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.
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