Why We Are
As the adult children of Subpostmasters, we have been deeply affected by the fallout of the past actions of the Post Office and Fujitsu along with our families. Whilst our parents should rightfully receive redress and compensation, this will not extend to other family members.
On the 19th January 2024 Paul Patterson, Director of Fujitsu Services Ltd and CEO Europe for Fujitsu, gave evidence to the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry. Sam Stein KC asked searing questions about the impact on families and children of Subpostmasters. Paul Patterson responded that he would be willing to engage with them.
Watch the video of the hearing here (starting at 1 min 20 secs):
About two weeks later, Katie Downey attended the Department of Business and Trade Parliamentary Select Committee hearing on 27th February at the House of Commons, where her father Tony gave evidence. At that hearing, listening to the parade of Post Office bosses and civil servants giving evidence, the germ of an idea began to form: a new support group as well as a representative movement to get the voices heard of those who were children when their Subpostmaster Parents were affected.
We held our first support group meeting on 11th March via Zoom.
Lost Chances was launched to the media on Thursday 14th March 2024 and was widely covered by national television and radio.
We made contact twice with Paul Patterson with one response, with the aim of pushing for an official meeting.
There are now hundreds of interested Subpostmaster adult children who have joined Lost Chances.
“The law tends to draw a line in this country when it comes to compensating family members of those more directly impacted by scandals, although the Post Office is a unique case. Children of Subpostmasters might find it difficult to claim compensation through the courts. Legal responsibility tends to concentrate on those most directly affected by the harm. Children would ordinarily be treated as too ‘remote’ from the harms caused because it was not inflicted on them directly.”