Please tell someone as soon as possible. What you say will be taken seriously.
If you have any concerns about your immediate safety, you should contact the police on 999 or your local social services department.
Otherwise, you can chose who you talk to including the Safeguarding Co-ordinator, who is available at any time by mobile on 07909 117964, or your own parish’s Local Safeguarding Representative.
A list of names and telephone numbers for the Local Safeguarding Representatives can be found on the Meet the Team Page.
Alternatively, you may prefer to tell someone in the Church that you already know, such as a priest or a youth leader. They will make sure that you get help. They need to let one of the above people know if there is a child or adult protection matter to be dealt with.
It is the policy of the Catholic Church to always inform statutory authorities (Police and Social Services) that abuse has been alleged. This is done in order to prevent further abuse from happening and to make sure that past abuse is properly dealt with.
It is best not to let the abuser know you are going to talk to someone about the abuse as they may attempt to interfere. This could prevent you from getting help for yourself or helping to stop someone else being abused by the same person.
Understandably, many people find it difficult to tell anyone about the abuse they have experienced. It may be many years after the event before a disclosure is made. Whenever you choose to tell, you will be listened to and what you have to say will be taken seriously.
There are some people in the Church who have special responsibility for safeguarding. Details of your Diocesan Safeguarding Team can be found via the relevant Diocesan website (available under the “Links” page of this site).
Alternatively, you may prefer to tell someone in the Church that you already know such as a priest or a youth leader. Hopefully, they will make sure that you get help. They need to let one of the above people know that there was a child protection matter to be dealt with.
If you have any concerns about responses to anything you say about experiences of abuse, the Safeguarding Commission or Clergy Advisor would be glad to hear from you.
In the past there have been people who have been abused by Church personnel and who found the response of the Church to be inadequate and uncaring. The Church is committed to continuing to learn how to respond in a supportive and healing way to the needs of those who have suffered abuse.
The Church has a National Policy for the Support of Those Affected by Allegations of Abuse Within a Church Setting, available from www.csas.uk.net, section 3.4. This policy embodies the pastoral responsibility of the Church towards those affected by abuse and seeks to ensure that the support needs of all those affected by abuse are effectively addressed.
Here at the Hallam Diocese, we have a team of independent registered counsellors who are able to work with individuals on a vast number of issues, including for those who have experienced abuse. For more information please visit the Caritas – Counselling Section of the Diocesan Website which can be found on this link https://hallam-diocese.com/caritas/counselling/.
Safe Spaces is also an independent organisation which provides support to those who have experienced church based abuse. For more information please visit the Safe Spaces section which can be found at https://hallam-diocese.com/safeguarding/hurt-by-abuse-2/
A list of useful resources, books and websites.
Developing a better understanding of the impact of sexual abuse in childhood on adults.
The myths and stereotypes surrounding abuse.
The Goddard Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse is now launched and a report will be expected by 2020. For further details about the Terms of Reference and how the Catholic Church will be involved, please link directly to the website at https://www.iicsa.org.uk/, which provides a very clear explanation of the enquiry and the processes surrounding it, especially the evidence gathering structures, and the victims and survivors consultative panel.
Please see link for developments with Goddard Inquiry announced on the 11th November 2015.
Consider the extent to which State and non-State institutions have failed in their duty of care to protect children from sexual abuse and exploitation; to consider the extent to which those failings have since been addressed; to identify further action needed to address any failings identified; to consider the steps which it is necessary for State and non-State institutions to take in order to protect children from such abuse in future; and to publish a report with recommendations.
• Consider all the information which is available from the various published and unpublished reviews, court cases, and investigations which have so far concluded;
• Consider the experience of survivors of child sexual abuse; providing opportunities for them to bear witness to the Inquiry, having regard to the need to provide appropriate support in doing so;
• Consider whether State and non-State institutions failed to identify such abuse and/or whether there was otherwise an inappropriate institutional response to allegations of child sexual abuse and/or whether there were ineffective child protection procedures in place;
• Advise on any further action needed to address any institutional protection gaps within current child protection systems on the basis of the findings and lessons learnt from this inquiry;
• Disclose, where appropriate and in line with security and data protection protocols, any documents which were considered as part of the inquiry;
• Liaise with ongoing inquiries, including those currently being conducted in Northern Ireland and Scotland, with a view to (a) ensuring that relevant information is shared, and (b) identifying any State or non-State institutions with child protection obligations that currently fall outside the scope of the present Inquiry and those being conducted in the devolved jurisdictions;
• Produce regular reports, and an interim report by the end of 2018; and
• Conduct the work of the Inquiry in transparent a manner as possible, consistent with the effective investigation of the matters falling within the terms of reference, and having regard to all the relevant duties of confidentiality.
A letter from the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales and the Conference of Religious states “As a Church in these countries, we acknowledge our history in the arena of child sexual abuse; but we also have a compelling story to tell of how we have addressed these issues through our safeguarding reviews by Lord Nolan and Baroness Cumberledge and the ongoing work of the NCSC and CSAS.”
