Safeguarding: promoting a safer church

The care and protection of children, young people and adults involved in church activities is the responsibility of everyone who participates in the life of the church.

Our commitments:

• Promoting a safer environment and culture;
• Safely recruiting and supporting all those with any responsibility related to children and vulnerable adults;
• Responding promptly to every safeguarding concern or allegation;
• Caring pastorally for victims and survivors of abuse or other affected persons;
• Caring pastorally for those who are the subject of concerns or allegations of abuse and other affected persons;
• Responding to those who may pose a present risk

If you are concerned that someone you know is at risk of abuse, is being abused, or presents a risk to others, please seek advice from a safeguarding advisor, or if necessary report the matter to the local authority social care services or the police without delay. Suitable people to contact, advice lines and helpful websites are listed below.

Safe Spaces: a service for victims of church-related abuse

Safe Spaces is a free and independent support service, providing a confidential, personal and safe space for anyone who has been experienced abuse in relation to the Church of England, the Church in Wales or the Roman Catholic Church in England & Wales. This could be abuse by someone who holds any role in the church or is linked to participating in a church-led activity or group.

Although the service is funded by the churches, it is run independently by the charity Victim Support, a leading charity which offers specialist support to survivors of abuse in England and Wales.

If you have been affected by abuse, however long ago, Safe Spaces can provide you with support. You do not have to have told the police or the church authorities, and you do not have to be still involved with the church. Your information will not be shared without your consent unless you or someone else are in immediate danger. Safe Spaces can provide a range of help, including advocating with authorities and other agencies, giving emotional support, providing information (including information on church and police procedures), understanding your needs and working together on individual support plans. You can contact Safe Spaces by:

• Email
• Telephone 0300 303 1056 (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday 10am-6pm;
  Thursday 12 noon-8pm; voicemail available at all other times).
  Please note that calls to this number will be charged at the rate appropriate to your tariff.
• LiveChat - via the Safe Spaces website

Safeguarding contacts at LSM:

• Canon Robert Mackley, Vicar 01223 356641
• Dr Patricia Pires Boulhosa, Safeguarding Officer 07532 118262

LSM Safeguarding Policies:

The PCC has approved individual policies for the following activities:

• Boatbearers & Torchbearers
• Children's Group
• Choristers
• Junior Choir
• Social Media

Registration and Consent Forms:

Forms for use in connection with specific church activities can be downloaded here:

• Boatbearers and Torchbearers
• Children's Group
• Choristers
• Junior Choir

Local safeguarding contacts:

• Rebecca Boswell, Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser
  07904 487912 (9am – 5pm Monday – Friday)
• Sharon Gage, Assistant Diocesan Safeguarding Officer
  07507 741295 (9.30am – 2.30pm Monday – Thursday)
• Lisa Pearson, Assistant Diocesan Safeguarding Officer
  07990 581267 (9am – 5pm Monday – Thursday)
• Cambridgeshire County Council
  Children's Social Care 0345 045 5203
  Adult Social Care 0345 045 5202
  Out of hours (children or adults) 01733 234724

Please note that calls to the above numbers will be charged at the rate appropriate to your tariff.

National safeguarding contacts:

It is free to call any of the following numbers from any landline or mobile connected to a UK Network.

• Childline support and advice for children 0800 1111
• NSPCC for adults concerned about children 0808 800 5000
• Stop it Now
  for adults concerned about their own or another's behaviour towards children 0808 1000 900
• National Domestic Violence Helpline and 
  Voice UK helpline for learning-disabled victims of crime 0808 2000 247
• Hourglass (formerly Action on Elder Abuse)
  working to protect and prevent the abuse of vulnerable older adults 0808 808 8141
• NAPAC supporting recovery from child abuse 0808 801 0331
• Samaritans waiting for your call 116 123
• Family Lives listening, supportive and non-judgemental 0808 800 2222
• Police 101 (but in an emergency when someone may be in danger call 999 or 112)
  If calling from a mobile or outside the Cambridge area please ask to be connected to
  Cambridgeshire Police.

Parish Safeguarding Statement