Issuu

AUTUMN 2021

magazine IN FOCUS

Restructuring our ten standards PAGE 22 RESOURCE FOCUS

Equipping trustees PAGE 28

CONTENTS

6 Just Leadership

Protect users online

Top Tips

Inspire North and Foundation

All in a good cause

Resource focus: Equipping Trustees

In this issue 6

FROM THE CEOs

Together we protect

Just Leadership

NEWS REVIEW

10 ALL IN A GOOD CAUSE

Crime Bill includes religious leaders under ‘position of trust’

14 COVID RESEARCH

Call us 0303 003 1111 Email us info@thirtyoneeight.org or visit thirtyoneeight.org follow us @thirtyoneeight

18 IN FOCUS

PO Box 133, Swanley, Kent, BR8 7UQ

1 EDITORIAL

Government lays out plans to protect users online

Ian Wright: Home Truths 'a lot of my anger was pain and unhappiness'

Church is entering a season of action on safeguarding, says Gibbs

Covid: Social workers fear a 'generation of traumatised children'

Inspire North and Foundation

22 RESTRUCTURING OUR 10 STANDARDS

EDITOR Matt Cooper

Charity No. 1004490 Scottish Charity No. SCO40578 ©Thirtyone:eight 2021 DESIGN epls.design

24 7 TOP TIPS FOR RESPONDING WELL TO DOMESTIC ABUSE 28 RESOURCE FOCUS:

Equipping Trustees

CBP008307

EDITORIAL

Together we protect Over the summer many faith organisations finally returned to their meeting places as lockdown restrictions lifted and large groups were able to meet again.

hings still aren’t as they were before, with fewer events and festivals taking place over the summer and plans for Christmas services remaining in the balance.

Susan Stephen

Despite all the changes and struggles that have happened over the last year and a half we must still be aware of the ongoing need to actively protect vulnerable people. Whatever our churches or faith-based organisations are facing over the next few months, all of us can put in the effort to help create safer places for all. We hope this edition provides information and encouragement as you seek to do that. On page 6 Justin Humphreys, our CEO (Safeguarding) discusses the notion of ‘Just Leadership’ and how we can apply this to our own lives and in the areas where we lead.

Susan Stephen, discusses the restructuring of these ten standards.

On page 10 we highlight how one vicar decided to make a difference by shaving his head as a lament and an opportunity to raise money to help create safer places. On page 18 we showcase Inspire North, a charity that has made a positive difference in the lives of young people during the lockdown. They were the recipients of the CYP Now safeguarding award, which Thirtyone:eight sponsored this year.

The Covid lockdowns have brought a large change in the way safeguarding is done in the church. On page 14 we outline a research project that has been done in response and will be used to improve knowledge around safeguarding. As always we love to hear what you think and get your thoughts and feedback on what we can include, so do get in touch. You can do this through our website, by dropping us a line on our social media@thirtyoneeight or emailing us at info@thirtyoneeight.org.

We aim to equip society with the knowledge and skills to create safer environments for children and adults at risk. Our framework of ten safeguarding standards helps organisations operate safely and in a manner that complies with UK law and best practice, whichever stage of the safeguarding journey they're on. On page 22 one of our safeguarding service managers,

Matt Cooper Editor

“

Thank you for putting the training on in this form because it made it easy to access particularly with the situation at the moment. It is a much more cost effective way for us to access training. Very good presenters and slides were excellent.

”

Webinar training for churches

Need to refresh your safeguarding knowledge or quickly get new people up to speed? Our webinar series has been developed for anyone working with vulnerable people or for those who have a responsibility for safeguarding. Created by the team that developed our leading face-to-face training, our webinars provide an easily accessible and affordable way to learn. With many people working at home this could be the perfect opportunity to up-date your knowledge or to prepare for a new role.

Accessible. Affordable. Relevant. visit thirtyoneeight.org/webinars or call 0303 003 1111 (option 3) to book your place or to host a webinar for your church. Charity No. 1004490, Scottish Charity No. SCO40578

Topics include: • Safeguarding Children & Young People • Safeguarding Adults at Risk of Harm • Online DBS checks and Eligibility • Safeguarding for Trustees • Safeguarding Coordinators/Leads • Responding to Domestic Abuse • Safer Recruitment • Understanding Spiritual Abuse

NEWS REVIEW

Crime Bill includes religious leaders under ‘position of trust’ Recently we’ve seen some significant progress on proposed changes to the law regarding positions of trust in England. The definition of a person in a “position of trust” under English criminal law has been expanded to improve child protection by including religious leaders and sports coaches. The Police, Crime, Sentencing, and Courts Bill, introduced in Parliament in March, would make it illegal for both religious leaders and sports coaches to engage in sexual activity with 16- and 17-year-olds.

As part of our commitment to improving safeguarding by informing legislation, last year we worked with parliamentarians to launch the All-Party Parliamentary Group Inquiry Report on Positions of Trust; a report calling for a change in the law to help better protect 16- and 17-year olds from sexual abuse. The new bill has also been the subject of widespread ‘Kill the Bill’ protests because of its changes to the law around street protests. However, as of writing the Bill is scheduled for a second reading in the House of Lords.

