Safeguarding

Safeguarding children & vulnerable people

Safeguarding means preventing harm to children and adults at risk by protecting them from abuse or neglect.​

The Church in Wales is committed to safeguarding as an integral part of its life, mission and ministry.​

The Church in Wales will:​

• promote the wellbeing of children and adults at risk​
• raise awareness of safeguarding within the Church​ ·
• work to prevent abuse or harm from occurring​
• seek to protect and respond well to those that have been abused.​

Please visit the safeguarding pages on our provincial website to access all the Church in Wales Safeguarding information and resources including:

• Reporting a concern
• Contact details for the team
• Training information
• Safeguarding policies and guidance
• Information for Survivors

The LMA Safeguarding Coordinator Network group meets four times a year and will be rotating the venue of meetings on each occasion, visiting each Archdeaconry in the process.

The aim of the group is to enable Safeguarding Coordinators to meet and engage with each other, sharing experiences and best practice and to be of support and encouragement to one another. 

The Safeguarding Coordinator role is of vital importance to LMAs, the Diocese and the Church in Wales as a whole. They provide practical support to help their LMA and LMA Dean with safeguarding administrative tasks, the provision of advice around safe practice requirements and help in safeguarding awareness raising. They also support in signposting Safeguarding concerns to the Provincial Safeguarding Team. 

We ask that churches support their respective LMA Safeguarding Coordinator as they seek to help the Church be a safe place for all.

Implicit in these words of Jesus is recognition of the unique status of children and young people. We will respect children as persons in their own right and give them special protection because of their vulnerability.

• We accept and stress the main principle of the Children Act 1989 that the child’s welfare is paramount in all circumstances.
• We will act responsibly and with integrity towards children and young people by not taking advantage of those in our care.
• We must act towards children and young people responsibly and with integrity in ways which will safeguard their position of trust. No advantage may be taken of those in our care.
• We will not exploit our relationship of trust for the purposes of self gratification and the highest standards of care will be maintained in all circumstances.
• Any allegations of abuse and risk of harm must be treated seriously.