Safeguarding
The Parish Church of
St Peter ad Vincula
Coggeshall with Markshall
Safeguarding policy and Statement
2026
PROMOTING A SAFER CHURCH
The following policy was agreed at the Parochial Church Council (PCC) meeting held on
…… February 2026
To be reviewed Feb/March 2027, earlier if directed by the House of Bishops/National Church Safeguarding team or Diocesan Team
The Parochial Church Council of St Peter Ad Vincula, Coggeshall with Marks Hall, takes seriouslytheir responsibility to protect and safeguard the welfare of children and adults. We are committed to safeguarding children, young people, vulnerable adults and victims of domestic abuse. In October 2023, the Church of England published National Safeguarding Standards, as an essential benchmark to understand the quality and impact of its safeguarding activity at a local and national level.
The standards enable Church bodies to identify strengths and areas for development, which will in turn inform their strategic planning in respect of safeguarding.
This safeguarding policy applies to all who make up the church ‘workforce’ including:clergy, holders of Bishop’s licence or permission, commissioned or authorised by the Bishop, paid or unpaid, holding positions of responsibility in the parish , work with children, or vulnerable adults, those with representational parish ministry, for example, churchwarden, organist, server, choir member.
For the purposes of this document the term ‘Parish’ means the PCC and Vicar who together are responsible for ensuring that the safeguarding policies and procedures are implemented and a child is anyone under the age of eighteen years.
In accordance with the Church of England safeguarding guidance our church is committed to:
Promoting a safer environment and culture.
Safely recruiting and supporting all those with any responsibility related to children, young people 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.
Responding appropriately to those that may pose a present risk to others.
The Parish will:
- Create a safe and caring place for all.
- Have a named Parish Safeguarding Representative/Officer to work with the incumbent and the PCC to implement policy and procedures.
- Safely recruit, train and support all those with any responsibility for children, young people and adults to have the confidence and skills to recognise and respond to abuse.
- Ensure that there is appropriate insurance cover for all activities involving children and adults undertaken in the name of the parish.
- Display in church premises and Parish website details of who to contact if there are safeguarding concerns or support needs.
- Listen to and take seriously all those who disclose abuse.
- Take steps to protect children and adults when a safeguarding concern of any kind arises, following House of Bishops guidance, including notifying the Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser (DSA) and statutory agencies immediately.
- Offer support to victims/survivors of abuse regardless of the type of abuse, when or where it occurred.
- Review the implementation of the Safeguarding Policy, Procedures and Practices at least annually, reporting to the PCC regularly.
- Provide activity plans and risk assessments (reviewed annually) for each activity associated with either children or vulnerable adults organised by the Church
- (Hirers of church facilities are responsible for safeguarding arrangements for their events/activity and are requested to ensure our safeguarding guidance and personal responsibility is fully understood whilst using the church)
- Take appropriate steps regarding the images/ use of images of children and adults comply with National Guidance and permissions.
- Comply with Data Protection Principles – specifically with reference to storing information about the church ‘workforce’, including volunteers
- Offer support to victims/survivors of abuse regardless of the type of abuse, when or where it occurred.
- Respond appropriately, though advice and monitoring, of any person who may pose a threat or risk to others.
- Delegate to the Chelmsford Diocesan Safeguarding Advisor and Secretary the responsibility for reporting to the Charity Commissions any serious incident or concern of a safeguarding nature. The PSR will follow all procedures in such an event informing the Incumbent and PCC.
- Review the implementation of the this policy, procedures within the church annually.
- Update the PCC on a regular basis with the PSR/O attending a PCCmeetings as requested and the Annual Parochial Church Meeting.
Each person who works or volunteers within this church community will agree to abide by this policy and guidelines of this church.
This church appoints JOANNA CLARK as the Parish Safeguarding Officer /Representative
If anyone is in doubt about any safeguarding matter contact
The Parish Safeguarding Representative/ Officer
Joanna Clark 01376 790290
Or email safeguarding@caup.org.uk
The Diocesan Safeguarding Team (DST) whose job it is to offer advice, guidance and support in all situations in which a child or adult may be at riskcan be contacted at any time on 01245 294444.
Agreed by PCC on ……………………….
Vicar ……………………………………….
Churchwarden(s)………………………………………….
Useful contacts:
Diocesan Safeguarding Team
Contact Details: 01245 294444 (24/7) or
email:safeguarding@chelmsford.anglican.org
Safeguarding contact details for Essex County Council: 03330138936
www.escb.essex.gov.uk.
National Helplines
Samaritans:
08457 909090
ChildLine
0800 1111
NSPCC:
0808 500 8000
Domestic Abuse and Violence Helpline:
0808 200 0247
Women’s Aid www.womesaid.org.uk
Safe Spaces Supporting survivors of church-related abuse
email: safespaces@victimsupport.org.uk
03003031056
Mind Infoline
0300 123 3393
https://www.mind.org.uk/
StopItNow!
For anyone who may need help preventing abuse, even in themselves
0808 100 090