Government lays out plans to protect users online Social media firms will have to remove harmful content quickly or potentially face multibillion-pound fines under new legislation. The government's Online Safety Bill, announced in the Queen's Speech, comes with a promise of protecting debate. It is "especially" geared at keeping children safe and says "democratically important" content should be preserved. But campaigners say the plans will lead to censorship, while others warn fines do not go far enough.

The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) has also developed a new tool for under-18s to report nude photos of themselves online. The head of the IWF, Susie Hargreaves, said the tool was a "world first" and the new tool "will give young people the power, and the confidence, to reclaim these images and make sure they do not fall into the wrong hands online".

Published in May 2021 the bill imposes a "duty of care" on social media companies, and some other platforms that allow users to share and post material, to remove "harmful content". This can include content that is legal but still judged to be harmful, such as abuse that doesn't reach the threshold of criminality, and posts that encourage self-harm.

NEWS REVIEW

Ian Wright: Home Truths 'a lot of my anger was pain and unhappiness' Ian Wright, the former England and Arsenal footballer, spoke for the first time at length about his experience growing up in an abusive household. In a BBC documentary, Wright considered the lasting trauma of domestic violence and gave an insight into what life is like as a child in a home where abuse is occurring. The 57-year-old also explored how widespread the issue is today.

how things have changed since he grew up in the 1970s, and he found out how children are supported in the UK today by visiting his former primary school and observing local and charity-led initiatives. Wright told the BBC: “ A million kids in the UK are living with domestic abuse and this has to change. I want the conversations within the documentary to allow people to see, and feel, some hope. We can and must break the cycle of abuse.”

After returning to his childhood home for the first time in 50 years to revisit his past, Wright travelled across the UK to meet other people who have experienced domestic abuse in their childhoods, as well as to meet professionals to talk through his own trauma. Wright discovered

The documentary is available on BBC iPlayer until early 2022.

Church is entering a season of action on safeguarding, says Gibbs The Church will continue to “apologise and learn from its failings over safeguarding”, the Bishop of Huddersfield and lead bishop for safeguarding, Dr Jonathan Gibbs said at the General Synod in July. But he promised the that it is now entering “a season of action”. Dr Gibbs presented an update to the Synod of the work being undertaken by the National Safeguarding Team (NST), including policy development, the membership of the new Independent Safeguarding Panel and the national case-management system. He also included a reminder of Thirtyone:eight’s Safeguarding Sunday (this year on 10 October) in the update.

IN BRIEF

Covid: Social workers fear a 'generation of traumatised children'

TOP TWEETS @JonathanAB1986 @thirtyoneeight thanks to the team for this mornings @CongFed training for ministers. Really helpful, extremely well delivered, interactive and engaging!

A whole generation of children may have been left "traumatised" during the pandemic, social workers have warned. They say a 20% fall in child protection orders in Wales, a figure found by a BBC probe, paints a false picture.

@simonbarrington

Charities and unions fear many of the most vulnerable children across the United Kingdom have slipped under the radar because of lockdown restrictions. There is also concern social care services will face an influx of referrals as those restrictions ease.

Excited that this is being published on September 16th.... http://just-leadership. com #JustLeadership @justin_31v8 @thirtyoneeight @SPCKPublishing @TBNUKtv @GLNUKI

@SarahChampionMP I am delighted & relieved that Child abuse laws to be expanded in England and Wales following years of campaigning by @tracey_crouch @Tanni_GT @NSPCC @thirtyoneeight and myself. Phew!

Duchess of Cambridge launches 'landmark' centre for childhood

@bitcni Delighted to welcome 78 people to #BanTheBox event (28/4) @niacro to look at fair hiring practices for those with criminal records @SaraNsn @Farrans_UKI @MugshotsPrint @theturnaroundproject @BrysonGroup @VolCentre @JobMatch_NI @thirtyoneeight @SonyaBigg

The Duchess of Cambridge has launched her own Centre for Early Childhood, to raise awareness of the importance of early years and help "transform lives". A royal aide said Catherine felt early childhood was the "social equivalent to climate change" but it was not discussed "with the same seriousness". Kensington Palace described the centre as "a landmark step" in her work and the duchess said she wanted to "create a happier, more mentally healthy, more nurturing society.” An aide said the development would shape her future focus as a senior royal.

@Rest0red Thankful for our friends at @thirtyoneeight and their passion to help churches support survivors of domestic abuse. We’re stronger together 🏻 🏼 🏾

💪💪💪

@TBNUKtv

Phew! Just finished a fantastic three days of filming eleven episodes of @ just_leadership with @simonbarrington, founder of @Forge_Lead_UK and @justhumphreysuk, CEO of @ thirtyoneeight, with a whole host of insightful guests - coming soon to TBN UK!

💡📹🎬

FROM THE CEO (SAFEGUARDING)

Just Leadership

In the Bible the prophet Amos says: ‘Let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.’ Most people have a cause they are passionate about where they would like to see justice emerge; whether something specific in their local area or on a global scale.

JUSTICE IS INTERTWINED WITH OUR MISSION STATEMENT AND INTEGRAL TO ALL THAT WE DO AND ALL THAT WE ARE Justice is integral to our mission

experienced COVID-19 mortality rates more than double those living in less deprived areas. General mortality rates are normally higher in more deprived areas, but so far COVID-19 appears to be taking them higher still.”

Justin Humphreys, CEO (Safeguarding) at Thirtyone:eight has recently co-authored a book with Simon Barrington, Founder and Director of Forge Leadership, called Just Leadership: Putting integrity and justice at the heart of how you lead.

