Survivor participation

Survivor participation is when victims and survivors are taking part in safeguarding changes and developments that aim to make the Church a safer place for all.

Survivors’ voices and participation

The Church has committed to survivor engagement and participation, when this area of work was recognized as a key priority for action in the General Synod in July 2018. Victims and survivors make valuable contributions to the work of the National Safeguarding Team (NST) and other national policies affecting victims and survivors.

Survivor Participation Framework

Survivor Participation Framework

Twenty-seven victims and survivors coproduced the Framework, a guide explaining how to do Survivor Participation well in the Church.

IICSA 1&8

IICSA 1&8

Two survivors sit in the Audit Programme Monitoring Group which monitors the delivery of independent safeguarding audits of dioceses and cathedrals across the Church.

Responding Well

Responding Well

Survivors were involved in creating guidance for Church Officers explaining how to respond well to a disclosure of abuse. This included creating short videos breaking down what to expect.

Interim Support Scheme

Interim Support Scheme

Three victims and survivors sit on panels assessing applications of victims and survivors in immediate and urgent need.

If you want to learn more about the activities and tasks victims and survivors are involved, you can read the latest annual report, or watch one of the videos the NST coproduced with survivors in 2024. This animated video (see below) describes the importance and ways of survivors can participate in the Church.

How can victims and survivors get involved in safeguarding?

All activities and developments involving victims and survivors in safeguarding at the national level are run in alignment with the National Survivor Participation Framework. The Framework is a guide for any Church body and any victim or survivor who participates – or wants to participate – in the safeguarding work of the Church.

The Church recognises victims and survivors’ time and commitment by covering their expenses and offering an honorarium. You can find out more by reading this policy.

For more information on how the NCIs process personal information and on survivor participants’ rights under data protection legislation, please read the survivor engagement privacy notice.

Would you like to join us?

If you would like to find out more about survivor participation opportunities, please contact the Survivor Participation Team [email protected]. Only members of this team have access to the inbox.

There is a monthly survivor participation newsletter, sharing opportunities, news and updates. Please sign up to the newsletter here.

Survivor quote