The trustees and senior leaders recognise the need to provide a safe and caring environment for everyone, especially children, young people and adults with care and support needs. We acknowledge that children, young people and adults can be the victims of physical, sexual and emotional abuse, and neglect.

We want to create an environment that is safe for everyone, and as such we take a zero tolerance approach to all abuse, including but not limited to discrimination, harassment and bullying. As leaders we have therefore adopted the procedures set out in our detailed safeguarding policy and handbook in accordance with statutory guidance. We are committed to building constructive links with statutory and voluntary agencies involved in safeguarding.

The policy and handbook are based on the ten Safe and Secure safeguarding standards published by thirtyone:eight.

The trustees and senior leaders undertake to:

• • Promote a safer environment and culture.
  • Commit to the safe recruitment, support and training of those with responsibility
    related to children, young people and vulnerable adults in the church.
  • Respond promptly to every safeguarding concern or allegation.
  • Care pastorally for victims/survivors of abuse and other affected persons.
  • Care pastorally for those who are the subject of concerns or allegations of abuse and
    other affected persons.
  • Respond to those that may pose a present risk to others.
  • Promote a culture of zero tolerance of all forms of abuse, and a culture of treating
    everyone with dignity and respect in attitude, language, and actions, throughout all
    of the church’s activities.
  • Support the Safeguarding Coordinators and Champions in their work and in any
    action they may need to take in order to protect children and adults with care and
    support needs.

We recognise:

• • Children’s Social Services has lead responsibility for investigating all allegations or
    suspicions of abuse where there are concerns about a child. Adult Social Care has
    lead responsibility for investigating all allegations or suspicions of abuse where there
    are concerns about an adult with care and support needs.
  • Where an allegation suggests that a criminal offence may have been committed then
    the police should be contacted as a matter of urgency.
  • Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility.

We will review this statement and our policy annually.

Safeguarding Lead (All services): Sarah Cobbold
Safeguarding Trustee (All services):  Chee Yeen Fung

Safeguarding Champions:

• • Stockwell: Louisa Richards
  • Sutton: Heather Rushton
  • Central: Natalie Powell
    
  • Mile End: Izzie May