Who to contact to raise a safeguarding concern

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Additional information for victims and survivors

Who to contact to raise a safeguarding concern

If you believe that someone you know through your chaplaincy poses a risk of serious harm to others, or that an individual may be at risk of serious harm from others, you must take action.

If there is an immediate risk of harm you should contact your local emergency services.

You need to report your concerns immediately to the Diocesan Safeguarding Team. You can do this directly by telephone or email. You might also want to speak with your Chaplaincy Safeguarding Officer.

Diocesan confidential reporting line:

For urgent enquiries during operational hours, please call: +44 (0)207 898 1159

For non-urgent enquiries contact: +44 (0)7464 544 715 

Out of hours

The DST's operational hours are Monday to Friday, 10:00 to 18:00 Central European Time.

For urgent enquiries outside operational hours call our partners thirtyone:eight (formerly Churches Child Protection Advisory service) on +44 (0) 303 003 1111. You will be able to get confidential advice, guidance, and support.

For non-urgent concerns outside operational hours, please leave a message on the number above and a team member will respond on the next working day.

To report a concern by email, please complete the referral form which you can download here.  Please email it to europe.safeguarding@churchofengland.org Our team will respond within 48 hours. Please tell us if you need help in completing the form, or need to have a form in a language other than English.

General enquiries

For Safeguarding application checks, submission of verified certificates, training, and any other general queries:

Contact number: +44 (0)7464 544 715 or email: europe.safeguarding@churchofengland.org

 

Additional information for victims and survivors

 

Support (Firstlight Safe Spaces)

Firstlight Safe Spaces

If you have been affected by any kind of abuse, bullying or other safeguarding issues, no matter how long ago, Firstlight Safe Spaces can provide you with support. You do not have to have told the police or the church authorities, and you do not have to still be involved with the church.

Firstlight Safe Spaces is a free support service for victims and survivors of church-related abuse. The organisation 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 disability, age, gender or sexual orientation.

Their services are available on 0300 303 1056 or via their website. Opening hours are Monday to Friday 9 am to 9 pm, Saturday 9 am to 1 pm and Sunday from 1 pm to 5 pm UK time.

 

Eden Voice (Diocese in Europe advocacy group)

The need to listen to and support victims and survivors is central to the work we do in Safeguarding across our diocese.

We want to ensure that the voices of victims and survivors are integral to the work we do in all our chaplaincies.

Eden Voice stands for advocacy in safeguarding, particularly supporting victims and survivors’ “healing and holding” needs. Eden Voice members are volunteers from different cultural, ethical and gender backgrounds who respond to this need by advocating the voice of victims and survivors of church based abuse. All our members are trained in safeguarding and as a support person.
We are seeking new members to join us.

Practically, we get together once a month (online) for prayer and actions: (the first Tuesday of the month, 5 pm to 6 pm CET.) We are advising and advocating to the Diocesan Safeguarding Team (DST). 

Currently our members are from Belgium, France, Malta, and Switzerland. We welcome new members from different backgrounds and countries who are part of the Diocese in Europe or further on. We are happy to receive requests of interest. There are no pre-requirements but we expect all our members to go through safeguarding and support person training from the Church of England and any other complimentary training (to be discussed). Listening skills are an added value.

Please let us know of any questions or if you’d like to consider joining us by emailing europe.safeguarding@churchofengland.org