Today, 29 September 2026, marks 10 years of Future Pathways and the In Care Survivors Alliance.
Launched in 2016, Future Pathways supports people who experienced abuse and neglect in the Scottish care system. Future Pathways is delivered by the In Care Survivors Alliance, a partnership with comprises Glasgow Psychological Trauma Service (NGS Greater Glasgow and Clyde), Health in Mind, Penumbra Mental Health and the Scottish Government.
The establishment of Future Pathways came through pivotal developments in legislation, justice, acknowledgement and reparation. Our service addresses the research findings highlighted in the Historic Abuse Systemic Review and the Scottish Human Rights Commission’s Human Rights Framework for Justice and Remedies for Historic Child Abuse, as well as the strategic ambitions laid out in the Action Plan on Justice for Victims of Historic Abuse of Children in Care and Scottish Government’s SurvivorScotland.
Included in the Scottish Government’s report was, amongst other commitments, a dedicated In Care Survivor Support Fund Service. Originally allocated over five years (2015-20), the fund (later renamed Future Pathways) was to ‘enable survivors to access services across a wide range of health and wellbeing domains which will enable them to lead full, healthy and independent lives.’
Since then, Future Pathways has grown and evolved. In the first three months of launching, 100 people registered with the service. We have since supported over 2000 people to date. When we launched in 2016, we had three Support Coordinators. We now have 48 Support Coordinators, currently working with 1,032 people.
Our approach to support is centred around relationships. By taking the time to build trust, we can create the opportunity for empowerment, choice and meaningful change. Throughout this, we strive to improve our service and understand the difference we make. Our impact findings show that people feel cared about, seen and understood by Future Pathways, and that they have gained the knowledge, skills and confidence to make changes in their lives.
Over time, we have also expanded the support available. In November 2024, Future Pathways launched Support While You Wait, a dedicated strand of support specifically for people on our waitlist. Through this, people can access emotional support, counselling and group work from Wellbeing Scotland, and record search support from Birthlink. We also offer Brief Waitlist Sessions for time-limited support with urgent areas like housing and access to education.
The following year, in June 2025, we launched Peer Support. We have hosted sessions online and in person across Scotland, and we have workshops around specific themes, such as healthy eating, first aid and stress management. Our programme offers a way to create connection, meet new people and build supportive relationships. We’re looking forward to building on what we have learnt so far as we continue to develop our Peer Support programme in partnership with participants.
Lived experience insight is crucial to how Future Pathways can learn, grow and improve. In 2022, Voices for a Better Future was formed. The lived experience voice group shapes both Future Pathways and other services. They’ve worked with the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service and the ICO, and were integral to the establishment of Future Pathways’ Peer Support programme.
As we look back over 10 years of Future Pathways, we must recognise that it is people with lived experience who paved the way for others to embark on a journey of support. It is through their determination to speak out and fight for change that key developments have come about. By bravely sharing their testimonies, highlighting the impact of abuse and calling for acknowledgement, people with lived experience have been crucial to securing the support that is available to people today.
Discover more
Our timeline
Our timeline covers the key milestones of the last 10 Years. While the focus is on Future Pathways, we do include additional information on other significant dates, as well as key research and strategies from across the wider sector. It is important to recognise that the work of Future Pathways sits within a timeline of key changes in justice and reparation.
My Path, My Future
As part of our 10 year activity, we have a new project for you to take part in. We are creating a book and online articles with people registered with the service. Find out more about the project and how to take part.
Register with us
We support people who were abused or neglected as children when they were in the Scottish care system. If this is you, we want to help you live well. We will support you in your life goals and help you work towards them.
10 Years
As we mark 10 Years of Future Pathways, we will continue to create ways for people to share their experiences and journeys, highlight the difference that Future Pathways makes, and help other services learn more about how they can meet people’s needs. Discover more in our 10 Year features and updates.
In Care Survivors Alliance
Future Pathways is one of the services delivered by the In Care Survivors Alliance. The Alliance consists of four partners: Glasgow Psychological Trauma Service (Glasgow City Health and Social Care Partnership, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde), Health in Mind, Penumbra Mental Health and the Scottish Government.
The Alliance was set up in 2016 as part of the Scottish Government’s wider strategy to address the legacy of historic abuse in Scotland. It is fully funded by the Scottish Government.
