Safeguarding
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How we protect and support children, young people, and vulnerable adults across our churches.
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Reporting a Safeguarding Concern
If you’re worried about someone’s safety, find out how to report your concerns clearly and confidentially.
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Safeguarding Training & Events
Stay up to date with training opportunities to help you and your church create a safer environment.
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Learn to recognise the signs of specific safeguarding issues, including different types of abuse, exploitation, and vulnerability.
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Understanding the signs of domestic abuse and how to respond.
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Information on how to recognise and report grooming and exploitation.
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Guidance on identifying and dealing with issues of financial abuse.
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Advice to follow in the event of honour-based abuse or forced marriage.
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Managing Risks & Safeguarding Agreements
The formal process for managing individuals who may pose a risk to others within the church community.
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Coping with the experience of losing someone important to us.
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Financial Hardship & Homelessness
Understanding vulnerability and finding sources of help.
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IICSA (Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse)
The findings from the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse.
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Safeguarding Policies & Guidance
Essential policies and best practice guidance for keeping people safe in our churches.
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The official Safeguarding Policy for Children and Adults for the Thames North Synod.
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Guidance on the safeguarding responsibilities and duties of Elders as charity trustees.
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Safer Recruitment and Volunteers
The principles and procedures for ensuring only suitable people work with children and adults at risk.
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Best practices for safe online communication and ministry.
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Activities in Private Dwellings
Guidance on assessing and managing the unique risks of holding church activities in private homes.
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Safeguarding Resources & Forms
Download essential safeguarding forms, templates and printable materials for use in your church.
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Get in touch with our Safeguarding Officers for confidential advice, support, or reporting.
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Activities in Private Dwellings
Guidance on assessing and managing the unique risks of holding church activities in private homes.
Understanding the Risks
It has been normal practice in many churches for some organised church activities, such as bible studies or small groups, to take place in private dwellings—the homes of church members. While this can foster community, it also introduces unique safeguarding risks that must be carefully managed.
Private dwellings can raise particular issues in relation to safeguarding, including:
- The presence of private spaces like bedrooms and bathrooms.
- The potential for individuals to be in one-to-one situations unobserved.
- The presence of other family members or friends who are not part of the official activity.
The recent Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) specifically highlighted these issues as areas of concern for religious organisations.
Guidance for Churches
This guidance is to remind churches of the risks to be aware of and take into account for the safety of both the people who live in the dwelling and those who are visiting. For the purposes of this guidance, a manse, though a place of work, should be considered a private dwelling to ensure good practice.
Before any church-organised activity takes place in a private home, a risk assessment must be carried out. Churches must consider these risks and implement appropriate measures to ensure the safety of all participants, especially children and adults at risk.
For full, detailed guidance on this topic, please refer to the official URC document: Guidance for URC Local Church Activities in Private Dwellings.