The Benefice of Fulbourn and the Wilbrahams

Safeguarding Statement for Children and Vulnerable Adults

The benefice of Fulbourn and the Wilbrahams is committed to safeguarding all those who attend worship and the other activities that are offered.  We follow the House of Bishops’ Policy Promoting a  safer Church: safeguarding policy statement  (published in 2017) and the Diocese of Ely’s policy and procedures.  We seek to create a culture where everyone is included, respected, listened to and taken seriously.  We also endeavour to create an environment that is physically safe, emotionally nurturing, intellectually open, spiritually healthy and socially inclusive.  We accept the prime duty of care for children and vulnerable adults, and have appointed a Parish Safeguarding Officer to ensure that what we do is informed by up-to-date policies and procedures from local and national authorities.  We endeavour to make training and information available to everyone to foster and encourage a culture of congregational care.

Our Parish Safeguarding Officer is Mary Kendall, who can be contacted by email at mk104@cam.ac.uk  or by telephone on 07814 669713

We follow recommended safeguarding practice in recruiting, training and supporting our ordained and lay ministers, our employees and our volunteers.  Recruitment includes Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks for those working regularly or substantially with children and/or vulnerable adults.  Health & Safety policies are in place, and we have provided adequate insurance cover for all activities undertaken in the name of the benefice.  All those working on behalf of the benefice have agreed to comply with the safeguarding policy and with the good practice guidelines for their work.  We recognise that both our formal teaching and pastoral work and our church social events should be covered by the same safeguarding guidelines.

We respond without delay to any complaint that a child or vulnerable adult in our care may have been harmed by the behaviour of an employee or volunteer working on behalf of the church.  We always seek advice on such matters from outside the benefice, and we will co-operate with statutory agencies during any enquiries they need to make into allegations against a member of the church community.  During those enquiries we will do our best to ensure that those making an allegation, and those against whom an allegation is made, are supported appropriately.

We seek to offer informed pastoral care and support to any child or adult whose life has been affected by abuse, whether the abuse was recent or long ago.  Where there is a current risk to vulnerable people that has not yet been brought to light, we support the person who has suffered abuse in taking information to the relevant agencies.

The churches of the benefice wish to welcome and support all members of the community.  Those who have a history of offences against children or vulnerable adults, and/or who may pose a risk to children and vulnerable adults, are offered a supportive agreement to help them to take part in church life; they are supported pastorally, and boundaries are set to protect those who might be vulnerable within the church. Confidential safeguarding agreements are the responsibility of the Bishop’s Safeguarding Adviser and the incumbent, who work together.  We regularly review and update our safeguarding policy, and we welcome comments from those joining our community or taking part in our activities on how we could improve our awareness and safeguarding practices.

Rev. Alice Goodman (Rector) on behalf of the Parish Councils of the benefice of Fulbourn and the Wilbrahams