survivors of abuse
This can lead to victims and survivors of abuse finding that justice is elusive and the process of seeking it causes further trauma.
Ensuring that the pain suffered by survivors of abuse is properly recognised with compassion and understanding and support
Survivors of abuse are still let down by the Church’s bureaucracy and have not received the generous pastoral care or compensation they deserve.
I am the safeguarding lead for ERMC and in this capacity I have tried to listen to survivors of abuse.
The church has done a lot of catching up on safeguarding at all levels, and more is needed to keep up with national safeguarding requirements and to support survivors of abuse, but we need to ensure that all proposals are workable and not overly burdensome for those in ministry so that we can effectively make the church a safe place for all.
Trust must be built from the ground up; we must move decisively to ensure our churches are genuinely safe spaces for those who are vulnerable or at risk, and that victims and survivors of abuse are genuinely cared for.
I care about safeguarding — The Church of England has failed victims and survivors of abuse.
Safeguarding: honing good systems and practice to ensure the Church is safe for all people, especially those who are victims and survivors of abuse, and all who are vulnerable.
Independent and Compassionate Safeguarding: As Synod seeks to establish independent structures for safeguarding, my prayers remain with all victims and survivors of abuse.
By no means least, we must also put our energies into embedding good Safeguarding into the culture of our Church nationally and locally, and in working with survivors of abuse that we may learn, change, and grow in understanding and good practice.
I have wide experience of safeguarding throughout my professional and personal life and would hope to work to further improve the approach to safeguarding, and the response and support for survivors of abuse, in the Church of England.
Listening carefully also means listening to survivors of abuse, and ensuring that safeguarding is upheld with the seriousness, independence and professionalism our churches deserve.