Safeguarding Address to the Parish - 15/16 November 2025

Welcome

We would like to thank Fr David for allowing us, St Werburgh’s Safeguarding Representatives, to speak to the Parish today. Sunday 16th November has been designated by the Catholic Church in the UK as 2025 Safeguarding Sunday, which is an appropriate time to give the Parish a Safeguarding update. Our Safeguarding theme remains: ‘One Church, one day, one message.’ Today we will be joining thousands of other churches across the UK to share this message and demonstrate unity as we work “Protecting vulnerable people, together.” Our Parish renewal theme is “welcome”. Therefore, it is vital that St Werburgh’s and the broader Catholic Church should be a place where anyone can come and feel welcomed, loved, and part of a safe community. But with that openness comes responsibility, especially towards safeguarding vulnerable members of our community. The Catholic Church as a whole, and Bishop Mark here in Shrewsbury Diocese, have made Safeguarding a priority. Indeed, as you are all aware, our wider society has become increasingly conscious of the need to create safe environments where everyone can flourish.

 

Theological background

Safeguarding is a task and commitment to which every member of the Church is called. Safeguarding is part of proclaiming the Gospel, for in all our efforts to care and protect the most vulnerable we give witness to Christ.

 

Governance

Governance of Safeguarding, and its direction in Shrewsbury Diocese, is overseen by the bishop and is supported by a Board of Trustees and a Safeguarding Committee. The Diocesan Safeguarding Coordinator, Andrew O’Brien, our point of contact, is responsible for delivering the Diocesan Safeguarding Plan, he is also the point of contact for the clergy, staff and volunteers. Andrew liaises with statutory bodies such as the Catholic Safeguarding and Standards Agency and the Police and is responsible for implementing policy and procedures and engaging with victims and survivors, ensuring that their voices are heard in Diocesan Safeguarding Policy.

Bishop Mark has stated unequivocally Diocesan support for survivors. He states,

” The Diocese of Shrewsbury is committed to treating everyone with respect and dignity. As a diocese we are committed to moving forward and building a foundation and relationships based upon faith and in trust with all victims and survivors. As Bishop, I fully understand that the creation of a safe culture begins with the respectful, compassionate and non-judgemental response to people who have been affected by abuse in the Church regardless of where the harm occurred or who is responsible. We will meet victims and survivors where they are in their own journey, we will act justly, behave with integrity, and walk with them using the best supportive practices.”

Therefore, anyone who states that they have suffered abuse by members of the Catholic Church will be treated with respect and supported.

 

Overview of Diocesan Safeguarding Activity (2024)

We will first look at Diocesan Safeguarding Activity.

 

Volunteers  

In the whole of Shrewsbury Diocese in 2024 there were 472 DBS checks and 39 DBS Online Update re-checks. In addition, the Diocese was involved in:

• Training and Induction of 7 new Parish Safeguarding Representatives (PSR)
• Delivery of 4 PSR refresher Training Sessions
• Day of Prayer for Victims & Survivors of abuse
• Safeguarding Sunday

Cases

In 2024 the Diocesan safeguarding office dealt with 8 New Allegations and 17 New Concerns.

These included:

• Sexual abuse *5
• Financial abuse *4
• Online trolling- social media
• Inappropriate Conduct *5
• Child Protection Allegation
• Transfer of individuals of concern to Diocese *2

 

Safeguarding Plans

In certain cases, the Diocese will draw up a Safeguarding Plan which is an agreement initiated when serious information is made known to the Safeguarding Office. Such agreements enable effective safeguarding for all involved to facilitate safe worship and engagement. Reconnecting those who have offended with their parish is part of the process of rehabilitation that reflects the Catholic social teaching principles of solidarity and subsidiarity. Safely managing this rehabilitation at the same time as caring for and protecting the parish community is achieved through safeguarding plans.

In 2024 the Diocese had 21 open Safeguarding Plans and closed 2 Safeguarding Plans

 

Overview of Parish Safeguarding Activity

Having looked at activity on the Diocesan level we are now going to concentrate on safeguarding activity here in St Werburgh’s. Safeguarding continues to be well supported by the Parish Priest and group leaders who are proactive in contacting us with questions and clarifications.

