The Church of England is committed to the safeguarding, care and nurture of everyone within our church community so that all can flourish in faith and know the love of God.

We all have a responsibility to care for one another, and to keep people safe from harm, and it is especially important that children and vulnerable adults are protected.

Our work is based on the following six safeguarding commitments, agreed on by the bishops of the Church of England in 2017;

  • Promoting a safer environment and culture
  • Safely recruiting and supporting all those with any responsibility related to children and vulnerable adults within the Church
  • Responding promptly to every safeguarding concern or allegation
  • Caring pastorally for victims/survivors of abuse and other affected persons
  • Caring pastorally for those who are the subject of concerns or allegations of abuse and other affected persons
  • Responding to those that may pose a present a risk to others

Safeguarding Nationally

The National Safeguarding Team (NST) is involved with;

  • Developing and implementing national policy
  • Casework on complex and high profile cases
  • Commissioning lessons learned reviews
  • National survivor support and engagement work
  • Co-ordinating independent diocesan safeguarding audits
  • Strengthening and supporting national safeguarding networks
  • Engagement with the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA)

For more information about these areas of work please click here

Safeguarding in the Diocese of York

For Safeguarding advice contact the Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser Rob Marshall on 01904 699524, mb.07914 668907 or email: safeguarding@yorkdiocese.org.

If your query relates to a safeguarding issue within the Diocese of York you can also find information by clicking here

Safeguarding in a different Diocese

All 42 dioceses of the Church of England employ a Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser (DSA). A DSA is the first point of call for someone wishing to report an allegation of abuse. They manage allegations, advise survivors and work closely with external agencies. They are also involved with training, policies and procedures.

You can find your local Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser by clicking here

Disclosing Abuse

If you have information about a safeguarding situation where a child or adult is in immediate danger or requires immediate medical attention call the emergency services on 999. Do not delay.

Details of the safeguarding team based in your diocese can be found via the relevant diocesan website. You can find your local Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser by clicking here

If you wish to report any safeguarding concerns directly to the Office of the Archbishop of York you can contact the Provincial Safeguarding Adviser, Sukhbir Singh at tel. 01904 707021 (main reception), or at email: sukhbir.singh@churchofengland.org