Safeguarding

 

We want acnbchurch to be a safe place for everyone. Safeguarding is very important to us. Church should be a place of sanctuary, not threat.

This page summarises the rules we follow on safeguarding, how we can help you, and things that you can do.

Our buildings are also used by other groups. They will have their own safeguarding rules to follow. If you in any doubt about who to talk to, you can always talk to us and we will work out how best to deal with any situation.

Getting help or raising a concern

There are four different ways to contact people who can help.

• Emergencies: Ring 999
  If there is an urgent, serious problem or you are concerned that someone (at church or anywhere) is at serious risk, then you should ask for help from the emergency services.

• Let someone in our church know about a concern or problem:
  If it is less urgent you can

  • contact our safeguarding officer: 07442 969531 or safe@acnb-church.org
  • contact our vicar: vicar@acnb-church.org

• Let someone in the regional church team know about a concern or problem
  If you don’t want to talk to us, you can talk to the safeguarding team at the regional church (the Diocese of Winchester, of which we are a part) on 01962 737317 (office hours)

• Other ways to get help and advice
  If you don’t want to talk to anyone connected to the church at all then there are lots of organisations outside the church who can help at any time e.g.

  • Hampshire County Council Safeguading Children: office hours 0300 555 1384 or out of hours 0300 555 1373
  • Hampshire County Council Safeguading Adults: office hours 0300 555 1386 or out of hours 0300 555 1373
  • Childline: 0800 1111
  • NSPCC: 0808 800 5000
  • National Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0808 2000 247
  • Modern Slavery Helpline: 0800 0121 700

How we address safeguarding

We have a duty of care to every child or vulnerable adult who comes into contact with @acnbchurch. This includes taking the necessary steps to safeguard them and promote their welfare. Abuse takes many forms and can occur anywhere and affect anyone.

If you have concerns please follow the advice in the Getting help or advice section of this page.

Making @acnbchurch a place which is safe for all, especially children and vulnerable adults, is part of our concern for respecting human dignity and caring for the oppressed and marginalised.

We follow the guidance and rules that apply to us as part of the Church of England, specifically:

• The Parish safeguarding handbook, which sets out our safeguarding responsibilities
• The Safeguarding aide memoir from the Diocese of Winchester
• The Diocese of Winchester has a dedicated web section on Safeguarding
• Church of England also has a National Safeguarding Team
• Our parish safeguarding policies (Ampfield, Chilworth, North Baddesley)

@acnbchurch take any expressions of concern about safeguarding seriously. Any disclosure, allegation or concern will be referred to the Diocesan Safeguarding team.