 

Safer Recruitment

The DBS Clearance Process is in place for the recruitment of volunteers. It is working well and there are good systems for monitoring renewals after the required 3-year period. This process significantly reduces the risks to children and vulnerable adults in church groups and hopefully deters those with evil intentions. However, we are realistic, in that this does not eliminate the risk.

St Werburgh’s Parish currently has 73 active volunteers who have been DBS cleared. We have conducted 44 DBS Clearance checks in 2025 across new volunteers and renewals, required every 3 years. There will be 17 renewals for existing volunteers in 2026.The Parish groups, involved are, The SVP, Altar Servers, Children's Liturgy, Confirmation,1st Sacrament, and Youth. We are grateful to the leaders and volunteers in these groups for their cooperation with DBS applications It is important that individuals who apply for DBS Clearance or Renewal respond promptly with forms and identity documents. There has been a recent delay in applications and renewals as the Catholic Safeguarding and Standards Agency is updating their processes and forms.

 

Safeguarding Training

During 2025 we have held 4 Safeguarding Training Courses aimed at Volunteers in the Parish who are working with Children and Vulnerable Adults. The purpose of this training is to:

• Create awareness of abuse and how it can be manifested
• Guide Volunteers on how to respond if they suspect abuse or because of a disclosure to them
• Help to create a culture of Safeguarding within the Parish

The training sessions cover Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency Level 3 Safeguarding training for Volunteers in the Catholic Church. 48 volunteers have been trained. This is important because, as the bishop states, Safeguarding is a task and commitment to which every member of the Church is called.

All volunteers who attended the training have or will received a certificate of completion.

 

Health & Safety

During 2025 we have extended our Safeguarding input by working with the Parish Health & Safety Team to ensure that Safeguarding concerns are included as part of Parish Risk Assessment activity. We have completed this review/input for Risk Assessments linked to Altar Servers, Children’s Liturgy and 1st Sacrament, and have created a template for use in any Parish Activity that involves Children or Vulnerable Adults. We are grateful to activity leaders who have contacted us for help and guidance in this process.

 

Other 2025 Activity

We attended Diocesan Safeguarding Training in May and November and have had regular reviews with Fr Paul/Fr David and Andrew O’Brien. We have also completed on-line CSSA Training, Levels 1-3.

 

Next steps for Safeguarding in the Parish

Looking ahead to 2026, we will continue our DBS clearance activity as an important step in the recruitment of volunteers who work with Children and Vulnerable Adults. We are aware that some of the steps in this process have evolved in 2025 and will no doubt continue to evolve in the future. We would like to thank all volunteers for your patience in these circumstances!

We will continue to offer Safeguarding Training to volunteers, as required, and request that all volunteers who have been DBS cleared attend this training if you have not done so. With the support of Fr David, the Parishioners and the Diocese, we will also extend invitations to this training to the wider Parish Community as a way of creating a broader understanding and awareness of Safeguarding across the Parish. Please look out for availability of training sessions. Our first session is scheduled for Tuesday 13th January 2026

Over 2025, the Diocese has introduced Codes of Conduct for all Parish Volunteers whether they need DBS clearance or not. We have reviewed these Codes of Conduct and will be introducing them to the Parish early in 2026. A Safeguarding Training leaflet (based on CSSA Level 1) and the associated general Code of Conduct form will be included with all Volunteer packs from early 2026.  We will also continue to work closely with relevant Parish Health & Safety activity.

 

Conclusion

That concludes our presentation. 2025 has been a busy year and we will continue in 2026. Our aim is to ensure we all understand our roles and responsibilities in safeguarding to protect the vulnerable and protect ourselves and that we know where to go for support and advice. This is to ensure that everyone is welcome and feels safe to participate and flourish in all Parish events and activities.

Again, we would like to thank Fr David for allowing us to give this presentation, and all the Parish Groups who have worked with us. We have a few copies of the presentation available after Mass, and it is also on the Parish Website.

Thank you.

 

Liz and Chris

Parish Safeguarding Representatives

safeguarding@stwerburghchester.co.uk