Holly Alex
Holly Alex | |
|---|---|
Holly Alex | |
| Born | Holly Hamilton |
| Occupations | Author, Advocate |
| Known for | Advocacy for care-experienced people; Author of I Thought You Cared |
Holly Alex (born Holly Hamilton) is a Scottish writer and advocate who has spoken publicly about her experiences in residential care in Scotland. She has been featured in UK media in connection with reporting on abuse in secure care and its handling by local authorities. She is the author of I Thought You Cared (2026).[1]
Early life and care experience
Holly entered the Scottish residential care system as a teenager. She later spoke to BBC News and other outlets about abuse she experienced while in care, and about systemic failures in the handling of care placements.[2][3][4]
Abuse, advocacy, and public attention
While in secure care, Holly was sexually abused by a care worker, Gordon Collins, when she was 15. She has spoken publicly about her experiences in BBC News and other outlets, discussing both the abuse and responses by care authorities.[5]
Following the conviction of Collins, Holly gave interviews to multiple media outlets, including the BBC, Edinburgh Evening News, Herald Scotland, and the Daily Mirror, commenting on care practices and the handling of abuse allegations.[6]
Holly has also spoken publicly about group-based child sexual exploitation in Scotland, describing how young people in care were targeted and raising concerns about safeguarding within the care system.[7][8] She has called for greater awareness of such exploitation and improved protections for care-experienced young people.[9]
In The Scotsman, her experiences were cited as highlighting wider concerns about safeguarding failures within the care system.[10]
Publications and advocacy work
Holly is the author of I Thought You Cared (2026), a memoir recounting her experiences in residential care and the abuse she suffered while in St Katharine's Secure Unit Edinburgh .[11]
Holly runs Beyond The System which shares information and resources related to experiences in the care system.[12]
External links
References
- ^ "I Thought You Cared". Amazon. Retrieved 10 February 2026.
- ^ "Witness Statement of Holly Alex" (PDF). Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry. Retrieved 30 December 2025.
- ^ Edinburgh Evening News. "I was sexually abused every weekend for six months, young victim of Edinburgh secure unit abuse asks why lessons have not been learned". Retrieved 30 December 2025.
- ^ Herald Scotland. "Victim of child sex abuse carved attacker's initials into thigh was not believed by care staff". Retrieved 30 December 2025.
- ^ BBC News (31 March 2022). "I was abused in care – why has nothing changed?". Retrieved 30 December 2025.
- ^ Mirror. "'I was abused by care worker aged 15'". Retrieved 30 December 2025.
- ^ "Grooming gang survivor Holly Alex..." Scottish Daily Express. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
- ^ "Scots grooming gang victim hopes..." Daily Record. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
- ^ "Scots grooming gang victim hopes..." Daily Record. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
- ^ "Holly Alex's gripping story..." The Scotsman. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
- ^ "I Thought You Cared – book release". BeyondTheSystem.co.uk. Retrieved 30 December 2025.
- ^ "Beyond The System". Retrieved 30 December 2025.