On May 11 2025 we had our Annual Parochial Church Meeting, during which our activities throughout 2024 were reviewed. Here is our Safeguarding Officer’s report:
Our Parish aims to create safe environments where children, young people and vulnerable adults are nurtured and protected, and where all people can worship and pursue their faith journeys with encouragement and in safety.
To achieve this, it is essential to recognise that Safeguarding is the responsibility of every member of the church – not only the Ministry Team, Safeguarding Co-ordinator, Church Officers and PCC members.
This year has been a busy year for both our churches and the Safeguarding actions in people’s roles and responsibilities of the parish have reflected this. Support has been offered on an individual level and with assistance from the diocese, who offer their support and advice regarding more complex issues.
On a Parish level however, there is more to do this year. The Diocese Safeguarding checklist aimed to create and sustain a culture of good, qualitative safeguarding practice. However, Manchester Diocese have now brought in the use of a ‘Dashboard’ system to make the process easier. Once training on this toolkit has taken place and the Dashboard set up, a report can be produced for every PCC Meeting and we can see immediately what has been achieved and the actions that are required to bring us up to the Diocesan required standards. (Support Meetings, both online and in person, led by Kathryn Ford, based at Church House in Bury, are to be held to action these requirements.) One feature for example, would be ensuring that everyone has a job description, whether paid or a volunteer. Another example would be that anyone hiring a church hall would have a written signed agreement which includes their responsibilities i.e. health and safety, and safeguarding procedures. Another record would be about PCC members i.e. who has an up-to-date DBS, and the level of appropriate training would also be recorded there providing the necessary details to the reader.
As a Church, we continue to provide many face-to-face activities as well as continuing our digital presence, which is proving very popular to many people, making our church much more inclusive and accessible. When we next update our Safeguarding Policy, we can ensure that this is included too.
If anyone has concerns regarding the safeguarding of a young or vulnerable person, please contact either a clergy member, Jacqui Jackson Safeguarding Co-ordinator for children and young people (and the named Parish Safeguarding Officer), or Andrew Ginn Safeguarding Co-ordinator for vulnerable adults. Contact details are available on the posters situated in our Church Buildings and on the Church Website. (Please note the Diocese now partners with the organisation ‘thirtyone:eight’ at weekends and out of regular office hours.)
A copy of the Parish Safeguarding Handbook is at both churches and recommended for everyone to read. Additional information about diocesan safeguarding, resources and individual roles and responsibilities can be found using the following internet link:
https://www.manchester.anglican.org/safeguarding
Jacqueline Jackson, Parish Safeguarding Officer
St Margaret's Church Prestwich 