"The Church of England is called to share the good news of God's salvation through Jesus Christ. The life of our communities & institutions is integral to how we address this task. The good news speaks of welcome for all, with a particular regard for those who are most vulnerable, into a community where the values & dignity of every human being is affirmed & those in positions of authority are truly trustworthy. Being faithful to our call to share the gospel therefore compels us to take with utmost seriousness the challenge of preventing abuse from happening & responding well where it has."
Statement of Safeguarding Policy
The Parish of St.Martin's and St. John's is committed to the safeguarding, care and nurture of everyone in our church community, and also to encouraging an environment where all people, and especially those who may be vulnerable, are able to worship and pursue their faith journey with encouragement and in safety.
At the PCC meeting held on 7th July 2025 the Parochial Church Council (PCC) of Wonersh with Blackheath adopted the Church of England's 'Promoting a Safer Church' Policy Statement, House of Bishops' Practice Guidance and supporting Diocesan safeguarding protocols. These set out the Church of England’s commitment to making the church a safer place for all and they are available to view on the diocesan website here
The Policies and Practice Guidance apply to all church bodies and church officers. All clergy, bishops, archdeacons, licensed readers and lay workers, church wardens and PCCs must have due regard to safeguarding guidance issued by the House of Bishops.
As a PCC we are committed to the support, nurture and protection of all in our church community.
The Parish will:
- Create a safe and caring place for all
- Have a named Parish Safeguarding Officer (PSO) to work with the incumbent and the PCC to implement policy and procedures
- Safely recruit, train and support all those with any responsibility for children, young people and vulnerable adults to have the confidence and skills to recognise and respond to abuse
- Ensure that there is appropriate insurance cover for all activities involving children and adults undertaken in the name of the Parish
- Display in church premises and on the Parish website the details of who to contact if there are safeguarding concerns or support needs
- Listen to and take seriously all those who disclose abuse
- Take steps to protect children and adults when a safeguarding concern of any kind arises, following House of Bishops guidance, including notifying the Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser (DSA) and statutory agencies immediately
- Offer support to victims/survivors of abuse regardless of the type of abuse, when or where it occurred
- Following advice from the DSA, support and manage the safe involvement of any member of the church community who may pose a risk to children and adults whilst maintaining appropriate confidentiality and the safety of all parties
- Ensure that procedures and risk assessments are in place for all activities and that these are reviewed annually
- Review the implementation of the Safeguarding Policy, Procedures and Practices at least annually
Each person who works within this church community will agree to abide by this policy and the guidelines established by this church.
If you have any concerns around the welfare of a child or adult at risk
The first person to speak to is Clare Hepworth, our Parish Safeguarding Officer. Alternatively, you can contact the Diocesan Safeguarding Team by emailing safeguarding@cofeguildford.org or calling them on 01483 790379.
Clare Hepworth
safeguarding@wonershchurch.org.uk
Parish office: 01483 890266
DOWNLOAD DOCUMENTS
Parish Statement of Safeguarding Policy
/content/pages/documents/our-parish-and-the-national-safeguarding-standards.zip