever these men felt like doing something sexual we were there. That was what we were there for.

“These men were allowed onto the premises whenever they felt like it, and they simply came into our rooms. We had nobody to tell and nobody to support us.”

Another survivor described how she was sexually abused, caught sexually transmitted diseases on multiple occasions and had to resort to stealing in order to have clean clothes and food.

SOSA said that the survivors have been discriminated against twice – first as children when they were placed in the home, and again as adults by being denied compensation.

Mr Stevenson said: “What’s most disturbing is it would appear the Melting Pot was just a dumping ground – an affordable way of not giving black children an appropriate time or experience in care homes.”

A spokesman for Lambeth council said: “The Lambeth Children’s Home Redress Scheme compensates those who were resident at children’s homes that were run by the council from the 1930s until the ‘80s and ‘90s.

“Lambeth council makes a sincere and heartfelt apology to all victims and survivors of abuse and neglect while in Lambeth’s care.

“The Melting Pot was an independent charitable organisation providing care and support services to black teenagers and adults.

“As a charitable organisation it did receive some of its funding from the council, and the council did place some Lambeth children at the home.

“It is clear horrendous abuses were committed against young people at the Melting Pot before it closed in 1991 – these young people were incredibly badly betrayed.

“But the Melting Pot was not run by Lambeth council, which is why it is outside the Lambeth Children’s Homes Redress Scheme.

“Survivors of abuse which took place at Melting Pot, or any other homes that were not run by the council, can receive compensation through the civil claims process.”

Pictured top: Raymond Stevenson, founder of the Shirley Oaks Survivors Association