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.

Interim chair and vice chair appointed to Church’s National Safeguarding Panel

A Review Group has been appointed to oversee an independent review process of the handling of alleged safeguarding issues regarding the former Dean of Christ Church, Oxford.

Church of England safeguarding standards published 

 Findings of survivor engagement national survey published

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.

Statement from Archbishops' Council regarding the Independent Safeguarding Board 

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.

Statement from Archbishops' Council on the Independent Safeguarding Board and Christ Church review

National Safeguarding Steering Group December 2022