|
Warwickshire and Coventry Local Safeguarding Children Boards have set up a Forum for Safeguarding Children in Faith Groups. |
Churches, other places of worship and faith-based organisations provide a wide range of activities for children and young people. They are some of the largest providers of children and youth work, and have an important role in safeguarding children and supporting families.
Founder members of the Warwickshire and Coventry Forum for Safeguarding Children in Faith groups are:
- Methodist Churches in Coventry and Warwickshire
- Birmingham Catholic Archdiocese
- Coventry Anglican Diocese
- Baptist Churches in South Warwickshire
- Coventry Multi-Faith Forum
- MAPPA
- Warwickshire Safeguarding Children Board
- Coventry Safeguarding Children Board
The new forum acts as a point of reference on issues relating to safeguarding children in faith groups and communities in the area. The forum meets 4 times a year and the minutes will be posted here.
The group is currently exploring the implications for religious groups of the government’s Safer Employment agenda, which focuses on recruitment policies for staff and volunteers and managing allegations against individuals.
Any religious organisation with an interest in joining the forum should contact WSCB via our mail-box.
The Child Protection Leads for Churches and Organisations currently in the forum are:
- Paul Crouch (Children’s Ministry-Baptist Churches, South Warks)
- Balbir Singh Dhami (Coventry Multi-Faith Forum)
- Keith Drinkwater (Child Protection Lead, Methodist Churches)
- Jane Jones (Child Protection Lead, Birmingham Archdiocese - covering Warwickshire and Coventry)
Churches and Faith Organsiations can seek advice on child protection issues from the Churches Child Protection Advisory Service (CCPAS). CCPAS can help with policies and procedures; it's Guidance to Churches Manual can assist churches, and it's Safeguarding Children and Young People can assist other places of worship and faith-cased groups
CCPAS operates a telephone help-line (tel: 0845 120 45 50) for churches, other places of worship and faith based groups and individuals, providing advise and support on safeguarding issues
|