Title

CHILDREN'S SERVICES

Council apologises for historic child abuse

Lambeth LBC has apologised and paid out tens of millions of pounds after a report revealed children had suffered abuse in its homes.

Lambeth LBC has apologised and paid out tens of millions of pounds after a report revealed children had suffered abuse in its homes.

The report by the Shirley Oaks Survivors Association (SOSA) detailed systematic abuse of young people at the hands of around 60 paedophiles from the 1950s to the closure of the homes in 1983. 

‘The SOSA investigation has shone further light on the suffering of those entrusted into the council's care,' a council spokesperson said.

‘The survivors group has undertaken a huge amount of work and today's report is a credit to them.

‘Lambeth has accepted that children were let down and has publicly apologised,' they added.

The council said it has been supporting SOSA and had drawn up a draft redress scheme that looks to compensate people for the abuse they suffered.

CHILDREN'S SERVICES

A system for success

By Heather Jameson | 23 December 2025

Luton Council’s bold 2040 vision prioritises jobs, homes and safety. Heather Jameson talks to chief executive Mark Fowler about taking a systems-based approa...

CHILDREN'S SERVICES

Spinning a golden SEND thread

By Ann McGauran | 18 December 2025

ADCS president Rachael Wardell talks to Ann McGauran about the need for government to listen to the perspectives of England’s children’s services directors ...

CHILDREN'S SERVICES

A year to remember...

By Martin Ford | 17 December 2025

A devolution priority programme combined with a wider council reorganisation that could be seen from space; Reform UK limbering up to terrify a Labour Govern...

CHILDREN'S SERVICES

Lords committee urges Government to hand council BSR responsibility

By Paul Marinko | 11 December 2025

The Government has been urged to hand some Building Safety Regulator (BSR) responsibilities to councils as ministers admitted 67% of applications to the body...

Popular articles by William Eichler