The Church of England and Catholic Church in England and Wales will be continuing to provide support for victims of church-based abuse, following a successful two-year pilot of the Safe Spaces service.

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.

From Bishop Viv Faull, deputy lead safeguarding bishop and co-chair designate of the All Party Parliamentary Group on safeguarding in faith settings.

The lead bishop for safeguarding, Jonathan Gibbs, has previously written a letter stating that the National Safeguarding Team (NST) has no view about, and is not involved in, the wider issues relating to the College and the Dean at Christ Church, Oxford and this remains the case.

The Church of England is supporting the international campaign for 16 days of activism to end gender-based violence, as newly released figures show that there has been a 37% increase in reports of domestic abuse to diocesan safeguarding advisers over the past three years (2019-2021).

Former chief crown prosecutor appointed as the independent chair of National Safeguarding Panel.

The Domestic Abuse Bill returned to the Commons for its second reading this week, a reminder to think and act for those who during the COVID-19 restrictions are in lockdown with the very people who may cause them harm.  The Bishop of of London, Sarah Mullally, highlights the issue in her latest blog .  

Bishop Sarah is a member of the National Safeguarding Steering Group 

In response to your article ‘CofE is ‘being used’ in campaign against Dean of Christ Church’ I would like to point out that the National Safeguarding Team has no view about, and is not involved in, the wider issues relating to the College and the Dean.

Bishop of Huddersfield, Jonathan Gibbs, the Church of England’s lead safeguarding bishop said: “An independent investigation into allegations that the Dean, Martyn Percy, failed to fulfil his safeguarding responsibilities has concluded the Dean acted entirely appropriately in each case.

Two new members with professional safeguarding expertise have been appointed to the Church’s National Safeguarding Panel (NSP), chaired by Meg Munn.