Book our Churches

We believe that part of our mission is to provide community groups and small businesses with accommodation as cheaply as possible. Below is the basic information needed to enquire about bookings in each building.

 Contact: Peter Brewer 01482 445 726 for more information

Zion URC

Contact: Linda Briggs 01482 843 797 for more information

St Ninian's & St Andrew's United Reformed Church

 Safeguarding Children, Young People and Vulnerable Adults

Safeguarding Policy

1. Aims and purpose

The purpose of this policy is to ensure that protecting people from abuse, harm or neglect is central to our culture. It provides procedures for promoting safeguarding, preventing abuse and protecting children, adults at risk and staff. This includes clear procedures for taking appropriate action when safeguarding concerns are raised involving children and adults within our church, or those who attend our activities and events.

It is supported by the detailed overarching Safeguarding Policy of the Yorkshire Synod and the national URC Safeguarding guidance Good Practice 6

This policy is endorsed by the Elders and approved by the Church Meeting and applies to:

• all members of our church
• all those who attend and serve our church and its services
• our trustees and elders
• paid staff
• volunteers

·        organisations and groups which hire our building with written agreement to operate under the church safeguarding policy

Definitions

The term ‘children’ refers to those under the age of 18 years.

The term ‘adult at risk’ refers to any adult aged 18 or over who, by reason of mental or other disability, age, illness or other situation, are permanently, or for time being, unable to take care of themselves, or to protect themselves against significant harm, abuse or exploitation.

Duty of care and confidentiality

We have a duty of care to all beneficiaries of the church, whether adults, children or young people. We will always maintain confidentiality, except in circumstances where to do so would place the individual or another individual at risk of harm or abuse. We will comply with legal requirements in respect of data protection.

2. Creating a safter culture

We are committed to creating a safer culture in our church that will help us to prevent harm from occurring and provide an environment in which all can flourish.

The church will appoint a Safeguarding and Deputy Safeguarding Coordinator(s) for safeguarding children and adults.

Activities will be organised in accordance with URC’s safeguarding policy and guidance to promote a safe environment and healthy relationships, whilst minimising opportunities for harm, misunderstanding or false accusation.

We are committed to safer recruitment and selection of all paid staff and volunteers with emphasis on those in regulated activities. We will treat applicants who have a criminal record fairly and do not discriminate because of a conviction or other information revealed and ensure that safer recruitment procedures are followed, which include:

·        asking applicants to complete an application form

·        providing workers with job or role descriptions and person specifications

·        completion of self-declaration forms

·        obtaining Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) / Protecting Vulnerable Groups scheme (PVG) checks for eligible roles and positions

·        taking up references where appropriate

·        interviewing candidates

·        providing workers/volunteers with written contracts/agreements where appropriate.

If we become aware of someone within our congregation known to have harmed or harm children or adults, we will inform the Church Safeguarding Coordinator or Synod Safeguarding Officer within 24 hours and co-operate with them and the relevant statutory authorities to put in place a plan to minimise the risk of harm to children, young people and adults.

3. Ensuring safer activities

Whilst it is not possible to guard against every eventuality, we are committed to providing as safe an environment as possible for activities both on and off church premises.

When any church premises are let to an external, informal group or individual, those hiring the premises should hold and abide by their own safeguarding policy. If a hirer does not have a policy, they must abide by the church’s own safeguarding policy, a copy of which should be made available. Each hiring body is required to ensure that children and adults at risk are always protected by taking all reasonable steps to prevent injury, illness, loss or damage occurring.

We will ensure that appropriate insurance is in place for buildings and activities, follow health and safety requirements and carry out risk assessments for relevant activities or events

4. Recognising and responding to concerns

If a child, young person or adult makes a disclosure that they are being abused and have been abused, it is important that the person being told:

·        stays calm and listen carefully

·        reassures them that they have done the right thing in telling

·        does not investigate or ask leading questions

·        explains that they will need to tell someone else if anyone is at risk of harm, in order to help them

·        does not promise to keep secret what they have been told

·        informs the church Safeguarding Coordinator within 24 hours (if they are implicated in the allegation, inform the Deputy or the Synod Safeguarding Officer)

·        makes a written record of the allegation, disclosure or incident and signs and dates this record (using the template). This should be given to the church Safeguarding Coordinator or the Synod Safeguarding Officer.

Procedures

If there is an immediate threat of harm, the Police should be contacted without delay.

Where it is judged that there is no immediate threat of harm the following will occur:

·        The concern should be discussed with the Church Safeguarding Coordinator or the Synod Safeguarding Officer within 24 hours and a decision made as to whether the concern warrants a referral to statutory authorities

·        A confidential record will be made of the conversation and the circumstances surrounding it (using the template). This record will be kept securely, and a copy passed to statutory authorities if a referral is made

·        The person about whom the allegation is made must not be informed by anyone in the church if it is judged that to do so could place a child or adult at further risk. If the statutory authorities are involved, they should be consulted beforehand

·        The Synod Safeguarding Officer should be kept informed of any serious concerns and referrals to police and statutory authorities

·        Any serious safeguarding incidents must be reported to the Charity Commission.  

