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.

Letters to Church Times (August 2022) from the Chair of the Redress Board and the Redress Scheme Survivor and Victim Working Group

The publication of the report of the public inquiry into child sex abuse in Telford, demands a response from all organisations working with children and young people, states bishops and national director of safeguarding.

Publication of independent overview report relating to William Scott Farrell

The Church of England’s Independent Safeguarding Board has published Terms of Reference to review the handling of safeguarding issues regarding the former Dean of Christ Church, Oxford

The January 2022 meeting of the National Safeguarding Steering Group, NSSG, was chaired by the lead safeguarding bishop.

Safeguarding consultant Jane Humphreys has been appointed as the independent reviewer into the Church of England’s handling of the allegations relating to the late Revd Trevor Devamanikkam.

Summary of September meeting 

It was announced that the Bishop of Truro, Philip Mountstephen, is joining the NSSG and will take on the role as Chair of the Redress Scheme Project Board. It was noted that the extensive programme of work in safeguarding will need additional new episcopal members. The Terms of Reference of the group also need to be reviewed to ensure that they are fit for purpose in the context of the implementation of the Independent Safeguarding Board.

The Church of England is supporting this year’s Safeguarding Sunday, 10 October 2021.

The meeting was chaired by the Church of England’s lead safeguarding bishop, Jonathan Gibbs, who welcomed members and congratulated Mark Steadman (currently Archdeacon of of Stow and Lindsey  in Lincoln Diocese) on his appointment to Chief of Staff at Bishopthorpe and welcomed new NSSG member Mark Humphries, Oxford Diocesan Secretary. Mark Steadman will continue on the NSSG in his new role.