Resources and Helplines

These resources provide guidance on recognising abuse and responding appropriately to safeguarding concerns. They are intended to support safe practice, good decision-making, and appropriate information sharing.

• Recognise Abuse (Sep 2018)
• Responding to Disclosures and Recording Concerns
• Responding to Allegations About Church Officers
• Sharing Information 
• Sharing information where a vulnerable adult’s consent is in question
• Responding to Safeguarding Situations
• Domestic abuse guidance for Parish Safeguarding Officers
• Domestic Abuse & Violence Fact Sheet
• Spotting the Signs of Modern Slavery

Good safeguarding practice includes clear, accurate, and secure record-keeping. The following resources support parishes in recording safeguarding concerns appropriately:

• Model parish safeguarding recording template
• Guidance on safeguarding records
• Keeping safeguarding records

These resources provide practical guidance to support safer church activities, ministries, and relationships.

For leaders, helpers, and volunteers

• Types and Signs of Abuse
• Safeguarding children and young people
• Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults
• Domestic Abuse
• Using social media safely
• Safeguarding Ourselves in Pastoral Relationships
•  Lone Working
• Smith Review 7 Minute Breifing - for PCC Members

For children and families

• How do we keep you safe? (children)
• How do we keep you safe at choir? (children)
• How do we keep your child safe? (parents and carers)
• How do we keep your child safe at choir? (parents and carers)

An animated safeguarding for children and young people – “We all have a right to feel safe all of the time” - is available via the National Safeguarding Training Portal for those with access, under the resources menu - for teaching / empowering children

These resources support safer use of digital platforms and online communication:

• Being connected safely using Zoom
• Video Calling Children
• Video Calling Young People
• Sexting and youth-produced sexual images

Templates and Forms

These templates are provided to support consistent and proportionate safeguarding practice in parishes.

Model Activities

• Model Activity Risk Assessment
• Personal risk assessment tool
• Home visiting risk assessment checklist
• Registration form for activities and trips
• Volunteer driver agreement
• Good Practice for Working with Adults
• Health and Safety Checklist for Children

Model Photo and filming

• Photo and filming consent forms (under 18s)
• Photo and filming consent forms (over 18s)
• Filming in Progress Notice
• Confirmation of notice in use for people in the background

Model Consent forms

• Consent forms (contributor release)
• Consent forms (transport)
• Photo and filming consent forms (under 18s)
• Photo and filming consent forms (over 18s)

Further templates and forms are also available from The Church of England and from Thirtyone:eight

These resources explore safeguarding in relation to faith, theology, and church life:

• The Gospel, sexual abuse, and the Church
• Theology and domestic abuse
• Forgiveness and reconciliation in the aftermath of abuse

• Thirtyone:eight – 0303 003 11 11
• NSPCC – 0808 800 5000
• Childline – 0808 11 11
• NAPAC (National Association for People Abused in Childhood) – 0808 801 0331
• Samaritans – 116 123
• Cruse Bereavement Support – 0808 808 1677
• Stop It Now! – 0808 1000 900
• Rape Crisis – 0808 500 2222
• Safe Spaces – 0300 303 1056

In an emergency, contact the police on 999. For non-emergency concerns, contact 101.

If you need to contact children’s or adult social care services, the following local authorities cover the diocese: