Safeguarding is at the heart of everything we do in our parishes. As a big family we want everyone, both adults and children, to feel happy and safe as they participate in the life of the church.
Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility but it is overseen here by Parish Safeguarding Officer Ann Ciorra – contactable on 01359 272 685.
Safeguarding matters will be forwarded to the Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser or the police if immediate action is required and we will follow the advice given.
St Edmundsbury and Ipswich Diocese Church of England Safeguarding Policy
We adhere to the St Edmundsbury and Ipswich Diocese Safeguarding policy and have adopted the Church of England’s House of Bishops’ Promoting a Safer Church Safeguarding Policy Statement. A copy of the statement is available here.
If you wish to see more detail of the Diocese Safeguarding policies then click 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 one of the Church Safeguarding Officer or the clergy listed on Contacts page .
If it is a non-emergency situation you can report this either in person to the Safeguarding Officer 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 the Safeguarding Officer.
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 – 08088010331
∙ 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 800 222
∙ 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