- The Rectory
- The Street, Barham
- Canterbury
- Kent
- CT4 6PA
01227 941561
Email Us
Safeguarding
In the Barham Down and Adisham Benefice we value the importance of having a Safeguarding commitment in our parishes:
Our Commitments include:
> Promoting a safer environment and culture
> Safely recruiting and supporting all those with any responsibility related to children and vulnerable adults and maintain diocesan training
> Responding promptly to every safeguarding concern or allegation inc. inc. regular discussion / updates at every PCC Meetings
> Caring pastorally for those who are the subject of concerns/allegations of abuse and other affected persons
> Responding to those that may pose a present risk.
Our Safeguarding Officer for the Benefice is:
Mr Simon Pooley on 07419 288022
Support
Diocese Safeguarding (Canterbury) on 01227 459401
https://www.canterburydiocese.org/safeguarding/
Kent County Council services
Main contact: 03000 41 41 41
Adult social services & health: 03000 41 61 61
Children & Families Information Service: 03000 41 23 23
Children’s social services: 03000 41 11 11
13th
November 2024
Dear Parishioners,
Re: Resignation of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby
I expect that as you receive this letter you will have been made fully aware of Archbishop Justin’s resignation in light of the Makin Review.
Like yourselves I am horrified by the findings of this review about how John Smyth, a leader in a Christian charity with connections to the church, brutally abused young people for decades in the UK and in Africa, and why the first warnings about Smyth’s abhorrent abuses were not reported and investigated by the appropriate agencies as soon as the information was made known.
Our thoughts and prayers foremost must be with the victims and all victims of abuse within the Church and tragically over many years, and that they receive the support so needed when we hear their harrowing accounts. I pray that this in turn must lead to a kinder and transparent safeguarding system and where senior church leaders such as the bishops become more accountable for their actions (or lack off). I personally feel there is an immediate need for Safeguarding to be led by a body independent of the Church of England and I hope these changes will come in a timely manner.
On a parish level we take safeguarding seriously and at every Parochial Church Council (PCC) meeting the subject of Safeguarding is a standing item on the agenda where we ask each other ‘whether we are aware of safeguarding matters’, not just in church congregations but the community as a whole.
Our Safeguarding officer for our benefice of churches is Mr Simon Pooley
who can be contacted on 07419 288022. Although local safeguarding officers are
nor designated to investigate the matter they do refer (under the current
system) safeguarding matters to our Safeguarding Diocese Team www.canterburydiocese.org/safeguarding/
who will pursue the matter further with police and relevant government
agencies.
All Ordained and Lay Leaders are required to undertake Safeguarding courses every three years. We will also be updating our Safeguarding posters within our churches as a visible reminder of contact numbers and details of other organisations that can help.
I will keep Archbishop Justin and his family in my prayers and also to remember that as an Archbishop he challenged current injustices including the late government’s Rwanda policy for immigrants and was in the process of updating the Safeguarding processes.
We must remember that as Easter people we live in the light of divine hope, to be there for all in need and to be humble like a child so that we also can live in the kingdom of heaven in the here and now (Matthew 18:1-4).
Yours in Christ
Rev Stefan Thomas
On behalf of the Benefice Leadership Team
Rector,
Barham Downs with Adisham & Aylesham