The pandemic has also increased levels of concern about domestic abuse, with the charity Refuge reporting phone calls to its helpline increased by 25% and access to its internet services increased by 150%.

At Thirtyone:eight the notion of ‘justice’ is key to the work we do. However, it can be hard to define what justice actually looks like or how we go about accomplishing a notion of justice in practical, useful ways.

And what about children in such a time as this? In many ways they are more vulnerable than ever. As with others experiencing domestic abuse, children are being held captive in the very places where they are being systematically abused with reduced ability to escape and call for help.

The vision of Thirtyone:eight is a world where every child and adult can feel, and be, safe. Justice is intertwined with our mission statement and integral to all that we do and all that we are. Although it is aimed at leaders, it is a book for anyone who seeks to grow in this area.

The NSPCC have reported increases in calls to ChildLine from young people during the pandemic, citing physical, emotional and sexual abuse and an alarming rise in concerns about mental wellbeing among the most common reasons for calls.

Much has been written over the years about this cause of justice. In many ways it is nothing new and the Scripture from Amos mentioned above would indicate that it is a direction that has been calling us for thousands of years and is embodied in both the New Testament and the Old Testament.

Being aware of injustice in our society is right and proper. Being prepared to be active in tackling the root causes and outcomes of injustice must also be a part of the practical out-working of our faith. But I suggest that the place we need to start is in seeking a radical revolution of our hearts. Without this, we risk just being taken along with the latest cause or campaign. Whilst such things are good, to truly connect with the myriad issues and the injustice they cause, we must first connect with a deep understanding of who God is and how we might imitate him through our relationship with him and the people around us. It is in this productive collision of our relational connectedness and personal discomfort where justice and integrity can really make a difference. Knowing God, knowing ourselves and understanding something of the experiences of those facing injustice is where it all starts.

So why does it feel like we’re living through a time of increased injustices? Of #MeToo and the explosion of sexual abuse scandals in the Church and wider society to name some examples.

Injustice today Just Leadership was written during lockdown and recovery from the Coronavirus global pandemic. A pandemic that laid bare further inequalities in society that was brought into stark relief by the statistics at the peak of the outbreak in the United Kingdom. Nick Stripe, Head of Health Analysis, at the UK Government’s Office for National Statistics said: “People living in more deprived areas have

FROM THE CEO (SAFEGUARDING)

Hallmarks of a Just Leader

We know that when that inbreaking justice comes then there is wholeness and healing and mercy and grace and a righting of wrongs. There is a feeling of peace and a flourishing ;a shalom. There is a sense of being us rather than me. There is a coming of the Kingdom of God.

There are a number of practical skills and attributes that are the hallmarks of a leader who “does justice” and who restores relationships with others and with creation. The just causes leaders are fighting for are varied. But what matters to all leaders is their heart, their approach and their posture – in other words putting justice at the heart of the way that they lead.

We desire more than anything that the beauty of God’s love and justice will become more visible in our world, that God’s inbreaking justice will be evident in our lives, in our families, in our communities, in our organisations and in the world for the glory of the God who we love and serve.

But what does this look like in practice for those who are in leadership? How can we be sure that the foundations we build will lead to our actions aligning with our beliefs and our identity?

Just Leadership

In other words, how can we act authentically and with integrity? There are three key areas for leaders to consider: 1.

Foundations: Foundational at the heart of a just leader are the attributes of speaking up, hearing diverse voices and being willing to walk the journey with those suffering injustice.

Posture: Core leadership postures for a just leader include coming close to injustice, generosity, managing power and being courageous.

Action: How do just leaders act – with transparency, accountability, a passion for change and a willingness to tackle conflict.

In Just Leadership Simon and I write from our personal and professional perspectives and offer the book as a beginning to enable leaders to explore a broader range of concerns. Justice, though is about more than the causes themselves. It’s about who we are as leaders and who we are becoming. The key question to answer is not ‘What just causes should I choose to champion and fight for’ but ‘How can I become the type of leader who can be used by God to tackle these injustices?’ There is no doubt that we will all need to be continually reminded to be hopeful and patient as we pursue these goals which demand our intentional focus and energy.

Why care about justice?

Many people see injustices, feel defeated and wallow in a valley of despair. However this can change when a leader brings a hope and belief that somehow a situation can and will be changed. It starts with you and me in our pursuit of God – then a movement can build!

As leaders, we need to remind ourselves of why we seek the common good, why we seek for justice, why we want to be just leaders. We care about justice because justice is who God is and what God does. We care about justice because Jesus does. We care about justice because God calls us to act justly.

To find out more about Just Leadership and to order a copy go to: thirtyoneeight.org/ JustLeadership

He also calls us to love mercy and to walk humbly with God:

WE DESIRE MORE THAN ANYTHING THAT THE BEAUTY OF GOD’S LOVE AND JUSTICE WILL BECOME MORE VISIBLE IN OUR WORLD

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly, with your God. Micah 6:8 (NIV)

IN FOCUS

It can be easy at times to feel overwhelmed and discouraged by the problems of the world after reading the news or scrolling through social media. However, there are many positive ways we can respond to what we see. One way is to raise funds to ensure vital, practical work can be done to support vulnerable people.

