The Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry has now published a substantial research report (Research Reports — Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry) on child and juvenile emigration programmes, co-authored by Professor Gordon Lynch (University of Kent), Stephen Constantine (University of Lancaster) and Marjory Harper (University of Aberdeen).The 750-page document examines the policy context for UK child migration programmes as well as serious organisational failures that harmed children or exposed them to abuse. Whilst focusing in detail on the experiences of Scottish children, the report examines failures by the Government and major churches and charities which affected the lives of child migrants from all across the United Kingdom.
‘Speaking on the publication of this report, Professor Lynch said, ‘We’re delighted that this report has been made available as a public resource by the Inquiry. It is one of the most comprehensive documents available on the history of UK child migration programmes and contains detailed archival analysis which documents major failures on the part of a number of organisations. Archival material used for the report that is held by some voluntary organisations has not been easily available to researchers before. Publication of this report is an important step of bringing this material into the public domain for the first time.’
Publication of the Inquiry’s final investigation report on child migration is expected later in 2021.
Gordon Lynch is the Michael Ramsey Professor of Modern Theology at Kent’s Department of Religious Studies. His public engagement work has included serving as an expert witness for both the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse and the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry; co-curating a major exhibition with the V&A Museum of Childhood; collaborating on the national music project The Ballads of Child Migration; and co-producing educational films with the BAFTA award-winning digital channel TrueTube.