White Paper
From harm to healing: rebuilding trust in Britain's publicly funded institutions.
White Paper
From harm to healing: rebuilding trust in Britain's publicly funded institutions.
When public bodies cause harm, they rarely see what the person on the receiving end of it experienced.
The public body followed protocol.
They investigated the complaint and closed the file.
The public body moved on.
This white paper documents outlines the case for repair and sets out an evidence base from survivors and institutions to restore public trust.
Published in 2025 in partnership with Kent County Council Survivor Voices, the Restorative Justice Council, Right to Equality, and IMPRESS.
When public bodies cause harm, they rarely see what the person on the receiving end of it experienced.
The public body followed protocol.
They investigated the complaint and closed the file.
The public body moved on.
This white paper documents outlines the case for repair and sets out an evidence base from survivors and institutions to restore public trust.
Published in 2025 in partnership with Kent County Council Survivor Voices, the Restorative Justice Council, Right to Equality, and IMPRESS.
What the research found
What the research found
Public trust in institutions is collapsing.
In 2023, 68% of people in England and Wales expressed confidence in the police. By 2024 that figure had dropped to 52%.
Only 24% of people are satisfied with the NHS — the lowest level in decades.
The NHS pays more in maternity negligence claims than it spends on maternity services.
And 80% of eligible Windrush survivors refused compensation from the Home Office that harmed them.
These are not isolated failures. They are the consequence of a cycle in which harm is not acknowledged, not repaired, and not learned from.
Public trust in institutions is collapsing.
In 2023, 68% of people in England and Wales expressed confidence in the police. By 2024 that figure had dropped to 52%.
Only 24% of people are satisfied with the NHS — the lowest level in decades.
The NHS pays more in maternity negligence claims than it spends on maternity services.
And 80% of eligible Windrush survivors refused compensation from the Home Office that harmed them.
These are not isolated failures. They are the consequence of a cycle in which harm is not acknowledged, not repaired, and not learned from.
The framework for repair
The framework for repair
Through survivor interviews, case study analysis, and quantitative research, the white paper identifies four conditions that survivors consistently identify as necessary for genuine resolution.
Through survivor interviews, case study analysis, and quantitative research, the white paper identifies four conditions that survivors consistently identify as necessary for genuine resolution.
Our recommendations for the Government
Our recommendations for the Government
Our recommendations for the Government
The white paper presents urgent primary recommendations:
Legislate a National Restorative Framework mandating restorative principles across all public institutions
Establish an Independent Office for Institutional Accountability with survivor-led oversight
Introduce leadership training programs centred on trauma-informed, reflective and rehabilitative governance (repair by design)
The white paper presents urgent primary recommendations:
Legislate a National Restorative Framework mandating restorative principles across all public institutions
Establish an Independent Office for Institutional Accountability with survivor-led oversight
Introduce leadership training programs centred on trauma-informed, reflective and rehabilitative governance (repair by design)
© 2026 Address the Harm®️(CIO) (pending)
© 2026 Address the Harm®️(CIO) (pending)