Church of England launches National Survivor Participation Framework

The Church of England today launches the National Survivor Participation Framework, a guide for all Church bodies and any victim or survivor who currently participates – or wants to participate – in the safeguarding work of the Church.

In 2018, the General Synod recognised survivor engagement as a key priority for action, resulting in the National Safeguarding Team (NST) setting up a strategy to co-design ‘a framework for the participation of victims and victims and survivors to support the work of the Church to improve its safeguarding responses and practices’.

The framework was approved by the National Safeguarding Steering Group (NSSG) on 25 November 2024, and it stems from the commitment of the Church of England to make the Church a safer place, and listen to victims and survivors as experts by experience. The framework will be revised by the NSSG in November 2026.

Victims and survivors already participate in different workstreams, groups, and activities across the Church to make changes in safeguarding policy and practice. These include protecting others, developing services, revising policies, assuring quality, and attending forums and events. NST’s latest Annual Report describes the wide range of activities individuals got involved at the national level in 2024.

The development of the Framework started with the Survivor Engagement Survey Report in October 2023, following a national anonymous survey. The survey heard from 171 victims and survivors, including those who have not previously engaged with the Church. The co-development of the framework involved individuals with lived experience of abuse, safeguarding professionals in dioceses and cathedrals, the National Safeguarding Team, subject experts in the NCIs, and external experts.

A survivor describes, “I have really enjoyed being a part of this process and hope to continue to support the church moving forward. When you are a victim of abuse you lose your voice, and often your self-esteem and self-worth. In this process I have been able to use my voice, and my opinion has been valued. It has helped me feel useful and that I can help to make a change for the better.”

Deputy Lead Bishop for Safeguarding Julie Conalty says “I am really grateful to all those who were involved in co-designing the framework, particularly victims and survivors. This framework brings much needed clarity and helps us to create safe spaces that truly incorporate the voices of victims and survivors as they contribute to safeguarding and to changing the safeguarding culture in the Church.”

The Church of England is committed to implementing the principles and different types of survivor participation, to ensure victims and survivors are involved in inclusive, trauma-informed, and impactful ways in alignment with the Quality Assurance Framework and the National Safeguarding Standard 4.1. This contributes to consistency and quality of participatory practices with survivors across the Church, as the framework can be used in independent safeguarding audits of dioceses, cathedrals, and the National Safeguarding Team.