Parish of Our Lady, Star of the Sea
15th November 2024
Safeguarding Sunday - 17th November 2024
Safeguarding Sunday, an awareness-raising campaign organised by Christian safeguarding charity Thirtyone:eight, is taking place on 17 November 2024.
Our Parish is taking part to highlight the importance of creating safer places for all. And to encourage churches to talk about safeguarding throughout the year. We will be joining thousands of other churches across the UK to share this message and demonstrate unity.
We also want to take this opportunity to thank and pray for those who have stepped up to coordinate safeguarding in our church so we can protect vulnerable people together. We believe that safeguarding is an outworking of our faith in a loving and just God – the God who calls us to speak up on behalf of those who cannot speak for themselves and to defend the rights of the vulnerable (Proverbs 31:8). Justice and hope are at the heart of the Christian message. Let’s gather and celebrate those who work behind the scenes to protect vulnerable people and make our church a safer place for all.
Brand new for 2024 our spoken word short film, 'Safe', encourages the church to see safeguarding as who we are, not what we do.
15th September 2024
Safe Spaces
Safe Spaces is a free and independent support service, providing a confidential, personal, and safe space for anyone who has been abused by someone in the Church or as a result of their relationship with the Church of England, the Catholic Church in England and Wales or the Church in Wales.
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The service is open to anyone over 18 who lives in England and Wales. If you live outside of England and Wales, but suffered abuse by someone in the Church or as a result of your relationship with the Church of England, Catholic Church in England and Wales or the Church in Wales, we will always endeavour to provide support, but this may be limited due to the services that are available outside of England and Wales.
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Safe Spaces is open, and there are no waiting lists for support
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You do not have to have reported the incident to the Church authorities or the Police in order to access support.
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You do not need to be a current active member of the Church in order to access support.
9th September 2024
The Safeguarding Office - Support for victims of abuse
The Safeguarding Office provides advice and support to all victims of abuse, regardless of whether this is something that is happening currently or that happened in the past. We work with anyone who has been abused, both those who were abused within the church, as well as those who have been abused in other settings. We are here to help you whether you were a child or adult when the abuse took place. We are not here to blame, judge or make excuses for the abuser, we are here to help all those who have experienced abuse or are still in an abusive situation, in any way we can.
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The Safeguarding Office can provide you with support, advice, and signposting to relevant organisations. Our dedicated team of safeguarding professionals work closely with other agencies both locally and nationally including the Police, Probation, Social Services, and to standards that are set out by the Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency.
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Please contact us for a confidential conversation. You can call us on 01364 645430 (Monday to Friday from 9:00am – 4:30pm) or e-mail us on safeguarding@prcdtr.org.uk
22nd April 2024
Day of Prayer for Victims and Survivors of Abuse – 30th April 2024
The Bishop's of England and Wales have set aside the Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Easter as a Day of Prayer for Victims and Survivors of Abuse.
This is a day of prayer for those who have been abused, during a season of hope and new life.
This year’s focus is on communities who have been directly affected by allegations or convictions related to abuse – especially, but not exclusively, within the Church.
Safeguarding
The Safeguarding Representatives within our Parish work closely with the Diocesan Safeguarding Office. Together, they support the ministry of the Church by providing a professional and robust support around the protection of children, young people and adults at risk, to ensure that worshipping communities are safe places where all have a positive experience of the Church in which they feel loved, accepted and safe.
They are committed to treating all individuals with dignity and respect, and any issues dealt with are managed in a sensitive and caring manner. All volunteers and employees working with vulnerable groups must agree to adhere to the Catholic Church’s National Safeguarding Policies before they can be appointed.
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Our Parish Safeguarding reps:
Sara Nisco - 07963 647516
Geoff Valler - 07419 831795
Debbie Knight - 07917 725469
Or Father Anthony as the Parish Safeguarding
Lead
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Or you can contact the Diocese Safeguarding Team at:
Safeguarding Office
St Boniface House
Ashburton
Newton Abbot
TQ13 7JL
General Enquiry Number: 01364 645430
E-mail: safeguarding@prcdtr.org.uk
