Safeguarding is about keeping everyone safe and about working with children and vulnerable adults in a respectful and safe way. Our churches and church-related activities must be safe places for all, with safeguarding policies and practices that promote a safer church. Each year St Peter’s PCC reviews its safeguarding policies, which you can see included here.
St Peter’s approaches safeguarding according to the principles set out in The Church of England’s Parish Handbook. We are here to listen and help if you are worried or upset about something that’s happening, or has happened to you or someone you know.
Beth Knowles is our Parish Safeguarding Officer for St Peter’s Wolvercote. Email: stpetersallsaintssafeguarding@gmail.com
If you have lived experience of abuse from within the Church of England, you may want to call the dedicated telephone NSPCC helpline, which is independent of the Church. Call 0800 80 20 20. The NSPCC helpline is also available to anyone wishing to provide information or to raise concerns regarding abuse within the Church of England. The helpline is there for you whether you are reporting issues relating to children or adults or seeking to whistleblow about poor safeguarding practice. Your call is confidential, and your concerns will be taken seriously.
If you think a child is in immediate danger, call the police on 999.
The Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) is the front door to Children’s Social Care for all child protection and immediate safeguarding concerns. If there is an immediate safeguarding concern where a child is deemed at risk or has potentially suffered significant harm, the MASH team should be contacted immediately.
If you have a concern about a child, please call MASH on 0345 050 7666 during office hours (8.30am – 5pm, Monday to Thursday, 8.30am – 4pm, Friday)
Outside office hours call the Emergency Duty Team on 0800 833 408; and/or
Out of Hours Safeguarding Helpline: For enquiries outside of operational hours of an urgent safeguarding nature, call our partners Thirtyone:eight (formerly Churches Child Protection Advisory service (CCPAS)) on +44 (0) 303 003 1111. You will get confidential advice, guidance, and support.