Today (Tuesday 15 July) the Diocese of Guildford has launched a diocese-wide communications campaign to boost the levels of awareness of safeguarding risks and encourage reporting.
The Diocese of Guildford is committed to achieving the best possible standards of safeguarding to ensure that all, especially the most vulnerable feel safe in church.
The campaign, which includes printable posters, digital slides and information cards, is centred around the memorable slogan, See it. Hear It. Report It. The three behaviours act as a clear call to action for everyone in the church community to report any concerns they may witness or hear about.
The campaign comes as the Safeguarding Minister, Jess Phillips MP said she was committed to working with faith groups to prevent abuse, and “to raise standards, close loopholes, and ensure that every child – regardless of their faith or background – is safe, heard, and protected.”
While the Parish Safeguarding Officers and the Diocesan Safeguarding Team have the core role in safeguarding church communities, abuse can happen at any time and anywhere, so this campaign will help more people feel informed when it comes to spotting safeguarding concerns and know how to report and access support.
Bishop Andrew said: ’It’s been good to witness the huge improvement in our safeguarding practices over the years, and I’m very grateful to all our clergy and lay people who have played their part in reinforcing the message that safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. This new campaign is fresh and accessible and will continue to drive that improvement in both our churches and the communities we serve. And of course there’s never a place for complacency, given the appalling damage that can be perpetrated where we slacken off’.
Informed by feedback from representatives from parishes and the Cathedral, the campaign will highlight that safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility, and signpost to the Diocesan safeguarding webpage where people can access a variety of informative resources and details on how to report their concerns.
Jackie Broadfoot, Diocesan Safeguarding Officer said: “My team and I continue to be proactive and responsive in supporting our parishes and chaplaincies and helping them improve safeguarding standards and reinforce a positive culture that prioritises protecting the most vulnerable.
“We hope this campaign will encourage everyone to be more alert to the signs of abuse, lead to more timely referrals, and ultimately, safer churches.”
Find out more information about the campaign and register to receive the campaign materials