Safeguarding

The Parish of St Mary’s Huggate
Safeguarding Information: Promoting a Safer Church

At St Mary’s we are committed to the protection, safeguarding, care and nurture of all children and vulnerable adults who visit us and who are in our community.If you would like to discuss safeguarding at St Mary ‘s or need to report any concerns, please use the contact details below:

At St Mary’s we are committed to the protection, safeguarding, care and nurture of all children and vulnerable adults who visit us and who are in our community.If you would like to discuss safeguarding at St Mary ‘s or need to report any concerns, please use the contact details below:

Parish Safeguarding Adviser: Ruth Braithwaite
T: 01759 306045

Email Safeguarding Advisor

If you have information about a safeguarding situation where a child or adult is in immediate danger or requires immediate medical attention call the emergency services on 999. Do not delay. 

Please contact us for details of our policy and procedures which have been developed in line with guidance from the Church of England. The aim is to ensure a safe environment for everyone who wishes to worship with us, visit or contribute to its activities. 

Further details on safeguarding in the diocese can be found by following this link: https://www.churchofengland.org/safeguarding/promoting-safer-church-safeguarding

In accordance with the Church of England Safeguarding Policy St Mary’s 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.
  • Caring pastorally for those who are the subject of concerns or allegations of abuse and other affected persons
  • Responding to those that may pose a present risk to others.
St Mary’s will: 
  • Create a safe and caring place for all.
  • Have a named Parish Safeguarding Officer (PSO) 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 on the Parish website the 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.
  • Care for and monitor any member of the church community who may pose a risk to children and adults whilst maintaining appropriate confidentiality and the safety of all parties.
We understand reporting abuse may be very difficult and distressing to you and it may add to your hurt by our not being able to immediately assist you. Therefore, here are the contact details of other agencies that are available to assist either on a 24-hour basis or through specialist confidential helplines and services:

Additional organisations with helplines offering support:

  • NSPCC: 0808 800 5000 (lines free and open 24 hours). Phone if you are worried about a child.
  • Childline: 0800 1111 (lines free and open 24 hours). Phone if you are a child or young person and are worried about anything.
  • Stop It Now: 0808 1000 900 (lines free and open Mon – Thurs 9am – 9pm, Fri 9am – 5pm) gives anonymous support and advice to anyone with concerns about child sexual abuse.
  • NAPAC: 0808 801 0331 (lines are free and open Monday to Thursday: 10 am – 9 pm, Friday: 10 am – 6 pm) national support service for adult survivors of all forms of childhood abuse.§
  • Samaritans: 116 123 (open 24 hours). Phone if you feel you are struggling to cope and need someone to talk to.
  • Family Lives: 0808 800 2222 (Open Mon-Fri 9am-9pm weekends 10am to 3pm) help adults who need emotional support with their parenting, family life and issues affecting their wellbeing.
  • National Domestic Violence Helpline: 0808 2000 247 (lines free and open 24 hours). Phone if you are experiencing domestic abuse
  • Action On Elder Abuse: 080 8808 8141 (free phone and open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm (except Wednesday) - Wednesday 10am to 5pm). provides support and information to the elderly, their carers and their families
  • The National Safeguarding Team: safeguarding@churchofengland.org