As your Guild Safeguarding Officer, I am here to assist with any Safeguarding issues you might have. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any Safeguarding queries, including any problems obtaining the relevant Disclosure and Barring Service Certificates (DBS) for your particular role.
I have many years of Safeguarding experience including during my service in the Police and as Safeguarding Officer for several other organisations and charities.
Frank Marshall
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 Frank Marshall, Guild Safeguarding Officer email hidden; JavaScript is required who will provide support and advice.
Make brief factual notes of the event/situation you witnessed as soon as possible, and date and time them accurately.
The following is from the Salisbury diocesan safeguarding pages:
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 2025-2026 by the Safeguarding Council of the Church of England to ensure that all ringers are aware of and have completed the Safeguarding training necessary for their position.
The Salisbury Diocesan Safeguarding Team has agreed that SDGR training requirements are as follows:
Guild/Association President, Master and Safeguarding Officer:
Leadership Pathway, Domestic Violence
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 will be required to undertake Basic Awareness Training. By reading the Diocesan Safeguarding Leaflet the reader will have been deemed to have completed the requirement of the Basic Awareness Training for a three year period after which the online course must be completed.
The Guild is exploring ways to ensure that every new member is able to complete the Basic Awareness Training as a part of their induction and that all current ringers have undertaken the appropriate training for their position.
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 salisbury.anglican.org/workingforjustice/safeguarding86696/safeguarding-training/ which will guide you to the Church of England Training Hub. You will be required to register in order to complete the course you require. If you have problems accessing or registering for your Training Course please contact your Parish Safeguarding Officer (PSO) or the Guild Safeguarding Officer email hidden; JavaScript is required.
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 tell them 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. 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 salisbury.anglican.org/safeguarding
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 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 April 2026]
