Report a concern

If someone is in immediate danger, call 999. If you are concerned that someone is at risk of abuse, seek advice from a Safeguarding Adviser or contact the Local Authority Social Care Services or Police without delay.

Raise a concern

Our commitment

The care and protection of children, young people and adults involved in church activities is the responsibility of everyone who participates in the life of our church. Our commitment is to:

Promote a safe environment and culture.
Safely recruit and support everyone with responsibility for children and adults with additional care and support needs.
Respond promptly to every safeguarding concern or allegation.
Care pastorally for victims and survivors of abuse and other affected people.
Care pastorally for those who are the subject of concerns or allegations and other affected people.
Respond to those who may pose a present risk.

What we do

We commit ourselves to nurture, protect and safeguard all our members, particularly children, young people and adults.
We recognise that safeguarding is the responsibility of the whole church community.
We exercise proper care in selecting, appointing, training and supporting paid staff and volunteers working with children or adults with additional care and support needs, including DBS checks and appropriate referrals.
We respond without delay to concerns or allegations and cooperate with police and social care services in any investigation.
We challenge any abuse of power by anyone in a position of trust.
We seek to offer pastoral care and support to anyone who has suffered abuse.
We seek to offer pastoral care and support, supervision and referral to the proper authorities for anyone known to have offended against a child, young person or adults with additional care and support needs.

What we recognise

Children’s Social Services has lead responsibility for investigating concerns about a child.
Adult Social Care has lead responsibility for investigating concerns about an adult with additional care and support needs.
Where an allegation suggests a criminal offence may have been committed, the police should be contacted urgently.
When working outside the UK, concerns will be reported to the appropriate local agencies and to our organisation’s headquarters.
Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility.