Margaret Bateson, Chief Executive Officer of the Victims and Survivors Service
The Victims and Survivors Service (VSS) is urging survivors of Historical Institutional Abuse (HIA) to seek emotional and practical support as the formal apology approaches on Friday 11 March 2022.
A public apology will be offered to victims and survivors of HIA by Ministers Michelle McIlveen, Conor Murphy, Nichola Mallon, Robin Swann and Naomi Long.
Ministers will deliver the apology in the Assembly Chamber of Parliament Buildings on behalf of government. This will be followed by apologies from each of the institutions where systemic failings were found in the Hart Report.
Together with its community partners WAVE Trauma Centre and Advice NI, the VSS provides services to support the health and wellbeing of survivors of HIA. The services have been co-designed with survivors and are available to anyone who has been impacted by HIA.
A dedicated Health and Wellbeing team provide services including psychological therapies, pain management, education and training, and information recovery and retrieval. The VSS can also assist survivors in engaging with the HIA Redress Board.
Chief Executive of the Victims and Survivors Service, Margaret Bateson said:
“We recognise that this is a momentous occasion for survivors of Historical Institutional Abuse, and we are committed to providing survivors with the support and services they require before, during and after the apology.
“The apology has been long-awaited and survivors will experience a range of emotions. It is important that all survivors know that we are here and are aware of the support and assistance available to them.
“VSS has a dedicated and specialist team who will adopt a tailored approach that is responsive to the unique needs of each individual. We will work closely with the Commissioner for Survivors of Institutional Childhood Abuse (COSICA), and with our community partners, WAVE Trauma Centre and Advice NI, to ensure survivors of Historical Institutional Abuse receive the support they need and deserve.”
VSS can be contacted by phoning 028903 11678 or by emailing hiaenquiries@vssni.org. In addition to the usual operating hours of Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm, VSS will also be available via telephone, email or webchat as follows:
Saturday 12 March 9am to 5pm
Sunday 13 March 9am to 5pm
To find out more about the services provided, please visit www.victimsservice.org