Safeguarding support services

For those in a crisis

Please email Karen Galloway, Diocesan Safeguarding Officer, available 9.00am to 5.00pm Monday - Friday or call on 07785 621319,

or email Catherine Banthorp, Assistant Diocesan Safeguarding Officer, available 9.00am to 5.00pm Monday - Wednesday or call on 07934 568403.

Samaritans please call 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org, for further information please visit www.samaritans.org

For all safeguarding concerns

Customer First to discuss safeguarding/homelessness concerns please call 0808 800 4005. 

Click here for issues relating to adults.

Sexual abuse concerns

Safe Spaces

Safe Spaces provides vital support for survivors of church-related abuse, the service commissioned by the Anglican and Catholic Churches in England and Wales, will be run by Victim Support, a national charity with a track record of providing survivor support.

Safe Spaces is 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, Church in Wales or the Catholic Church of England and Wales. 

Safe Spaces comprises a team of trained support advocates, who have undergone specialist training in supporting survivors of sexual violence and who have received additional specific training in how the churches respond to abuse cases, the way in which faith and church-related settings have been used to carry out abuse, and the particular issues affecting people who have had or still have, a relationship with the church.

The service is for those who may have experienced any form abuse, including sexual abuse, physical abuse, financial abuse, psychological abuse (including spiritual abuse), domestic abuse, coercive and controlling behaviour.

For further information please visit:

Safe Spaces | Weblink

You can contact the Safe Spaces team by phoning 0300 303 1056 (answerphone available outside of opening times) or email: safespaces@splitz.org

Safe Spaces Interim Service Arrangements

Just a reminder that new interim arrangements are now in place for the Safe Spaces service, ahead of a full procurement process to identify a supplier for a further 3 year contract.

Although the phone line and website remains the same, there has been a change to the service email and opening hours (further details below)
From 23^rd Sept 2023, the phone line and all new referrals are being managed by Splitz Support Services on an interim basis. Splitz Support service is an independent charity that specialises in supporting victims and survivors of abuse. They provide confidential, independent and specialist support; this support is trauma-informed and victim-led.  As previous, Safe Spaces will continue to offer emotional support and advocacy services for victims and survivors of church related abuse. 
Support from Safe Spaces may involve:

• A space to be listened to and heard.
• An individualised communications plan – where service users may say how and when they would like contact.
• A risk assessment and personalised safety plan.
• Psychoeducational support.
• Safety and stabilisation.

Whilst support can be therapeutic in nature, it is distinct from counselling.  Victims and survivors wishing to access counselling services will be supported to consider the options available to them, including NHS, Church and voluntary sector provision.
 
The Safe Spaces telephone number remains the same: 0300 303 105.  The helpline’s amended opening hours will be Monday – Friday 9 – 5, with late opening until 7pm on Tuesdays.  The new email address is safespaces@splitz.org and the website remains the same:

For victims and survivors who have previously accessed Safe Spaces via Victim Support and whose cases remain open with the service – they will continue to be supported by the Victim Support-led Safe Spaces team until the new service provider is in place in January 2023.
 
If you have any queries about this project, please contact Ailsa Reid-Crawford, Safe Spaces Project Manager -  ailsa.reid-crawford@churchofengland.org | Safe Spaces England and wales – Safe Spaces England and wales

Domestic Abuse

The Freedom Project

Victims struggling with domestic abuse are more likely to stay in an abusive relationship if they have a pet – as they do not want to leave them behind. Abusers often use pets as tools of coercion to prevent victims from leaving. The Freedom Project, launched by Dog’s Trust, is a dog fostering service aiming to give dogs a safe temporary home for up to 9 months so victims of domestic abuse can feel more confident in leaving their relationship knowing that their dog will be safely looked after in the meantime, and that they will be able to reunite with them once safe to do so.

The Freedom Project | Weblink

Support that children can directly access

Childline 0800 1111 or for further information please visit: www.childline.org.uk

The Hideout or for further information please visit: thehideout.org.uk/children/home

Support for parents 

To learn more about how to keep Children and Young People safe online:

Think U Know | Weblink

Parentline: available on: 0808 800 2222.