All in a good cause

IN FOCUS

“

I have also seen something of the self deception exhibited by perpetrators and the way collusion subtly works. I find it frightening. It can feel threatening and uncomfortable to face these issues, it can make you question who you can trust and whether you can even trust yourself. But it is the only way to chart a different course – we have to listen in order to understand and do differently.

”

The page exceeded its target, however Rev Miller said that for him the challenge was more than just about raising money: “This is a cause I feel passionate about. I have seen and known the harm that can be done when trust is broken and positions of power and privilege abused.

everend Adrian Miller, a vicar from Norfolk, decided to do just that and responded to the issues he had heard about in a visible and positive way – by shaving his head for charity! Rev Miller shaved his head as a ‘lament’ over recent high profile cases of church abuse and in doing so he has raised over £2,800 for Thirtyone:eight to help develop healthier church communities and support survivors of abuse.

‘Act of corporate lament and repentance’ " Shaving my head is a symbolic act of corporate lament and repentance, which is absolutely fitting and appropriate, given recent findings on high profile and widespread cases within the church, from across the spectrum of Christian traditions and denominations.

The Father of two, of Mulbarton Church, Norwich Diocese, 'braved the shave' on Friday 30th April 2021. He said it was a symbolic representative lament, a personal statement of intent and a way to do something to raise funds to help on the frontline.

“By shaving my head, I am recognising past and present failures in the church, and the very real harm caused. It is not saying a quick gimmick is sufficient for justice to be done. I know that those who commit abuse should be called to face human justice.”

Raising funds To help raise the funds Rev Miller set up an online sponsorship page with a target of £1,000, which is enough to fund 21 calls answered by Thirtyone:eight’s Safeguarding Helpline to people urgently needing safeguarding advice and support.

‘Personal statement of intent’

Shaving my head draws attention to the good work they are doing. Money raised will help more churches to be equipped and supported in becoming healthier and safer places. I am delighted to be partnering with them and grateful to all those who have donated."

" Shaving my head is also a personal statement of intent, wanting to learn the lessons, and chart a fresh course. I know many in the church share my desire that our communities lead the way in becoming safer and healthier, more open and accountable, communities that are truly welcoming for all.

Peter Wright, Fundraising and Communications a Marketing and Communications at Thirtyone:eight, said: “ We are so grateful that Rev Miller has chosen Thirtyone:eight to benefit from his fundraising challenge. We have been incredibly moved and inspired by the way he has decided to respond to the terrible cases of abuse he has seen in this profoundly symbolic and public way.

" Churches are not alone in having failed to protect the vulnerable. We have seen things come out in government, gymnastics, football, Hollywood, the BBC, the workplace, in fact, wherever people gather. The tragedy about the failings in the church is that part of our calling and purpose is to be there for all who have been harmed by abuse, to travel patiently alongside them. We continually strive to do this better."

“As a charity that receives no government funding, we are extremely grateful for all the donations we receive that enable us to offer our vital services which help to protect children and vulnerable adults from abuse.”

" Thirtyone:eight is making a real difference in supporting people who have been harmed and in equipping churches to make changes.

Could you be our next fundraising hero? As a charity we are reliant on the support of our members and donors to continue our vital work in creating safer places for all. Whether taking part in a sponsored event or making a one-off or regular donation however large or small, every penny raised is put towards making a real and tangible difference to the lives of some of the most vulnerable people.

For fundraising ideas and more ways about how you can support us go to thirtyoneeight.org/fundraise or alternatively contact Julie on info@thirtyoneeight.org

“

We’ve made a number of calls about things we’re uncertain about. They have always been great and given sound advice and showed concern.

”

Our safeguarding helpline remains open. Call us on 0303 003 1111 Our helpline is somewhere you can call, anonymously if you wish, to get help, advice and guidance on anything relating to safeguarding. It’s staffed by our experienced team of caring christian professionals Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm, with an out of hours emergency service for urgent calls. Whatever the issue, give us a call. You'll always be listened to, and if we can't help, we'll point you in the direction of someone who can.

Caring. Experienced. Professional. visit thirtyoneeight.org/get-help or call 0303 003 1111 (option 2) to speak directly to one of our dedicated safeguarding specialists. Charity No. 1004490, Scottish Charity No. SCO40578

RESEARCH

C vid research During the Covid-19 pandemic churches responded by reaching out to support the most vulnerable in society. Research* shows that 88% of churches were working during this time to meet the needs of vulnerable people.

Key themes:

We’ll all be familiar with the many ways that the Covid-19 restrictions have impacted nearly all areas of life. However, what was less known the impact this has had on safeguarding, and the challenges faced by safeguarding leads, many of whom are volunteers.

Some of the key themes and insights which emerged from the research included: Hidden people Hidden harm and how we might prepare and equip ourselves to deal with a potential increase in disclosures or concerns about harm and abuse as people reconnect.

In order to understand how, Thirtyone:eight partnered with the University of Chester to explore the ways in which various restrictions imposed have impacted safeguarding in churches and other organisations.

Mental Health The impact of the pandemic on mental health and how this interrelates with safeguarding as we emerge from the pandemic.

The purpose of the research was to explore the experiences of safeguarding leads in their roles in Christian faith contexts in the United Kingdom before, during and post Covid-19.

Hybrid Church Navigating the longer-term implications of safeguarding in the hybrid church and equipping those with safeguarding responsibilities to create safer places online as well as offline.

