As your Guild Safeguarding Officer, I am here to support you and help with any questions or situations you are involved in. Please do contact me. I have many years of Safeguarding experience and understand most situations.
Jayne Cottingham
Guild Safeguarding Officer
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Notifying a concern
If you think you have witnessed or heard a situation which you feel is abusive or threatening then you should report it to your Parish Safeguarding Officer (PSO) as soon as possible and definitely within 24 hours. Contact details will be displayed in the church porch / notice board in the church/ parish website. Also contact Jayne Cottingham, Guild Safeguarding Officer email hidden; JavaScript is required who will provide support and advice.
The following is from the Salisbury diocesan safeguarding pages:
www.salisbury.anglican.org/safeguarding86696/
Contact your incumbent and/or the Parish Safeguarding Officer (PSO), unless they are the alleged abuser or the alleged abuser is a Church Officer. In these cases, contact the Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser.
You can also contact the Salisbury Diocesan Safeguarding team by telephone, or email. The main contact email is:
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There are two Salisbury Diocesan Safeguarding Officers who can be contacted by phone on :
07500 664800 (Monday to Thursday inclusive and on call Monday and Tuesday evenings until 9pm)
07469 857888 (Tuesday to Friday inclusive and on call Wednesday and Thursday evenings until 9pm)
If your query is urgent or out of hours, please contact thirtyone:eight on 0303 0031111
Safeguarding Training
The level of training required by Bellringers has been the subject of national review over 2020-2022 and there are variations around the country.
The Salisbury Diocesan Safeguarding Team has agreed that SDGR training requirements are as follows:
Guild/Association President, Master and Safeguarding Officer:
Leadership Pathway
All Tower Captains and anyone who teaches Bellringing (which includes leading a Practice) Ringing Instructors/Teachers, and Ringing Group Leaders:
Basic Awareness and Foundation Training
All other ringers are advised to undertake Basic Awareness Training but that it should not be mandatory.
NB. The highest level completed should be updated every 3 years.
Training at all levels (Basic Awareness, Foundation and Leadership) is available on line from the Diocese of Salisbury https://www.salisbury.anglican.org/workingforjustice/safeguarding86696/safeguarding-training/
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS):
An Enhanced Child DBS Certificate is required for Tower Captains and anyone involved in teaching bellringing (leading Practices as well as teaching handling). To obtain the DBS check contact your Parish Safeguarding Officer (PSO) and say you are either a Tower Captain or Ringing Instructor/Teacher.
Once obtained, register your certificate with the Update Service, which enables your 3 year update check to be completed without you having to provide your documents over again. https://secure.crbonline.gov.uk/crsc/apply?execution=e1s1 This service is free for Volunteers.
If you have any difficulties obtaining your DBS check through your PSO contact your incumbent and /or The Guild Safeguarding Officer for help.
Further Information:
Further information on Diocesan Safeguarding is available at https://www.salisbury.anglican.org/safeguarding86696
The Central Council of Church Bell Ringers has an excellent presentation on Safeguarding on its Safeguarding drop down tap, including a link to an introductory video produced by the St Martin’s Guild of Ringers.
The Central Council of Church Bellringers has produced an excellent publication: From Practice to Perfect https://cccbr.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/From-Practice-to-Perfect-a-short-guide-for-clergy-PCCs-and-Safeguarding-Advisors.pdf which provides information about how Bellringers are recruited, organised and safeguarded. You should make your incumbent and PSO aware of this publication.
Top Tips for safeguarding awareness
- A child/ young person is anyone under the age of 18.
- Always make sure that if you are teaching a young person a parent or another trusted adult is present. This second person must have a current DBS check if they are not the young person’s parent.
- Do not offer a young person a lift to and from church or other ringing activity without written permission from their parent/carer. If you do transport them, the young person must sit in the back of the car.
- Ensure you are aware of any special needs/ requirements the learner or young person has and you have information in writing by parent/carer.
- If a young person discloses anything ensure that you act on this and you do not promise the young person that you will not do/say anything. Make notes of the conversation as soon as possible to ensure an accurate record.
[This page last updated January 2024]