The Safeguarding Commission is aware that the enquiry may raise issues for many individuals within our communities. Anyone who has any queries or concerns can contact the safeguarding office on 0114 2566453.
o The phone line will remain the same 0300 303 1056o From September 23 the email address will be [email protected] (note this email will not be live for responses until 23rd Sept)
• As previously, this service will be independent of the Church of England and the Catholic Church in England and Wales will provide trauma-informed information, emotional support and advocacy.
Funding Available - Safe Spaces
http://www.safespacesenglandandwales.org.uk/grant-funding/
Safe Spaces Provider Announcement
Support for victims and survivors of church-related abuse to continue long term with new independent provider First Light The Church of England, The Church in Wales and The Catholic Church in England and Wales are pleased to announce ongoing support for victims and survivors of church-related abuse, through their Safe Spaces project, with newly appointed, independent provider First Light. Safe Spaces is a free national support service which offers a confidential, personal, and safe space for anyone who has been abused through their relationship with either the Church of England, The Church in Wales or The Catholic Church in England and Wales, regardless of age, gender or sexual orientation. First Light is an independent organisation with extensive experience in supporting those who have experienced or are experiencing sexual abuse or domestic violence, including survivors and victims of church-related abuse. First Light have been appointed by the Board of Trustees Of Safe Spaces England and Wales (SSEW) after a rigorous and highly competitive tender process. The Bishop of Southampton, Debbie Sellin, a Trustee of SSEW said: “Safe Spaces provides a vital support service to those who have been affected by church-related abuse, and I am very pleased to be welcoming First Light as the new provider. “This will build on the work of Victim Support during the pilot phase, and more recently FearLess (formerly Splitz Support Services) during the transition phase, and I would like once again to thank both these organisations for all they have done. “I would like to reassure existing users of the service, who have already been notified of the change, that you will be supported during the transition to First Light.” Jamie Harrison, a Trustee of SSEW, added: “We would like to thank all the survivors who have been with us every step of the way from developing the initial brief to interviewing potential suppliers. Their insight and support has been vital.” Bishop Paul Mason, Safeguarding Lead for the Catholic Church, Board Member of the Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency (CSSA) and a Trustee of SSEW said: “The impact of abuse can be complex and life-long. It is vital that victims have a source of support from an independent body who specialise in this area. We have complete confidence that First Light will deliver this service in the long term and will make a difference for those who need it. We would like to thank every survivor who has worked with us to help ensure a continuity of support and excellence of service” Lyn Gooding, Chief Executive of First Light said: “Our trained staff are ready to be there for any victim or survivor of church-related abuse. We know that Safe Spaces is needed, we are committed to the project for the long-term and we could not be more proud to take up this vital work.” Service users can expect a seamless transition from interim providers FearLess (formerly Splitz Support Service) which followed a successful two-year pilot of the Safe Spaces project run by Victim Support. All current service users will be contacted individually to talk through relevant information, options and to answer any questions. They can expect continuity in accessing support. Safe Spaces can be contacted at Safe Spaces England and Wales T:0300 303 1056
*** Under Development ***
The Isaiah Journey -Seeking Truth, Bringing Hope, Finding Healing
Inspired by the writing of the prophet Isaiah, it has three strands:
Seeking Truth
The prophet Isaiah describes himself as ‘A voice of one calling, ‘In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.’ (Isaiah 40:3)
This invites us on a journey to face the truth of the anguish of those who have been impacted by abuse. In listening to survivors, families and communities, we begin the work of ‘preparing a way’ for God’s healing and renewal through our repentance and desire to respond.
Bringing Hope
Isaiah gives the words which Jesus uses at the beginning of his earthly ministry:
Jesus stood up to read in the synagogue at Nazareth; the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him, and he unrolled it and found the place where it was written:
‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.’ (Luke 4:16-21 quoting Isaiah 61:1-2)
Jesus embodies the words of the prophet Isaiah and we, as baptised members of his Body, the Church, are called and anointed by the gift of the Holy Spirit to do the same.
Finding Healing
Isaiah writes that the Messiah (and by implication those who follow him) is a healer: ‘A bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. He will not grow faint or be discouraged until he has established justice in the earth’. Isaiah 42:3-4
Many in the Church have been broken and their faith extinguished. Together as people of God, we seek to
acknowledge the immense harm that has been inflicted. We intend not to ‘grow faint or weary or be discouraged’, but with renewed trust, we believe in God’s power to bring healing and hope, to victims and survivors, families and communities and the wider church.
Tuesday, 17 May 2022 The Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors (PCPM) has highlighted the importance of prayer and suggested to Pope Francis that the worldwide Catholic Church should…Day Of Prayer for Survivor Of Abuse 2022
If you have any ideas for seminar topics you would find helpful or would like to have considered, please contact Jo Pearson, the Safeguarding Administrator, on 0114 256 6453 or by email to [email protected] .