Safeguarding

St Peter’s takes the care of children and vulnerable adults very seriously and works hard to ensure that we operate in line with current best practice, as recommended by the Diocese of London and the Church of England. We believe the care and protection of all who are in involved in church activities is the responsibility of the whole Church. Everyone who participates in the life of the Church has a role to play in promoting a safer church for all and we aim to be a church where everyone feels safe and taken care of.

We commit to the following:

• We accept and endorse the principles of ‘Safeguarding in the Diocese of London’.

• We commit ourselves to nurture, protect and safeguard all our members, particularly children, young people and adults at risk and recognise that safeguarding is the responsibility of the whole church community.

• We undertake to exercise proper care in the selection, appointment, training and support of those working in both paid and voluntary positions with children, young people or adults at risk, including the use of Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) disclosures.

• We will respond without delay to concerns or allegations that a child, young person or adult at risk may have been harmed, cooperating with the police and social care services in any investigation.

• We will challenge any abuse of power by anyone in a position of trust.

• We will seek to offer pastoral care and support to anyone who has suffered abuse, developing with them appropriate pastoral support.

• We will seek to offer pastoral care and support, including supervision and referral to the proper authorities, to any member of our church community known to have offended against a child, young person or adult at risk.

Concerns:

If your concern is about someone in our church community, please email St Peter’s Safeguarding Officer, Hannah Folan.

If your concern is about our Vicar, Rupert Standring or a member of the clergy, please contact the Diocesan Safeguarding Advisor: Caryn Weber.

If there is immediate risk of harm, please contact the emergency services on 999.