Safe Spaces – A service for victims and survivors of church-related abuse
Safe Spaces is a free and independent support service for anyone who has experienced abuse in relation to the Church of England, the Church in Wales, or the Catholic Church of England and 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.
If you have been affected, however long ago, Safe Spaces can provide you with support. You do not have need to have told the police or the church authorities, and you do not have to still be involved with the church. Your information will not be shared without your consent, unless you or someone else is 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.
Tel: 0300 303 1056 (answerphone available outside of opening times)
Email: safespaces@victimsupport.org.uk
LiveChat – via the Safe Spaces website
The Safeguarding Policy of the Parish of St Andrew’s, Jarrom Street
The D.C.C. of the Parish’s safeguarding policy should be read in the context of the House of Bishops’ policy statement, “Promoting a safer Church,” which the D.C.C. has adopted, and which can be found here.
Every person has a value and dignity which comes directly from the creation of male and female in God’s own image and likeness. Christians see this potential as fulfilled by God’s re-creation of us in Christ. This implies a duty to value all people as bearing the image of God and therefore to protect them from harm.
- We commit ourselves to nurture, protect and safeguard all our members, particularly children, young people and vulnerable adults.
- We 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 or vulnerable adults, including the use of Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) disclosures and making appropriate referrals to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
- We will respond without delay to concerns or allegations that a child or vulnerable adult 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 vulnerable adult.
Parish Contacts
The relevant contacts for Safeguarding on the DCC and for St Andrew’s are the Parish Priest Fr Johannes Arens and the Parish Safeguarding Officer Dr Timothy Trussell.
The Diocesan Safeguarding Team
Rachael Spiers , Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser
T: 0116 261 5341 M: 0793 081 9279 Rachael.Spiers@Leicestercofe.org
Peter Holloway, Assistant Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser
T: 0116 2615241 M: 07930 887984 Peter.Holloway@LeicesterCofE.org
Julie Foulds, Safeguarding Team Administrator
T: 0116 261 5360 julie.foulds@leicesterCofE.org
Louise Warner, Safeguarding Training Officer
T: 0116 2615383 M: 0772 9628319 Louise.Warner@LeicesterCofE.org
Other contacts:
- The Archdeacon of Loughborough: The Venerable Claire Wood
- The Archdeacon of Leicester: The Venerable Richard Worsfold
- Director of Operations & Governance, Andy Brockbank T: 0116 261 5312