The Church of England has published today new House of Bishops’ guidance on reporting safeguarding and other Serious Incidents to the Charity Commission. This is the first time the Church of England has produced Charity Commission approved guidance.

The National Safeguarding Team has commissioned the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) to help improve how the Church treats people who have been abused or are at risk of harm.

Ensuring that victims and survivors who disclose abuse within the Church of England receive appropriate support is a central pillar of the Church’s approach to safeguarding.

Safe Spaces is planned as a vital support service for survivors of church-related abuse across the Church of England and the Catholic Church in England and Wales.

General Synod voted today to acknowledge and apologise for past safeguarding wrongs. It also voted to endorse work on legislative and non-legislative changes to tighten procedures which have been identified following the Chichester Commissaries interim and final safeguarding reports.

Statements regarding BBC File on Four Blackburn Cathedral case
 

Update on actions being taken in response to the Makin review.

Summary of business from May National Safeguarding Steering Group 

Summary National Safeguarding Steering Group (NSSG) November 2023

The independent review by Keith Makin into the Church of England’s handling of allegations of serious abuse by the late John Smyth has been published.