The headline findings and key themes from the research were announced at an online roundtable event in June 2021. Joining Thirtyone:eight's Claudia Bell, Head of Learning and Influence, and Lee Carmichael in speaking at the event were Dr Lisa Oakley and Professor Moira Lafferty from the University of Chester who undertook the research, Diane Regan from Kintsugi Hope, and Bekah Legg from Restored.

20%

Key statistics:

of participants said that they had felt overwhelmed in their safeguarding role at some point.

69%

of participants stated that COVID-19 had impacted safeguarding in their organisation.

70%

reported it had impacted or changed the way they conduct their safeguarding duties.

47% stated their church or organisation conducted international work with 32% of these reporting that at least some of their international work had stopped due to the pandemic.

87%

of participants feel supported in their role in their local church or Christian organisation context.

78%

82%

felt individuals in their local church or Christian organisation understand their safeguarding role.

had access to support for their role outside of their local church or organisation. 15

RESEARCH

The safeguarding challenges identified were: •N on-compliance or barriers to adhering to procedures and to creating a safeguarding culture within their contexts and complexities in working with external organisations.

Justin Humphreys, CEO (Safeguarding) at Thirtyone:eight, said: “The learning from this study will help to inform the development of support that we can offer and help the future direction for Thirtyone:eight.

• There were additional challenges associated with the pandemic including lack of contact with people to identify safeguarding needs and issues related to online support.

“ It will also help other organisations and individuals who are interested in safeguarding in these various contexts, in order that we can all continue to offer the best possible support to people working on the frontline and underpin effective safeguarding within the Christian faith community. We hope that this will contribute towards safer places for the many thousands of vulnerable and ‘at risk’ people at this difficult time.

•S afeguarding challenges associated with the pandemic included concerns related to recommencing meeting together, blended provision and online safeguarding, lost connections to individuals, increased disclosures and responding to abuse experienced during lockdown.

“Safeguarding leads play an integral role and it is important they continue to experience support. This study has implications for training and support. The challenges related to the pandemic necessitate careful reflection and planning in order to ensure organisations can respond to and manage the recommencement of activities post lockdown and into the future.”

• The negative aspects of training were: lack of opportunity to network, discuss and ask questions. 23% of those who responded to the question stated there were no negative aspects to the training they experienced. • I mpact on international work included not being able to go overseas to take part in work, not being able to identify harm or vulnerability, limited communication for some and the increase in online communication. Most were unable to predict when international work would recommence.

To find out more about the research and its findings go to: Thirtyoneeight.org/research

16 * Evangelical Alliance May 2020

Want to make sure your safeguarding policy is fit for purpose? Get the peace of mind that comes with having your policy checked by a team of safeguarding professionals and knowing it's fully in line with the latest guidance and best practice.

What's included: • A full review of your policy • Policy returned with annotations • Suggested improvements • Returned within 5 days • Follow-up conversation

Quick. Reliable. Trusted. visit thirtyoneeight.org/policy-review or call 0303 003 1111 (option 2) to book your review or to find out about our other policy support services. Charity No. 1004490, Scottish Charity No. SCO40578

IN FOCUS

Inspire North and Foundation A

t Thirtyone:eight we’re committed to encouraging society to stand against oppression and exploitation by striving to raise the standards in safeguarding practice. As part of this commitment, for the last two years we’ve sponsored the Children & Young People Now Safeguarding Award. Often when it comes to safeguarding, only the negative stories make the headlines. However, there are also many positive stories where people have seen transformation take place and people's lives impacted for the better. This years winner, Inspire North, is one such example. Inspire North aim to create a world where everyone matters. They set out on this journey in 2018 when they brought together the work of Community Links and Foundation, two charities with decades of experience in mental health and housing. As a parent organisation they bring together this expertise and find innovative ways to provide the very best for the communities they serve.

IN FOCUS

Young People’s Pathway Young People’s Pathway is a multiagency service across North Yorkshire for young people aged 16 to 25 who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Young people can find themselves homeless or at risk of homelessness for many reasons. Research shows that adverse housing and economic and family issues have impacted disproportionately on young people. According to Shelter: ‘many young people do not know where to go when they have housing problems.’ This means that young homeless (or at risk of homeless) people are already vulnerable and are at risk of abuse, harm, exploitation, and poor mental health.

This risk has been exacerbated by the Covid and lockdown events of 2020. According to Homeless Link, since the nationally enforced lockdown in March 2020, ’national youth homelessness helplines have reported a doubling in calls during the Covid-19 lockdown, many from young people trapped in abusive households.’ The Young People’s Pathway network provides support to reconnect young people with their families where it is safe to do so, and accommodation and support for up to two years where homelessness can’t be avoided. So far more than 700 young people have been supported in this way.

Young People’s Pathway uses two pathways to prevent homelessness: 1) ‘ Prevention and Reconnection’: short-term support to enable young people to stay in the family home, or access emergency accommodation (for up-to 14-nights) followed by up to 6-weeks of follow-on support. 2) M anaged accommodation and follow-on support for up to two-years. They have eight hostels and over 100 units of move-on accommodation.

IN FOCUS

The impact of the Covid-19 lockdown

that they support heightens their risk of harm and means they need to ensure that they have robust safeguarding processes in place to ensure that they keep young people safe from harm.

