Safeguarding:

At the PCC meeting held on 22 July 2025 the Parochial Church Council (PCC) of the Church of the Good Shepherd, Farnborough adopted the Church of England Promoting a Safer Church Policy Statement.

“Promoting a Safer Church” sets out the Church of England’s commitment to making the church a safer place for all. 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.

We 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.

Reporting a Safeguarding Concern

If you have a concern about our Vicar (Rev. Thea Edwards), a member of clergy, or a member of staff, you can report this to the Parish Safeguarding Officer (PSO) using the secure email address on safeguarding@goodshepherdchurch.org.uk or directly to the Diocesan Safeguarding Team via safeguarding@cofeguildford.org.uk. Please be assured that these email addresses are not accessible by the Vicar, clergy, or staff team. All concerns raised will be handled with the utmost seriousness and in strict accordance with safeguarding protocols.

If you are concerned that a child or an adult is, or may be, at risk of abuse this should be reported immediately. If it is an Emergency situation, call 999 before reporting it to the Safeguarding Officer or clergy.

We have appointed a Parish Safeguarding Officer (PSO) to oversee safeguarding within our church. She is supported by the vicar and a small safeguarding team. For more information please contact:

Rev'd Thea Edwards    or    Marian Rudall 
07732 085981                   07732 085981
safeguarding@goodshepherdchurch.org.uk

If you need to speak to someone urgently then please contact:

Jackie Broadfoot
Diocesan Safeguarding Advisor
jackie.broadfoot@cofeguildford.org.uk
07918 559387
Jackie has primary responsibility for case management and the interface between parishes and statutory agencies in the event of a serious safeguarding concern.