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.