London Irish Survivors’ Outreach Service (L.I.S.O.S.)
Are you a survivor of child abuse in a convent industrial school or other Irish institutional establishment where the Irish government were responsible?
Were you brought up in an industrial school, orthopaedic hospital, orphanage or residential home?
Would you benefit from speaking about your experience in a confidential environment?
Based at the London Irish Centre, L.I.S.O.S. aims to provide and develop a client-led, confidential and sympathetic service that reflects the needs of those who were exposed to child abuse whilst in institutional care in the Republic of Ireland.
OBJECTIVES
- To provide support, advice and information to those exposed to child abuse whilst in institutional care in the Republic of Ireland.
- To carry out home visits to those in need of our services but unable to travel.
- To arrange counselling and pyschotherapy for those survivors who request it.
- To facilitate and administer new and existing support groups when needed e.g. London Irish Women’s Survivors’ Support Group and our new group Greater London & South East Irish Survivors Support Group (for men and women).
COMMISSION TO ENQUIRE INTO CHILD ABUSE
In May 1999, Bertie Ahern promised to set up a Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse in industrial schools, orthopaedic hospitals and other children’s institutions in the Irish Republic.
The Commission is now closed. Over 3,000 people have applied to give evidence. 32% of all applications came from outside Ireland. The “Ryan Report” was published on 20th May 2009. If you are an applicant to either the Commission’s Investigation or Confidential Committee a copy of the Report is free of charge.
If you are not an applicant the Report will be available for purchase at Government Publications Sale Office, Sun Alliance House, Molesworth Street, Dublin 2. phone 00353 1 6476879.
An estimated 40% of all former residents of these institutions came to Britain, and our organisation has helped many U.K.-based clients to apply for financial awards through the Residential Institutions Redress Board (RIRB) which closed for new applications in December 2005.
We are happy to assist clients to complete late application forms and return them to the Redress Board. It is not definite that these applications will be accepted but a number of applications have been accepted because of extenuating circumstances.
We also provide assistance, in cooperation with the Department of Health and Barnados, to those seeking information. This may include medical and educational records as well as assistance in finding lost siblings and other family members.
We offer assistance with grant applications to the Education Finance Board. Funding may cover the following: Personal development and lifestyle courses, driving lessons, literacy & numeracy courses etc.
Repatriation: We have helped a number of people to return to Ireland.
Please contact us for further information.
CONTACT
L.I.S.O.S. Outreach Workers
Phyllis Morgan/Marie Aubertin
London Irish Centre
50-52 Camden Square
London NW1 9XB
UK
t: 020 7916 7300 e: lisos@irishcentre.org
