29 Highbury New Park

Address: 29 Highbury New Park, London N5

Open: 1969 – 1992

Opening and closure of the home 1966-92

Council minutes 11.1.66 ctd

In 1991 Staff and some children from Gisburne House moved into 29 Highbury New Park. The manager was Kevin McQuarrie. Situated in Highbury the staff were in a very different set of circumstances than when they were isolated in Watford.

In 1992 council budget savings were being made by Colgrain, 29 Highbury New Park and Grosvenor having 27 places as Grosvenor was no longer having 3 bedded units. The council minutes recorded, ‘that consultations be initiated with the current residents of 29 Highbury New Park, any persons with parental responsibility for any resident and significant others concerning the possible closure of the Unit‘.

Number of ISN survivors that lived at 29 Highbury New Park children’s home. 27: 12 women and 15 men

1970s: 7 boys 5 girls

1980s: 6 boys 6 girls

1990s: 2 boys 1 girl

Numbers of children named by ISN survivors as living at 29 HIghbury New Park children’s home: 88: 39 girls and 49 boys 

1970s: 26 boys 18 girls

1980s: 19 boys 20 girls

1990s: 4 boys 1 girl

Residential staff named by ISN survivors as working in 29 Highbury New Park children’s home: 109:

52 men and 57 women (1970-1992)

Recruitment advertisement for a deputy superintendent in 1971 for 29 Highbury New Park.

Life at 29 Highbury New Park children’s home 

1980s contract for 29 Highbury New Park children to read

‘We agree never to use physical force on you, to smack or hit you or any other restraint. We agree not to shout or swear at you. We agree not to physically restrain you if you are in a temper but to wait until you have calmed down enough to talk about it. We agree to tell you sometimes what we like about you. We agree never to insult you. We agree to treat you with as much respect as we treat each other. We agree not to steal or damage your property’ (From an ISN survivor’s file 1985)

In 1982, children were forced to sleep on the floor at a former day centre on Corsica Street due to strike action.

26.02.82. Islington Gazette

Social Work Today 30.03.82

In 1983, 7 children, aged 14-17 years, were left unattended for 20 hours. One residential care worker left them and said there should have been two staff on duty. (Islington Gazette 7.10.83) ‘

November 1992: Black and in Care advocacy and campaign group make a lengthy 15 point complaint to the Director of Social Services concerning 11 children in the home

These complaints referred to all 11 Ethiopian refugees many who had been living in England for just over a year and for whom English was not their first language. The group had the full support of the Black and in Care steering group. Many complaints made reference to a specific male worker and included allegations of violence and threatening, racist language, invasion of privacy and a residential worker being inappropriately dressed. The Black in Care advocates and the young people asked for the suspension of this member of staff and were concerned that the complaint might lead to a more dangerous situation for the young people if this action was not taken.

However more general complaints also referred to 2 other workers. The complaints included the poor state of the building. There were health and safety concerns with the kitchen cooker and fridge described as filthy. A ceiling had fallen in two bedrooms and was not repaired for 3 months whilst 4 young people had to sleep in one small bedroom for a month. It was alleged that the staff failed to meet the specific dietary needs of some children and in general food quality was said to be very poor with a failure to provide culturally appropriate food. Often fish and chips was the menu. The young people also complained of being cold and having to ask for the heating to be put on.

In 1992 the Principal Research Officer for Islington Council wrote acknowledging the complaints and informed Black in Care that the one member of staff who was the main subject of allegations would be suspended pending investigation. An independent investigator was appointed. The outcome is not known to ISN although it is reported by some former staff that he was moved into an administrative post.

The complaint led to some press coverage of the events in Community Care (29.04.93 and 03.06.93).