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Safeguarding

We are committed to ensuring that the Diocese of Salisbury provides a safe environment for everyone, especially children and young people who may be at risk of abuse or neglect.

Here you’ll find advice, information, and resources to help parishes understand how to achieve the best possible standards of safeguarding, and signposting for those who may wish to access support.

If you are contacting the safeguarding team please be aware the best way to contact us is via email unless you have an urgent concern

Safeguarding Concerns

safeguarding@salisbury.anglican.org to speak to a caseworker or Diocesan Safeguarding Advisor regarding safeguarding concerns or ongoing cases. Or 01722 438651 and press option 2.

Administration related enquiries

safeguarding.admin@salisbury.anglican.org such as DBS Microsite or Dashboard. Or 01722 438651 and press option 1.

Safeguarding Training Enquiries

safeguarding.training@salisbury.anglican.org 01722 438651 and press option 1.

If your query is urgent or out of hours (5pm Friday to 10pm Sunday), please contact thirtyone:eight on 0303 0031111.

If someone is at immediate risk of harm, please call 999 in an emergency.

If you wish to report a concern, see advice under the 'Safeguarding in parishes' heading further down or the 'What to do if you have a concern' box immediately below.

Responding Well to Victims and Survivors of Abuse: Support options (video)

Responding Well to Victims and Survivors of Abuse (Church of England website)

Safeguarding Training and DBS Guide

What to do if you have a concern

Diocesan commitment to safeguarding

We follow the national legal and procedural framework for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults and Church of England policy and practice.

We act promptly on any complaints made and work in close partnership with Police and Social Care where children or vulnerable adults have been harmed or are at risk of harm or mistreatment.

We care for those who have been abused in the past and provide a range of support and signposting for survivors and victims of Church related abuse.

We support national policy from the Church of England including following the practice guidance Responding Well to victims and survivors of abuse.

Further Information on Training and DBS checking

Download the Safeguarding training Matrix and DBS Matrix which gives a guide for the levels of training and DBS likely to be required for each role.

Access the latest diocesan safeguarding courses in the Diocese of Salisbury Learning Hub.

Access DBS Microsite here.

Survivor care and support

If you are looking through this page it might be because something has happened to you, you are struggling and looking for support, or because you want to help someone close to you. Seeking support when you are struggling or thinking about speaking out about any kind of abuse, can often raise all kinds of emotions.

There may be many reasons why you have not spoken out before. It can feel overwhelming and frightening, but it can also be the first step towards support, healing, and recovery. You are not to blame for what happened to you.

You will be heard, be supported and have your concerns taken seriously no matter how recent or long ago and regardless of where the abuse took place. It is your choice who you share your experience with. Within your local church or Parish you may wish to speak to your Parish Safeguarding Officer or a member of the clergy. You may choose instead to contact the Diocesan Safeguarding Team: Contact can also be made via the Diocesan Safeguarding Advisors.

Helpful organisations

• Safe Spaces- A free and independent support service providing a confidential, personal and safe space for anyone who has been abused through their relationship with either the Church of England, the Catholic Church of England and Wales or the Church in Wales. They offer a helpline, a live web chat and website.

• The Survivors Trust - The largest umbrella agency for specialist sexual violence support services in Europe. They support survivors of any age who have experienced all forms of sexual violence, sexual abuse and sexual exploitation to access information, advice, support and therapy.

• MACSAS - Standing for Minister and Clergy Sexual Abuse Survivors, this charity supports women and men from Christian backgrounds who?have been sexually abused by Ministers or Clergy, as children or as adults. They offer support in a number of ways including a helpline.

• NAPAC – The National Association for People Abused in Childhood support adults who have suffered any type of abuse in childhood. They have a national free helpline and other support.

• Respond – Respond seek to support people with learning disabilities, autism or both who have experienced trauma in their lives through psychotherapy, advocacy, campaigning and other support.

• Life Signs – A user-led service offering support for those who self-harm.

• ManKind Initiative – a charity offering support for men who have suffered sexual or domestic abuse in the form of a help line, information and guidance.

• GALOP – Galop provides confidential and independent advice and support for LGBT+ people who have experienced sexual assault, abuse or violence. They provide a welcoming, inclusive and safe space to talk, whatever your sexual orientation or gender identity.

Domestic abuse support

These organisations offer support particularly for victims of domestic abuse:

• FearLess (Wiltshire) - A registered charity delivering support services to adults and young people experiencing the trauma of domestic abuse and sexual violence. FearLess delivers services across south-west England including in Wiltshire.

• PARAGON (Dorset) - Formerly You First, Paragon is a specialist team working together empowering change for individuals, families, and our communities. PARAGON is part of The YOU Trust and is their domestic abuse, sexual violence and stalking team.

• Hampshire Domestic Abuse Partnership The Hampshire Domestic Abuse Partnership is a group of local services in Hampshire working together to provide help and support for Victims and survivors of abuse, children living with domestic abuse, people who may be abusing or hurting someone and professionals seeking advice.

Safeguarding in parishes

There are a number of resources you can download for use within a parish context. Find more information.

Parish Safeguarding Hub and DBS management

The Diocese of Salisbury are introducing two important safeguarding tools to support all parishes in strengthening their safer recruitment and people management practices.

To help you create a safer church environment, we invite every parish to register for the new Parish Safeguarding Hub and the Thirtyone:eight DBS service. This page will guide you through what these tools are, why they matter, and what steps you need to take to get started. Find more information.

Safeguarding Annual Report:

Annual Report 2023

Annual Report 2024

Contact the Safeguarding Team

Get in touch

For non-emergency advice and support outside of the teams working hours, please contact thirtyone:eight on 0303 0031111.