A meeting of the Church of England’s General Synod in York could give final approval to a redress scheme for abuse survivors this week.
Members are set to debate and vote on proposed amendments to the Abuse Redress Measure on Tuesday.
A number of people with experience of church-related abuse make up the Redress Survivor Working Group and have met regularly to consider different aspects of the scheme’s design. Two of them sit on the Redress Project Board overseeing the scheme's development.
The new clause which alters the eligibility criteria for the scheme, was put forward after the Makin Review into abuse by the late Christian barrister John Smyth. A further amendment would allow the Archbishops’ Council to pause the scheme in certain circumstances. It’s thought the new amendments would also ensure greater scrutiny and transparency.
The Bishop of Winchester Rt Rev Philip Mounstephen who chairs the Redress Project Board, said:
"After careful consideration by the Board, and with invaluable input and advice from survivors, I am confident that the updated scheme criteria will now more fully and effectively address survivor experiences."
Eligible applicants to the scheme may receive financial redress, therapeutic, spiritual and emotional support, acknowledgment of wrongdoing on the part of the Church, apology and support.
An audit of the scheme last month highlighted it as high risk for the Church of England due to the difficulty in estimating potential demand.