The Covid-19 lockdown had a significant impact on delivering Young People’s Pathway services. It limited the normal face-to-face contact with young people and only allowed a limited number of employees in hostels to maintain a safe service. The lockdown had a huge impact on many of the young people as being able to get out helps them deal with their complex needs, giving them structure and a routine to follow.

Despite the unique challenges presented over the Covid-19 period, Inspire North and Foundation have been able to maintain a high level of quality support. Staff have continued to innovate to ensure they meet the needs of each of their young people. They are now able to provide extended support through a variety of mechanisms such as WhatsApp, Skype and socially distanced visits.

Throughout lockdown there were many occasions where young people have just not coped, leading them to turn back to alcohol and drugs as a coping strategy. In these situations, employees had to intervene and involve the support of social services to protect the young people from harm.

One service manager at Foundation said: “ We are supported housing but within that safeguarding is the main thing we do. We support young people who may have been abused, missing, living on the streets and provide them with a safe environment to grow into adults. We help them to look positively at life and feel that there is a future for them.”

Despite the extraordinary, unprecedented situation they found themselves in, Foundation and their partners in the Young People’s Pathway continued to maintain safe and effective service delivery, putting the needs of young people at the heart of the way they have prepared for, and continued to work during lockdown. During the early pandemic from March until June 2020 Pathways safely supported 167 young people in the service.

Celebrating safeguarding Derren Hayes, editor of CYP Now, said: “ The CYP Now Awards celebrates the very best in services for children, young people and families. Last year, there was a record 650 entries from organisations, teams and individuals across the public, private and voluntary sectors. Every entry is assessed by a panel of expert and young judges, so to be shortlisted is a great achievement."

The importance of safeguarding Safeguarding their young people is of paramount importance to the work that Inspire North and Foundation do. The vulnerable, complex and sometimes chaotic nature of the young people

“TO WIN ONE OF THE COVETED AWARDS, LIKE INSPIRE NORTH DID, CAN REALLY ENHANCE THE REPUTATION OF A PROJECT OR SERVICE. THANKS TO THE SUPPORT OF THIRTYONE:EIGHT AND ALL OF OUR SPONSORS, I’M DELIGHTED THAT THE CYP NOW AWARDS WILL BE RUNNING FOR A 16TH YEAR IN 2021. I WOULD URGE ALL THIRTYONE:EIGHT MEMBERS TO TAKE UP THE CHALLENGE OF ENTERING THE AWARDS THIS YEAR.”

To find out more about the CYP Now awards go to: www.cypnowawards.com 21

SAFEGUARDING STANDARDS

Restructuring our 10 standards Over the forty years that we’ve existed we’ve developed a unique framework of ten safeguarding standards known simply as our '10 standards' to help organisations operate safely and in a manner that complies with UK law and best practice whichever stage of the safeguarding journey they're on.

Principle

Policy

Procedure

t is our belief that having a robust framework within which you can set your safeguarding activities and plans is essential and critical to demonstrating your commitment to creating a safe place within your organisation.

Practice

as essential to safeguarding: Organisational Culture and Governance. Whilst these are two very broad areas to consider, our focus as always, will remain on the safeguarding aspects within these areas. Culture within charitable organisations has come under significant scrutiny, over the past few years, following the uncovering of harmful and poor practices that vulnerable beneficiaries have experienced at the hands of those that were meant to serve and protect them. This has therefore, rightly drawn the attention of charity and sector regulators, who have been impressing the need for charity trustees and leaders within charities to give careful and serious thought to their organisational culture and governance, particularly with regards to safeguarding.

However, what is becoming increasingly evident throughout our work, and the outcomes from wider learning such as IICSA, is the crucial role that organisational culture and values have to play. The need for organisational culture to be healthy and open to reflection and learning is critical to facilitating good safeguarding. To help facilitate learning and knowledge building, particularly for faith organisations, on what this means and how this can be achieved, over the last year we have been reviewing our 10 standards to incorporate two new key areas of practice that have emerged over the recent years

What can you expect to see in these new standards? Our two new standards will speak into 4 key considerations, that we call the 4-Ps: Procedure – This section describes 'what' should be done. They include procedures that facilitate and help trustees and leaders in the creation of a healthy safeguarding culture and aid good safeguarding governance. There will also be reference to particular steps/actions to take in dealing with crisis management situations. These procedures make up the common and best practice approach to safeguarding.

Principle – This section sets the ethos and values which establishes the legitimacy and importance of organisational safeguarding culture and governance. As the faith and charity sector is largely motivated by a values-based approach, our view is that setting the scene and foundation on a values framework is important and useful. We speak into the importance of trustworthy leaders who recognise the worth and dignity of those they serve and are willing to demonstrate a commitment to justice. The hope is that these values shape and drive the remaining 3-Ps which are aimed at offering more practical advice.

Practice – This section defines 'how' things should be done. They provide more practical suggestions and tasks to consider in the creating of a safe culture and healthy governance. Here we also signpost you to tools offered by other key agencies in the charitable sector that you would find useful. Given the wide variety of activities undertaken within the charity and faith sector, it is important to remember that you will have to draw out what is relevant to your immediate context within which tasks are being carried out and follow any regulation or statutory guidance relevant to you.

