Safeguarding
Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility but it is overseen here by:
Rev Graham Shaw Rector – contactable on 01483 455333 or graham.shaw@st-saviours.org.uk
Rev Lucy Webb Associate Minister – contactable on 01483 455333 or lucy.webb@st-saviours.org.uk
Annabelle Varley Parish Safeguarding Officer (PSO) and Director of Children, Youth & Families Ministry – contactable on 01483 445144 or annabelle.varley@st-saviours.org.uk
Hilary Carter Safeguarding Administrator – contactable on 01483 557580 or hilary.carter@st-saviours.org.uk
Guildford Diocese Safeguarding Team – contactable on 01483 790379 or safeguarding@cofeguildford.org.uk
Safeguarding matters will be forwarded to the Diocesan Safeguarding Team (or the police if immediate action is required) and we will follow the advice given.
Church of England and Guildford Diocese Safeguarding Policy
The Church of England safeguarding responsibilities for parishes are outlined in the House of Bishops’ Safeguarding Policy and Practice Guidance. A Parish Safeguarding Handbook has been published to support the day to day work of parishes. This Handbook can be found by clicking here. We adhere to the Guildford Diocese Safeguarding Policy which incorporates the House of Bishop’s Safeguarding Policy and Guidance. If you wish to see more detail of the Diocese Safeguarding policies please click here. We have adopted the Church of England’s House of Bishops’ Promoting a Safer Church Safeguarding Policy which can be found by clicking here and our PCC Statement, adopting the policy can be found here.
Reporting a Safeguarding Concern
If you are concerned that a child or an adult is, or may be, at risk of abuse this should be reported immediately (and certainly within 24 hours) to the Parish Safeguarding Officer (PSO) or the clergy listed above. If it is a non-emergency situation you can report this either in person to the PSO or by telephone, and they will then contact the Diocese Safeguarding Officer and ensure that we respond appropriately. We will do everything we can to support the person at risk. If it is an Emergency situation, and you believe the child or adult is in immediate danger of significant harm, then you should call 999 before reporting it to one of the Safeguarding Officers.
Safeguarding in our Kids and Youth groups
Throughout the work in our kids groups we adhere to strict guidelines in order to ensure the children and youth in our care are kept safe and are treated equally and with awareness of individual needs. This starts with the recruitment of volunteers for our children’s groups (all our children’s volunteers have a full DBS check), and continues within the organisation of the groups. All our volunteers carry out the Church of England safeguarding training, in order to ensure they are clear on the church’s expectations in their roles, how they are to act with the children and what to do if they have concerns.
Further detail on our safeguarding policy for the Children and Youth can be found in our Policy Booklet.
Safeguarding Adults
We understand that adults sometimes need extra support and we work with many who are vulnerable due to their circumstances, their age or their health. Our Pastoral Assistant team, who all have a full DBS check and have taken the Diocese safeguarding training courses, visit and support many in our congregation for whom a friendly face and home assistance is helpful. Annabelle Varley, our PSO, is available to discuss any concerns you may have. Her contact details are above.
Being on the Kids, Youth or Trekkers team
If you’re interested in getting involved with our Kids, Youth or Trekkers groups, please click below to take you to our ‘Being on a team’ page.
Support Helplines
If you wish to speak with someone outside the church the following helplines will be of assistance.
- NSPCC for adults concerned about a child – 0808 800 5000
- Childline for children and young people – 0800 1111
- Action on Elder Abuse helpline – 0808 808 8141
- 24-hour National Domestic Violence helpline – 0808 2000 247
- NAPAC offer support and advice to adult survivors of childhood abuse – 0808 8010 331
- Stop It Now preventing child sexual abuse – 0808 1000 900
- Cruse bereavement helpline – 0808 808 1677
- Family Lives support and advice on family issues – 0808 800 2222
- MACSAS for people who have been abused by church officers – 0808 801 0340
- Samaritans for people struggling to cope and needing someone to talk to – 116 123
- Past Cases Review 2 two dedicated local listening provision – 0800 80 20 20
- SurvivorsUK – 0203 598 3898
- National Rape Crisis Helpline – 0808 802 9999
- The Survivors Trust – 0808 801 0818
- DeafHope (BSL) Text Number – 07970 350366
- National Association for People Abused in Childhood – 0808 801 0331
- Modern Day Slavery Helpline – 0800 0121 0700