Introduction

Abstract

Alone, the title of the sculpture pictured on the front cover, captures the popular essence of being a child in the many forms of out-of-home care. This sculpture, placed outside one of Sweden’s former greatest children’s homes, was originally accompanied by a plaque which read: ‘Between 1935–1976 many children experienced love and care at the Vidkärr Orphanage and were given a good start in life.’ To many care-leavers, who experienced abuse and neglect at Vidkärr, the text was very provoking. Their protests resulted in the plaque being removed and the sculpture became a symbol for one of the largest care-leaver associations in Sweden. Alone and the story behind it illustrate the contested history of out-of-home care, institutional child abuse and subsequent redress that are the subject of this book.