I’m not sure if every author does this, as it’s recommended in writing guides, but I’m talking about creating a detailed description of the characters. I don’t mean their appearance, but rather a thorough profile – how they behave, what they do, what they think, their background, etc.
I didn’t do this, but I can answer questions about most of the characters by sharing a bit of their past.
It won’t surprise anyone that the saddest story is James’s. He grew up in a children’s home, with no mother, no father, and no family. His childhood experiences were inspired by a true story, a scandal that only came to light not long ago.
Article - The Guardian
The abuse in children’s homes in England started to be uncovered in the late 1980s and early 1990s, but it took years before the full scale of the problem became public. The primary aim of children’s homes is to provide care, education, and stability. However, in the 1970s and 1980s, many homes were underfunded and understaffed, leading to inadequate supervision.
While some children formed close relationships with caregivers, many experienced neglect and abuse. Education and emotional support were often lacking, leaving many children ill-prepared for adulthood. Some homes were described as harsh, institutional environments where children lacked warmth and personal attention. Widespread physical, emotional, and sexual abuse was later uncovered in many institutions.
Reports of corporal punishment, forced labour, and emotional cruelty were common. Some homes became infamous for severe mistreatment, such as the Kendall House scandal (where girls were drugged and subjected to abusive psychiatric treatments) and the abuse cases at homes like Haut de la Garenne in Jersey.
Throughout the 1970s and early 1980s, some children and former residents reported abuse, but their complaints were often ignored or dismissed. Staff members who tried to raise concerns were sometimes silenced or forced out of their jobs. Abuse was often hidden due to poor oversight, lack of external scrutiny, and a reluctance to believe children’s testimonies.
In 1986, the Cleveland child abuse scandal drew attention to failures in child protection, but this was more about false diagnoses of abuse rather than abuse in care homes. In the late 1980s, isolated cases of abuse in care homes started to surface in local news reports. By the early 1990s, major police investigations began, exposing widespread abuse in children’s homes.
As more survivors came forward, national newspapers and TV documentaries began exposing abuse in care homes across the UK. Investigations in places like Leicestershire, Manchester, and Jersey (Haut de la Garenne) revealed that abuse had been widespread for decades. The issue became a national scandal, with multiple police operations and public inquiries.
In 2000, the government issued an apology for past failures in the care system. The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) was launched in 2015 to investigate historical abuse, including in children’s homes. Survivors have continued to fight for justice, and compensation schemes have been introduced in some areas.
Efforts to address historical abuses in children's homes in England have led to significant investigations, legal actions, and support mechanisms for victims. However, the process of achieving comprehensive justice and implementing all recommended reforms remains ongoing, and is slow. Many of the victims are still waiting to be heard…
And this is the story of James, this is why he said: “What can I do? No one would believe me anyway. Even if they did... Nobody can give me back my childhood.”
(You can buy "Nothing Will Change" here)