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Safeguarding

Safeguarding leaflet

 

Here at Steyning Parish Church we take the safety of everyone seriously, especially children, young people and adults at risk of harm. Our Safeguarding Team covers both Steyning and Ashurst parish churches. 

We have produced a leaflet explaining how everybody can help keep St Andrew’s & St Cuthman’s safe for all. Leaflets are available in church, or you can click on the image (left) to download a printable copy in pdf format.

On Sunday 26 October during the 9:30am service, Fr Mark interviewed Parish Safeguarding Officer Christine Aubrey. You can hear an audio recording (19 minutes) here.

Whom to Contact – locally

If you have any concerns about the safety of a child, young person or vulnerable adult at church in Steyning or Ashurst please contact one of our Safeguarding Officers, Christine Aubrey or Fiona Aiton. You can email them at safeguarding@steyningparishchurch.org – or ‭telephone 01903 879 986‬ to be put in touch. Our Vicar, Fr Mark may be also be contacted at vicar@steyningparishchurch.org or on ‭01903 879 877. Please do not delay. Any such concern must also be referred to the Diocesan Safeguarding Team within 24 hours. 

If the SITUATION IS URGENT, you should follow the appropriate steps below. 

Help from Outside the Parish

If you are a child or young person and you would like to talk about something you are worried or concerned about – or if you are worried about a friend – this link will take you to the Childline website, or you can telephone Childline on 0800 1111.

If you are an adult and you need to access support about something that is happening or has happened to you, or if you have a safeguarding concern for someone else please click on this link to find out what you can do in a range of situations. 

Diocese of Chichester

You can find guidance about seeking advice in a range of situations on the ‘Inform’ page of diocesan safeguarding website, here. 

You can find information about the Diocesan Safeguarding Team by clicking on this link. If a concern is church-related please  inform the Diocesan Safeguarding Team and/or our Parish Safeguarding Officer after you have made any contact with the statutory authorities.

More Urgent Situations

Whenever you think either a child or an adult is in immediate danger, you should inform the police on 999. 

At other times if you wish to report a safeguarding concern about a person aged 18 or under to the statutory authorities in West Sussex, please click on this link or telephone 01403 229 900, during office hours, or 03302 226 664 at other times. Alternatively you can email WSChildrenServices@westsussex.gov.uk

To find out how to report a concern about an adult, please click here. 

Domestic Abuse

All forms of domestic abuse are wrong and must stop. At Steyning Parish Church we are committed to promoting and supporting environments which ensure that all people feel safe from abuse and feel encouraged to raise concerns about domestic abuse which will be responded to appropriately and consistently.

Survivor Support Services

Anyone who feels they have experienced any kind of church-related abuse through the Church of England (or the Church in Wales or the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales) may contact SAFE SPACES — a free support service, providing a confidential, personal and safe space, run completely independently by Victim Support. Abuse may include (but is not limited to) sexual violence, inappropriate sexual behaviour, physical abuse, financial abuse or exploitation, psychological abuse (including spiritual abuse), domestic abuse, coercive and controlling behaviour. A list of further national resources for victims and survivors is available on the Church of England website, whereas more local contacts are listed on the diocesan safeguarding site here.

Whistleblowing

Please  click here for advice if you have concerns about how we observe and operate safeguarding procedures in the Church of England parishes of Steyning and/or Ashurst.

Parish Safeguarding Resources