The Safeguarding Service encourage you to take the opportunity to celebrate your work and the work of volunteers who help ensure safe churches for all on Sunday, November 17th, 2024. There are over 2000 churches that regularly mark Safeguarding Sunday, so why not join them? Remember, safeguarding is more than just child and adult protection; it’s about supporting the wellbeing of all. Celebrate the activities and groups in your church that promote wellbeing. Such activities are often considered as ‘just what we do’. While this may be correct, please take the opportunity to share how important they are. Safeguarding is one of the most challenging aspects of church life and it deserves to be recognised as such. Feel free to send any photos or stories of how you celebrated to safeguarding@churchofscotland.org.uk, and we can include them in a future Safeguarding Service newsletter.
Rev Dr Sonia Blakesley, Convener of the Safeguarding Committee, states, ‘Safeguarding Sunday’ offers an opportunity for us to commit together as a Church to create safe spaces for all and explain why safeguarding is so important. The occasion also allows us to demonstrate how safeguarding is integral to the Christian message and talk about what you have in place in your congregation to safeguard vulnerable people. It also offers the opportunity to thank and acknowledge all those working to ensure a safe Church for all.’
To participate in the campaign, churches can register for a free digital resource pack at Safeguarding Sunday. The resources within the pack are designed to make it easy for Safeguarding Sunday to be celebrated in every church. They include prayers, sermon notes, activity ideas, children’s resources, and loads more. These resources can be adapted to fit your needs and can help you include safeguarding as part of a service or support a service totally focused on safeguarding.
As part of Safeguarding Sunday 2024, Thirtyone: eight have also produced a spoken word film called ‘SAFE’. The short film contains a powerful invitation to the church – to stand with those who have been hurt, and to see safeguarding as a core part of our mission. This film could be used to promote Safeguarding Sunday or on the day itself to encourage awareness and discussion. You can download the film here
The Church of Scotland Safeguarding Service aims to ensure best practice in preventing harm or abuse and, where harm may have occurred, ensuring the Church makes a timely and appropriate response. This is achieved by supporting congregations in accessing best practice resources and support, relevant training, and professional advice.
Constantly seeking to improve our practice, the General Assembly of 2024 instructed the Safeguarding Service to consider the vision of safeguarding across all areas of the Church and to encourage all to support and develop a positive Safeguarding Culture. A positive Safeguarding Culture is one that is articulated and lived at each level of the organisation.
Deborah Blackhurst
Safeguarding Service Manager
