A woman who says she was starved in an children’s home has been refused a pay-out, even though details of it are recorded in the council’s own files, a victims’ organisation has said.

Jo – not her real name – must face an appeal panel after being turned down by the Islington Support Payment Scheme - a project set up in 2022 after Islington Council admitted decades of abuse in its children’s homes.

But the council’s own records record that she was “under-nourished” while staying in a children’s home at 14 Conewood Street, metres from the old Arsenal Stadium.

“Don’t they even read the files?” asked Dr Liz Davies, of the Islington Survivors Network (ISN).

Under the support scheme, victims can apply for £10,000 payments in recognition of physical, sexual or psychological abuse.

Jo applied in November 2022 and had to wait until October 2023 to learn she was unsuccessful. The letter said there was insufficient evidence she had been abused.

“Under-nourished”

Jo was placed in 14 Conewood Street when she began acting up and skipping school after her mother left the family home.

That she was taken into care at all, said Dr Davies, showed a failure by social services.

A psychiatrist had written in Jo’s records that her misbehaviour was “likely a reaction to the loss of her mother”, saying she should be “treated for her mourning, which could be done locally.”

Instead, said Jo: “They took me out of my own home. I was better off there. In Conewood, I was on my own. I had no friends.”

Islington Gazette: Dr Liz Davies, of the Islington Survivors Network, said Jo's rejection was one of several in recent months which she felt was at odds with the available evidenceDr Liz Davies, of the Islington Survivors Network, said Jo's rejection was one of several in recent months which she felt was at odds with the available evidence (Image: Charles Thomson)

When she acted up even more, as a result of being institutionalised, she said she was punished by starvation and banned from having family visits.

When ISN obtained Jo’s file, a social worker had written about her “complaining of a lack of food” and described her as “under-nourished”.

“Restraint”

On other occasions, Jo said, she was punished violently: wrestled to the ground and pinned down, unable to move.  

“Nothing justified this horrific violence,” said Jo. “I was 15 and very thin.”

“Pin-down” is listed in the support payment scheme’s terms and conditions as a form of abuse which would merit payment.

“We’ve got so many other people who have made allegations about the same man,” said ISN’s Jane Frawley.

“If it happened to Jo even once, it is physical abuse. It should never be done to any child.”

When ISN obtained Jo’s files, it even made mention of her “not accepting restraint”.

“It’s all there in her social care file,” said Dr Davies.

Islington Gazette: The former Conewood Street Children's Home has since been turned into a children's services officeThe former Conewood Street Children's Home has since been turned into a children's services office (Image: Charles Thomson)

Drugged

Jo said she ran away from Conewood repeatedly due to the conditions.

As a result, Conewood staff decided – with no evidence of any social worker input in her files – to send her to a secure unit in south London, called Cumberlow Lodge.

“It was like a prison,” she recalled. “It was terrible. I was in solitary confinement a couple of times there. They called it ‘the padded room’.

“I remember watching girls coming through the gates, through the bars on my window. One had only nicked a pint of milk.”

Despite a psychiatrist recording “no sign of disturbance”, Jo was put on antipsychotic drugs.

“We had to take this little cup and they wouldn’t let us leave until they could see we had swallowed it,” she said.

Her files record that the drug was Chlorpromazine, which she said effectively knocked her out.

Islington Gazette: Another alleged victim, 'Zara', was turned down and sent to the payment scheme's appeal panel on grounds that there was insufficient evidence she was in a children's home. She had photos of herself inside and outside the home and witnesses placing her there, including the woman who had been her roommateAnother alleged victim, 'Zara', was turned down and sent to the payment scheme's appeal panel on grounds that there was insufficient evidence she was in a children's home. She had photos of herself inside and outside the home and witnesses placing her there, including the woman who had been her roommate (Image: Charles Thomson)

Catch Up:

“A terrible insult”

ISN said the refusal to pay Jo was inexplicable, as other applicants who described the same types of abuse by the same Conewood staff have already received pay-outs.

“The food stuff comes up again and again,” said Jane. “So does the pin-down and not being allowed to see family.”

Jo’s is one of several recent rejections where ISN contends there is sufficient evidence, including photographs and witnesses.

“We helped design this scheme, so we know exactly what the grounds are,” said Dr Davies. “So it’s actually a terrible insult to me, professionally, quite frankly.

“I have done a lot of these people’s statements and they do meet the criteria. I know what I’m talking about.”

Jo said she will go to the appeal panel.

“I can’t just lay back and not do anything,” she said. “I want some kind of justice.”

Islington Council said it does not comment on specific cases. It does not consider those turned down for payment as having been rejected until after the appeal panel has heard the case.

The support payment scheme remains open for applications until May. For more, visit www.islingtonsupportpayment.co.uk.

ISN can be reached at 0300 302 0930 or islingtonsn@gmail.com.