The Church of England is currently responding to two important safeguarding reports looking at ways forward on independence (including external scrutiny) and reflecting on lessons learnt on the former Independent Safeguarding Board, ISB.
The report from barrister Sarah Wilkinson sets out a detailed account of events around the first phase of the ISB until the announcement of the termination of contracts of members in June 2023. The Review, published in December 2023, makes findings on the reasons which led to the decision to terminate and identifies lessons to be learnt.
The report from Professor Alexis Jay, former chair of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, IICSA, makes recommendations for a new independent safeguarding and scrutiny body for the Church of England. Professor Jay was commissioned by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York to carry out this work in July 2023 and her report was published in February 2024.
Take part in the engagement survey
An engagement survey is now open for anyone who wants to make an initial response to the Jay recommendations, it is anonymous and will take around 20 minutes to complete. Closing date April 18.
Join an online focus group or workshop
There will be a series of focus groups and workshops with survivors and their advocates, safeguarding professionals working in the Church, senior leaders in the Church, and a range of other people. Mostly, these will coordinated with stakeholders directly to invite them to online discussion groups. Some dates of online sessions will be posted here, for people who are not already on mailing lists relating to their role.
Contact the team
A Response Group, chaired by the lead safeguarding bishop, will oversee engagement work on these reviews, and an independent co-chair is also being appointed - see revised Terms of Reference.
For all enquiries email [email protected]
Updates
Regular updates will be posted here on the website and circulated to stakeholders.
Support
If you or anyone you are in contact with are affected by the publication of this report and want to talk to someone independently please call the Safe Spaces helpline on 0300 303 1056 or visit safespacesenglandandwales.org.uk.
Alternatively, you may wish to contact the diocesan safeguarding team in your area or the National Safeguarding Team at [email protected]. There are also other support services available.