A GRANDMOTHER who survived a childhood of abuse in the care system has told how she is using her experiences to support others as they give evidence in the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry.

Shirley Caffell, who now lives in Haddington, was just seven years old when her mother took her to a public park in Edinburgh and abandoned her with her five year-old sister and 18 month-old baby brother.

Alone and bewildered Shirley made her way from The Meadows to a house in Portland Place in the city, where she knew her grandmother lived, but when she arrived with her younger siblings the door was slammed in their faces.

As it began to get dark, Shirley returned to The Meadows where she approached two policemen for help.

It was a decision which would haunt her for over five decades as it was the catalyst of years of torment for her and her sister as they were abused in a care home and then foster care.

For Shirley, salvation came when she moved to Templedean Children’s Home in Haddington, aged 12, and found security for the first time since she was abandoned.

Now Shirley, who still lives in the town, hopes working with other survivors to tell their stories to the inquiry will ensure her local authority and others learn the lessons needed to protect children in care in the future.

The Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry, which is being run on behalf of Scottish Ministers, recently announced the addition of another former East Lothian residential children’s home to its hearings – Carlekemp, North Berwick, which was run by the Order of Benedictines.

Other former residential homes currently on the list of those under investigation include Algrade, Humbie, and former Barnardo’s homes Glasclune, in North Berwick and Tyneholme, Pencaitland.

To date no local authority run home in East Lothian has been included in the inquiry.

Shirley said: “The local authority home in Haddington gave me security for the first time.

“For years before that people in authority turned a blind eye to the abuse. I hear people now say it was a different time but that is not an excuse.

“All local authorities need to listen to the evidence which people are coming forward to give to this inquiry. Their voices need to be heard.”

Councillor Fiona O’Donnell, East Lothian Council’s health and social care spokesperson, said it was vital local authorities addressed the wrongs of the past.

She said: “We have to face up to the harm that has been done and do everything we can to safeguard children and adults now and in the future. It is important that staff working in these services feel a responsibility and are able to report concerns.

“It can be difficult to speak out and we need to ensure that training in child and adult protection gives staff the skills to identify signs of possible abuse.

“Here in East Lothian we have a range of statutory and third sector services who can offer help to survivors at every stage of their life, including counselling, peer support and support groups.

“GPs can make referrals to psychological services, and for under 18s to the Rivers Centre. The Rivers is a specialist service for people affected by psychological trauma which adults can self-refer to on 0131 451 7400.

“In terms of the inquiry, I think it is vital that we face up to the abuse which has taken place where people should, above all, have been safe. The survivors who are giving evidence need to know that they are heard.

“Those who commit the abuse need to know that we have changed as a society and are ready to talk about these difficult issues.

“Here in East Lothian we will be keen to learn lessons from the inquiry and be ready to respond to its findings.”

Shirley sought help from Future Pathways, Scotland’s In Care Survivor Support Fund, which helps those who were abused as children whilst in care providing counselling, support and practical help.

The counselling provided helped her understand that the abuse she had her younger sister went through was not her fault.

She said: “I carried this guilt over my decision to seek help which led to us going into the care system throughout my life. Through counselling I was able to understand that what happened afterwards was not my fault.

“I did the best I could and the only thing I could at that time, I was only seven.”

Shirley and her sister were initially moved into a care home in Edinburgh where a male who claimed to be related was given visiting access and sexually abused them.

Their ordeal continued when they were moved into foster care in Portobello and suffered years of physical abuse.

Shirley recalls developing rheumatic fever which was untreated and developed into chorea, a condition which robbed her of her speech and movement.

She said: “I was moved out of the house and onto a bed in the garden because they said I was disruptive. I couldn’t talk, only moan, the other children were banned from coming near me. I spent an entire summer outside.”

They were moved to Templedean after what Shirley recalls as a “particularly horrendous beating” forced social workers to intervene.

Shirley now volunteers with INCAS – In Care Abuse Survivors – where she helps support people preparing to give evidence at the inquiry as well as those for whom the inquiry has brought childhood experiences to the surface.

She said: “I can relate to people and understand what they have been through and are experiencing when they call for help.

“I find being able to help others find their voice and speak out has helped me feel empowered.

“It is important and the work INCAS does and Future Pathways provides to help support peopleand let them tell their stories is vital.

”It is a first step in ensuring these mistakes are never made again and children in care are protected in the future.”