We take the protection and safeguarding of children, young people, and vulnerable adults very seriously. Everyone working with children or young people at Bless Community Church has been safely recruited, including undergoing a DBS check, receiving appropriate training, and being properly supervised. Adults are never left alone with an individual child. All team members understand and follow our safeguarding policy.

If you have any concerns for a child, young person, vulnerable adult, or about any safeguarding matter, please speak to our Designated Safeguarding Lead, Becky Blackwell (becky@blesscc.org), or our Deputy Safeguarding Lead, Dr Naz Pambakian (naz@blesscc.org). All children, young people, and vulnerable adults involved in church activities know who they are and how to contact them.

Our safeguarding policy is registered with Thirtyone:eight, and we will always seek their advice and, if appropriate, contact the statutory authorities. Copies of our safeguarding guidelines will be available in the teas and coffee area during our Sunday gathered service for your information, and the full policy can be requested from our correspondence address:

Bless Community Church
5 Balmoral Gardens
Ealing, London
W13 9UA
020 8569 8333

or online at www.blesscc.org/safeguarding.

Bless Community Church:

• Is committed to safeguarding children & vulnerable adults & ensuring their well-being.

• Will appoint & select carefully those to work with children & vulnerable adults.

• Recognises we are all responsible to help prevent physical, sexual, psychological, financial & discriminatory abuse & neglect of vulnerable adults & to report any abuse we find or suspect.

• Recognises the personal dignity & rights of vulnerable adults & will ensure all our policies & procedures reflect this.

• Believes all adults should enjoy & have access to every aspect of church life.

• Believes every child should be valued, safe & happy and will work to help children we have contact to know this & to be empowered to tell us if they are suffering harm.

We are committed to:

• Following statute and good practice in safeguarding children & adults & will ensure that all our workers work in line our safeguarding policy.

• Implementing the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Acts 1995 & 2005 & other relevant legislation.

• Supporting, resourcing & training those who undertake this work.

• Ensuring that we are up to date with national & local safeguarding developments.

• Ensuring everyone agrees to abide by these recommendations & our guidelines.

• Supporting all in the church affected by abuse.

We recognise that:

• Children’s Services has lead responsibility for investigating all allegations or suspicions of child abuse and Adult Social Care has lead responsibility for investigating all allegations or suspicions of vulnerable adult abuse.
  Where an allegation suggests that a criminal offence may have been committed then the police should be contacted as a matter of urgency.

• Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. We will review this statement & our policy bi-annually.

Further details about safeguarding policies, training & our Disclosure Service can be obtained from:

Thirtyone:eight,
P O Box 133,
Swanley,
Kent BR8 7UQ.
0845 120 4550.
info@thirtyoneeight.org
www.thirtyoneeight.org