Prior to any referral to children’s services, the child’s wishes and rights should be considered when determining what action to take. There should also be a verbal consultation with local authority’s children’s services to ensure that making a referral is an appropriate action. The parent/carer will normally be contacted to obtain their consent before a referral is made. However, if the concern involves, for example alleged or suspected child sexual abuse, domestic abuse, Honour Based Violence, fabricated or induced illness, or the Synod Safeguarding Officer has reason to believe that informing the parent at this stage might compromise the safety of the child or a staff member, nothing should be said to the parent/carer ahead of the referral, but a rationale for the decision to progress without consent should be provided with the referral.

In the case of referrals to adult social care or other services for adults at risk, information should be shared with consent if the adult has capacity within the meaning of the Mental Capacity Act and if this does not place the referrer, them or others at an increased risk. A person’s right to confidentiality is not absolute and may be overridden where there is evidence that sharing information is necessary to support an investigation or where there is a risk to others.

Allegations regarding person(s) working in or on behalf of our church

If someone in the church is alleged or known to harm/have harmed children or adults, it is essential to inform the Synod Safeguarding Officer so that they can offer advice and support.

For any concerns relating to children, the Designated Officer (previously known as LADO) will be contacted. The timing and method of any action to be taken will be discussed and agreed with the DO. This will cover communication with the person, investigation and possible strategy meetings. A decision will be taken by the DO about when to inform the person and the church will follow this advice.

For concerns relating to adults, Adult Social Care will be contacted.

Depending on the seriousness of incident or allegation, a report to the Charity Commission will also need to be considered by the Elders, as the Charity Commission deems such a referral to be a ‘serious incident’ requiring notification.

5. Managing allegations and those who may pose a risk to others

The use of rigorous and careful supervision is paramount to protect people from the risks associated with known offenders within the congregation, including implementing safeguarding agreements with known or alleged offenders and those who have been assessed as posing a risk.

Where it is known that someone has a caution or conviction for committing a sexual offence, the church can play an important role in the prevention of further abuse by helping the offender to live an offence-free life.

If anyone is made aware that a person attending church has been convicted of an offence against a child or has had an allegation of this nature made against them at any time, we will immediately inform the Synod Safeguarding Officer and Minister or Interim Moderator (or equivalent).

The church will provide known or alleged offenders with a group of people who will offer support, friendship and supervision. Following advice from the Synod Safeguarding Officer, a formal safeguarding agreement will be drawn up between the church, the person who is considered to pose a risk to the welfare of people in the church, and any statutory agencies involved.

The agreement will be subject to regular review.

6. Supporting victims and survivors

All those who have experienced abuse, whether recently or in the past ‘will be listened to and offered the pastoral care and support they deem appropriate and relevant, irrespective of type of abuse, context or when this occurred’ (General Assembly policy statement 2021)

The Elders are responsible for the provision of pastoral care and should be aware of local support services that people can be referred or directed to.

Training

Safeguarding training will be provided. All relevant members, officers and volunteers will receive appropriate safeguarding training delivered by the synod. The Safeguarding Coordinator(s) should ensure that trustees/elders and people involved in regulated activities with children or adults (including Ministers, staff and volunteers) have undergone safeguarding training, as recommended by the URC.

Review

The Elders will review this policy annually, amending and updating it as required, and informing Church Meeting that this has been done.

We will complete the Annual Church Safeguarding Return.

Date of the most recent review:  July 2025

Date of the next review:   July 2026

Signed: 

(on behalf of the church Elders)

Key Contacts:

Safeguarding Coordinator - the person to whom all concerns or allegations relating to children, young people or adults should be addressed.

Name    Lynne Braham

Telephone No   07779 433007

Email    Lynne.j.braham@gmail.com

Deputy Safeguarding Coordinator – to be contacted in the absence of the Safeguarding Coordinator.

Name   tbc

Telephone

Email  

Synod Safeguarding Officer

Name   Matt Knowles

Telephone No   07761 525592

Email    –matt.safeguarding@urcyorkshire.org.uk

URC Safeguarding Office – to be used if unable to contact Synod Safeguarding Officer

Telephone No   020 7520 2729

Email   safeguarding@urc.org.uk

Designated Officer (DO)

Name  

Telephone No   01482 790933

Email  

Statutory contact in the case of a child

MASH (Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub) – 01482 300304

Hull Safeguarding Children’s Partnership – 01482 379 090

Statutory contact in the case of an adult

Adult Safeguarding Board – 01482 379 092 (out of hours – 01482 247 111)