Safeguarding

Safeguarding

Organisations that can help:

  • Action on Elder Abuse Helpline: 080 8808 8141 (free phone Monday to Friday 9-5pm)

  • Child-line: 0800 1111 (lines free and open 24 hours). Phone if you are a child or young person and are worried about anything

  • Cruse: 0800 808 1677 bereavement helpline

  • MACSAS: Minister and Clergy Sexual Abuse Survivors. 0808 801 0340 support for those abused by ministers, clergy or others under the guise of the church 

  • NSPCC Child Protection Helpline: 0808 800 5000 (lines free and open 24 hours). Phone if you are worried about a child.

  • National Domestic Violence Helpline: 0808 2000 247 (lines free and open 24 hours). Phone if you are experiencing domestic abuse.

  • NAPAC: National Association for People Abused in Childhood. 0808 801 0331. Support for adults abused as children

  • Samaritans Helpline: 08457 90 90 90 (open 24 hours). Phone if you feel you are struggling to cope and need someone to talk to.

  • Stop It Now: 0808 1000 900 preventing child sexual abuse 

  • Survivors Trust: 01788 550554. Support for men who have experienced sexual assault or rape

The charity ‘MIND’ mind has information aimed at helping friends, family, carers and others to give support and take care of yourselves too.

Their website can be found here:  Mind Website

Please also note that there is updated information on looking after your own wellbeing on the St Giles website under the heading: COVID-19 Living Well at St Giles.  

Safeguarding is Everyone's Responsibility

Here at St Giles we take the safeguarding of the people in our church very seriously

“We recognise that the welfare of every person is paramount regardless of age, disability, gender racial heritage, religious belief or their sexual orientation or identity. They have the right to equal protection from all types of harm and abuse.”

Click here for more information about how you can play your part
in safeguarding everyone who comes to our church.

St Giles Safeguarding Policy 2020

To ensure the safety and wellbeing of people as a church, we have created a strict and robust safeguarding policy that is enforced and followed.

This policy is regularly reviewed and conforms to the Diocese of Peterborough safeguarding guidelines and the Church of England’s policy statement “Promoting a Safer church” and is regularly reviewed.

https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2017-11/cofe-policy-statement.pdf

We accept that most forms of abuse can occur in all communities and is most likely to occur within families and by people known to the victim. We are aware of potential warning signs and have procedures in place to follow. We follow a strict recruitment and vetting process and provide training for those wanting to be involved in working with vulnerable children/adults whether the post is paid or unpaid.

Key Policy Statements

  • In all our activities we endeavour to safeguard everyone.
  • We are committed to promoting and supporting a safe and friendly environment.
  • When concerns are raised we respond immediately to those concerns; we follow the diocesan procedures and take all concerns and allegations seriously.

If you have any safeguarding concerns you must contact the church Safeguarding Officer Louise Whaites immediately via email at email logo  or telephone image  01604 628623 or 07305 449227  

If you cannot get hold of the Safeguarding Officer then you can contact
the Diocesan Safeguarding Officer Bev Huff on email at  email image or  01733 887 000

Please find below the link to our child and vulnerable adult protection policy, with the code of conduct and good practice guidelines. This is also viewable in the church and the church centre.

If you have any more questions or queries about safeguarding at St Giles then please contact Louise Whaites, our Safeguarding officer and she will answer any question you may have.

Our full safeguarding policy can be downloaded here.

In recognition that safeguarding is everybody at St Giles concern, please find below the link to online Basic Awareness training (C0), that all members are invited/encouraged to complete to better understand the issues.

 https://safeguardingtraining.cofeportal.org/course/view.php?id=7

 You will be asked to register first and you should then proceed via the “Basic Awareness C0” tab.

The online module will take you somewhere between 30 and 45 minutes depending on your existing level of awareness, knowledge and experience. Notification that you have completed the module will be emailed to you on completion.

Below are some links and contact numbers that you might find useful related to safeguarding in a wider context