Policy – This section explains 'why' things should be done. We will address detail about relevant legislation and guidance issued by government or other non-governmental and statutory agencies that organisations need to be aware of in relation to creating a healthy safeguarding culture and governance framework. These will then inform what processes and procedures you put in place and need to be reflected where relevant within your own organisation’s documentation and communications.

Another key area that we focus on is the important of Reflection and Learning, not just in the aftermath of a safeguarding incident, however major or minor, but also being proactive in reviewing and assessing the delivery of your safeguarding activities and practices on an ongoing basis. However we do recognise that the former does offer wider opportunity and scope for reflection and learning and it is important that this is carried out promptly, sensitively and in a well thought out manner. As always you have access to our Safeguarding Helpline to think through how this can be carried out. Should you be interested in particular consultancy support in relation to this, our Consultancy and Engagement team would be happy to explore this with you (consultancy@thirtyoneeight.org).

We are mindful that the knowledge and understanding in these areas is growing and evolving over time and therefore our hope is that these new standards offer you a helpful starting point in developing your own strategy in creating a safe and healthy organisational safeguarding culture and governance framework to sustain such a culture. Our aim remains to keep the information we offer on these subjects under review and as up-to-date and relevant as possible, therefore do keep an eye out, particularly if you are members with us. To find out more about our 10 safeguarding standards and to download our free guide go to thirtyoneeight.org/10-standards.

7 IN FOCUS

Top Tips for responding well to Domestic Abuse

he 25th of November each year marks the start of the global awareness campaign 16 days of Action Against Domestic Violence.

that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life.

Started in 1991 by the Women’s Global Leadership Institute, the campaign seeks to support people and organisations to take action against domestic abuse and violence. Domestic abuse remains a serious public health concern and is widespread in all communities including churches, with the potential to destroy relationships, families and endanger lives. It includes any act of gender-based violence

To mark the campaign, we’ve put together our seven top tips on how churches and faith-based organisations can take action this November. If we want to see our culture having a positive effect on those we work with or minister to, we must start with ourselves; our attitudes, beliefs and behaviours. Sometimes this means we will need to be the change we want to see around us and help others to see what we see.

Know the facts Although domestic violence is chronically under-reported, one incident of domestic violence is reported to the police every minute and research estimates that it: • Accounts for 14% of all violent crime. • At least 1 in 5 women and 1 in 6 men in the UK will experience domestic abuse in their lifetime. • I n one year, it is thought that 1.4 million women and 600,000 men experience domestic abuse in England and Wales alone.

• 1 in 7 children and young people under 18 will have experienced living with domestic abuse. • O nly 2 in 7 church goers consider their church to be adequately equipped to deal with a disclosure of domestic abuse.

These are just some of the facts and statistics, but they show that domestic abuse is not something churches or faith organisations can ignore. 24

Understand what Scripture says The church has often had much to say about violent crimes in society but tended to regard abuse in the home as a ‘private matter’ between a husband and wife. Churches must acknowledge that, biblically, this is no longer acceptable and undertake to take an active role in dealing with domestic abuse, just as they would any violent crime. In Ephesians 5 there

is a very clear picture of the need for men to love their wives as their own bodies and lay down their lives for them, as Christ does the church. And how does Christ love the church? Not by exerting power and control to manipulate, not through violence or abuse, but through a love marked by giving, invitation and serving.

Recognise the signs and symptoms If you believe that you or someone else could be a victim of domestic abuse, there are signs that you can look out for. Some examples may include: • Constantly checking where someone is.

• P reventing them from seeing friends or family.

• S omeone being told they are ugly, too fat/thin, stupid, useless, etc.

• Hitting, pushing, slapping, kicking, punching. • Not giving them any money, or taking all their money from them or checking exactly what they spend money on.

• Constantly putting a person down or criticising them (e.g. telling them they are a bad mother/father or bad wife/ husband).

Everyone has the right to feel safe, but controlling behaviour thrives on fear. Coercive control tends to follow an ongoing pattern rather than consisting of one-off incidents.

Support survivors Responding well to abuse is always important. If someone shares information with you, don’t promise to keep it a secret. This can be difficult, as you want the person to speak to you, but it’s important you don’t mislead them. Reassuring the person can often be enough, particularly if you are clear from the outset that you will need to inform the right people. • Give priority to their immediate safety and protect their confidentiality. • After the disclosure, make clear notes. Any notes may form part of a following investigation. Finally, dealing with this can be difficult. Make sure you seek support for yourself.

Dealing with perpetrators

• Remember, information shouldn’t be shared with just anyone. Give them information about relevant support agencies and, if appropriate, offer to contact the agency on their behalf and do so in their presence or offer a safe and private place from which they can contact the relevant agency. Use the expertise of those properly trained.

It is potentially dangerous for the leader to discuss with the perpetrator anything the victim has told them. This is a breach of confidentiality. Not only could the perpetrator attempt to manipulate the faith leader into colluding with them, but they could also be putting themselves and the victim in serious danger.

If the perpetrator of the violence is a member of a congregation, it would be inappropriate for anyone from the church to engage in couples counselling. This is because it could give the perpetrator further opportunities to exert power and control over their partner. The first priority must be for the perpetrator to address their violent behaviour and the leader can help find an appropriate treatment program.

It is important to liaise with the authorities. It may be necessary to discuss boundaries or restrictions you would need to place on them.

