News

Insights report launched: Supporting Adult Survivors of Childhood Abuse 

Today, the Survivors of Childhood Abuse Support (SOCAS) fund team launched a report sharing their insights from four and a half years of managing funding which delivers vital support to adult survivors of childhood abuse. 

A total of £11.2m of Scottish Government funding was managed by Inspiring Scotland and provided to 29 charities across the country to deliver services between April 2020 and October 2024. 

The SOCAS Fund supports survivors with their recovery, enabling them to enjoy the highest attainable standard of living, health, well-being, and family life. It is the only fund of its kind in Scotland.  

The fund provides resources specifically to support adult survivors (aged 16 plus), focusing on understanding, processing, and recovering from the effects of trauma. 

This report presents insights into the work delivered with SOCAS funding, gathered from Inspiring Scotland’s experience as the fund manager, which includes fund reporting, monthly portfolio meetings, one-to-one meetings with funded charities, and an external evaluation of the work conducted in 2023. 

Kaylie Allen, Director of Funds at Inspiring Scotland, said: 

“We think this report will be useful for anyone interested in how we respond to the impact of trauma and develop truly person-centred services. As funders, we have grown to understand from survivors what good trauma-responsive services look like. 

“Reading the report, you will see how the work delivered through SOCAS funding is valued. It aims to recognise the immense work delivered by the portfolio of funded charities since 2020 and provide a space for survivors to share the difference the support has made in their lives. We know that the funding brought a sector together and has helped improve the quality of services. A four-year funding commitment from the Scottish Government enabled this.” 

The SOCAS Fund 2020-2024 has improved the health and wellbeing of over 20,000 survivors. 

Services are available across Scotland that survivors trust and where they feel safe and understood. Quality support enables survivors to learn how to manage and process the effects of their trauma. Lived experience is increasingly embedded in the design and delivery of services. 

One survivor supported through the fund shared: 

“I am finally seeing a light at the end of the tunnel. I hope that light will get brighter as things go on. I really thought I would never get there, but the people helping me believe in me, and that means a lot. It is good to be believed.” 

As the SOCAS programme entered a new phase of funding in October 2024, it is essential to acknowledge the rising demand for specialist services and the gaps in support that survivors need. Increasing awareness and accessibility to these vital services is crucial. 

The report concludes with recommendations on how survivor support should develop, emphasizing the need for multi-year funding and collaborative efforts to sustain and expand services so that all survivors can access the support they need when they need it. 

Read the report here.