Report on National Safeguarding Steering Group meeting January 2023

Safeguarding resources, for use in churches across the country, including Bible readings, prayers and suggested hymns, chosen in consultation with survivors, have been published today

A new initiative focused on survivors of church-based abuse and those who support them is being launched by the Diocese of Newcastle.

The initiative, which is a response to recent guidance issued by the Church of England to church officers and church bodies on how to respond well to victims and survivors of all kinds of abuse, has been part funded by the charity Safe Spaces.

The Church of England is investing in a ground-breaking programme of safeguarding training and resources, created especially for children and young people.

Summary National Safeguarding Steering Group (NSSG) November 2023

The Sexual Offences Act 2003 has been amended to include a new section 22A which expands “Position of Trust” offences to include anyone who is coaching, teaching, training, supervising or instructing in a sport or a religion. 

Safe Spaces, the free, independent national support service for victims and survivors of church-related abuse, have produced new posters for churches to signpost to their free confidential helpline.

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.

NEWS / A transcript of the oral closing submission from the Archbishops' Council for the Peter Ball case study as part if the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) on 27 July 2018.

A resource to help local churches do some theological thinking around safeguarding has been published today by the Faith and Order Commission (FAOC), in response to a request by the lead bishop for safeguarding, the Rt Rev Paul Butler.