IN FOCUS

Consider children and teenagers Children are often called ‘hidden victims’ because responses to domestic violence can focus solely on the victim or perpetrator. Children do not have a choice when it comes to being drawn into domestic violence. Young people and teenagers may also experience abuse in their relationships, with their own boyfriend or girlfriend.

Emotional abuse in these relationships can be seen as jealousy, and a lack of trust can be disguised as or misinterpreted as genuine care and concern. Being isolated or prevented from seeing friends can further add to this.

Raise awareness Finally raise awareness. Recent research carried out by our partner organisation Restored revealed that Domestic Abuse wasn’t talked about in 57% of churches. However, churches and places of worship should be a safe, non-judgmental environment where women, children and men exposed to domestic abuse can seek refuge and support. Some church leaders have a good understanding of the issues and are well equipped to respond appropriately. We know of other leaders however who, albeit with good intentions, have counselled women and

children to stay with partners beyond what is reasonable or safe. This makes it even more important for leaders to be informed of the issues, and be in a place to support and properly advise those seeking help. Some churches and faith organisations will want to raise awareness about domestic abuse but do not know where to start. The 16 Days of Action could be a good opportunity to start.

For more help and resources with learning about the issues surrounding Domestic Abuse visit restored-uk.org or find out more about our training run in collaboration with restored at thirtyoneeight.org/webinars 27

RESOURCE TRUSTEES FOCUS

Resource focus: Equipping Trustees 1-5 November is National Trustees’ Week and to mark the week we're focusing on some of our new and existing resources especially designed for supporting and equipping Trustees. Trustees are the people in charge of a charity. For some churches this may be the Deacons, Elders or PCC members. Whether you’re a church or charity, it’s likely that your trustees play vital role, volunteering their time and working together to make important decisions about your organisation’s work. There are approximately 196,000 charities in the UK and just over 1 million trustees. Including many young Trustees (approximately 86,000 trustee positions are held by 16-34 year olds). Charity trustees have ultimate oversight of, and responsibility for, all aspects of the charity’s operation. They are the governing body of the charity and, as such, are legally accountable for all aspects of running the charity including Safeguarding. One of the most important and

comprehensive responsibilities of charity trustees is their duty of care both to their charity and towards their beneficiaries. Where a charity is working with vulnerable beneficiaries such as children and young people (those under 18 years of age), or with adults who may be at risk of harm, then they need to have safeguards in place to protect everyone from abuse.

IN ORDER TO FULFIL THEIR DUTY OF CARE TO THEIR CHARITY, TRUSTEES SHOULD ENSURE THAT THEY HAVE A SUITABLE SAFEGUARDING POLICY IN PLACE. The charity needs to promote itself as a safe place in order to give beneficiaries and public confidence in the charity. This

demonstrates that the trustees are acting in the best interests of vulnerable beneficiaries, that they have taken reasonable steps to prevent harm, and that they have assessed and managed risk. As part of the support we offer organisations, we’ve developed a two and a half hour training webinar for those who have a trustee or leadership role in organisations that hold charitable status which explores their governance role as a trustee and to enhance their knowledge of safeguarding duties and responsibilities. Split across three modules, this online interactive course covers: The safeguarding landscape within the charitable sector across the UK; Essential requirements for effective safeguarding governance; and how to respond to and report serious incidents.

Alongside our hugely popular webinar we are about to launch a new eLearning course specifically for trustees to help them gain a basic understanding of what safeguarding is and the role trustees play. Our Basic Awareness course has already proved extremely successful and made it even easier for people to access our world class learning. Learning at a time that is convenient for all

means no more trying to get everyone in a room together or align diaries to attend training. We’ll be launching this eLearning soon so do keep an eye on our website and e-news to find out more. Our members will already be familiar with our online safeguarding manual, which contains all the information your need in implementing good safeguarding practice across an organisation. This

includes our popular Practice Guides which are now freely accessible to organisations and includes a guide on what charity trustees need to know. Using the guide which can be downloaded from our website along with the following 10 point ‘people and risk’ checklist can be a really useful place to begin in assessing where you are as a charity and help you identify any areas for development:

A 10-point ‘people and risk’ checklist 1. Are you satisfied that your recruitment processes are robust and have inbuilt safeguards?

6. Do your staff members and volunteers receive regular supervision and annual appraisals? 7. Do you know that your staff and volunteers are competent?

2. Have those on the staff team and trustee board who lead on recruitment undergone safer recruitment training?

8. Do you have a whistleblowing policy and procedure?

3. Have you read and understood the system for obtaining DBS checks, including the use of the update service?

9. A re you clear about your responsibilities to report allegations made against staff and volunteers to the LADO?

4. Do your new recruits have a mandatory induction and trial working period?

10. Are you clear about your legal duty to refer to the DBS?

5. Do you know what safeguarding training is available to staff, volunteers and board members?

For more information about our training for trustees go with thirtyoneeight.org/ webinars or for further guidance go to: thirtyoneeight.org/trusteehelp

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thirtyoneeight.org

Safeguarding Sunday 10th October 2021 Join hundreds of churches across the country who throughout October will be highlighting all the incredible work that is being done to make our churches safer for all.

It’s your chance to: Explain why safeguarding is so important Talk about what you have in place to keep people safe Introduce your safeguarding team Acknowledge and thank your volunteers Commit together as a church to create safer places for all

thirtyoneeight.org/safeguarding-sunday

Join the conversation

Safeguarding Sunday 2021