Together Magazine | Spring 2024

The Legislation Issue Why it should matter to you

3 News round up

12 Safe as Houses?

Safeguarding As Mission

16

The

Transformative Power of Survivors Voices

Public Policy Matters Member spotlight

In this issue

1 EDITORIAL

Public Policy Matters

2 NEWS REVIEW

Government agrees to new law closing sex offender name change loophole

Celebrating 5 years of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Safeguarding in Faith Communities

Safeguarding As Mission: Shifting the frame for safer practice within our churches

5 CHRISTIAN NOISE OR KINGDOM INFLUENCE?

20

8 THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF SURVIVORS VOICES

12 SAFE AS HOUSES?

What next for the future of home-based youth work

16 PUBLIC POLICY MATTERS

20 MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

Congregational Federation South West Youth Ministries

EDITOR Jules Loveland

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Public Policy Matters

Jules Loveland, Editor

The last few months have seen safeguarding on the agenda of leaders and politicians more than ever, with some key legislation introduced that could impact safeguarding in churches, charities and other organisations.

This issue of Together explores what some of these legislation changes mean, such as the sex offender name change loophole (page 2), and leading groups out of schools safely (page 12).

Also in this edition we speak to Leigh McFarlane, Public Policy and Research Manager at

Thirtyone:eight, who explains what public policy is and why it’s so important (page 16), and we introduce you to some key voices in legislation change, including Jane Chevous, Director at Survivor Voices (page 8), and Andy Flannagan, Executive Director at Christians in Politics (Page 5)

We hope you find this issue helpful and want to thank you again for helping us create safer places. Your membership with us means that we can continue to push for a world where every child and adult can feel and be safe.

New law closing sex offender name change loophole

In November 2023 Home Secretary, James Cleverley, announced that the Government would be closing the loop hole in English law that allows sex offenders to change their name by deed poll.

This follows years of tireless campaigning from Sarah Champion MP, former Chair of the APPG for Safeguarding in Faith Communities, and the ‘Dellas Law’ Campaign (named after Della Wright, a survivor of sexual abuse). At Thirtyone:eight we’ve been working together with Sarah, Della and others to support the campaign.

What is the new law addressing?

Since 1997, if someone receives a caution or conviction for a sexual offense, they’re listed on the Sex Offenders Register (SOR) for a specified period, depending on the offense. While on the register, they must update the police about any name or identity changes — it’s the law. However, the challenge is that the entire responsibility falls on the offender. When an individual changes their identity without informing the police, their convictions might slip through background checks. Sadly, this has allowed some, banned from working with children, to land jobs in schools or homes under new identities, resulting in further offenses. Between January 2019 and June 2022, nearly 12,000 prosecutions occurred for failing to report personal information changes while on the sex offender register. The intention is to close the loophole by effectively banning sex offenders from changing their name in an attempt to evade their true identity being known.

Why is this new law potentially controversial?

There are concerns that a blanket ban on changing personal details would violate the Equalities Act (2010) if the individual was doing so for religious purposes or to change their

gender. This is a significant issue, and one that the government will need to give careful thought to.

Some also argue that allowing people on the sex offender register to change their name can be positive, as it can be part of a process to help past offenders move beyond their previous offending lifestyle.

It is not yet clear how the government plans to address this potential conflict in balancing the human rights of one individual or group against another.

What could this law mean for churches and charities?

Organisations working with children, young people and vulnerable adults, should already have safer recruitment processes in place, including relevant background checks. These checks are part of a safer recruitment process that assesses whether people are authorised to work with vulnerable groups, and acts as a deterrent for anyone unsuitable from applying.

If enacted, this new law would enhance existing processes, instilling greater confidence in organisations. Those working with offenders or individuals posing risks should pay attention to these proposals, adapting to ensure continued effective support and supervision for their beneficiaries.

Thirtyone:eight actively supported Sarah Champion MP and The Safeguarding Alliance, reinforcing the importance of this issue in the House of Commons. We welcome the Government’s responsiveness to the voices of survivors and victims.

While the closure of this loophole is specific to England and Wales, there’s a call for the Scottish Parliament and Northern Ireland Assembly to take similar measures, ensuring consistent protection for survivors across the entire UK.

Celebrating 5 years of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Safeguarding in Faith Communities

The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Safeguarding in Faith Communities has reached its 5th anniversary.

The APPG, is a collective of faith leaders, survivors, MPs and experts who come together to address crucial issues surrounding safeguarding individuals within faith communities. The aim is that irrespective of their faith, people can feel and be safe within their faith community.

Thirtyone:eight is the Secretariat for the group, which is chaired by Bishop Viv Faull, and Ruth Jones MP.

Our Work

One of the most significant areas of focus for this group has been on safeguarding positions of trust within faith communities. These are roles where individuals are entrusted with the well-being of others, like a church pastor, vicar, or youth leader. At the time law did not include protections for 16 and 17 year olds in faith communities, the APPG was successful in ensuring loopholes in existing law were closed.

In addition to its work on positions of trust, the APPG has worked hard to ensure victims and

survivors of abuse, and those supporting them, have a platform to speak directly to Government. And they have been actively engaged in issues surrounding mandatory reporting, research into abuse in religious communities, and promoting survivor voices.

The Future

The 5th anniversary serves as a milestone for the APPG, but also as a reminder of the work that remains to be done. The group is committed to seeing through its recommendations to the Government following the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) report. It looks forward to another five years of advocating for the safety and well-being of all individuals within faith contexts.

Get involved

The APPG welcomes expressions of interest from those who share its vision and work. For more information about the group and its activities contact Leigh on appg@thirtyoneeight.org

Safeguarding As Mission:

Shifting the frame for safer practice within our churches

Justin Humphreys, CEO, Thirtyone:eight has written a new book that seeks to reframe what is understood as ‘safeguarding’ within church-based contexts. The book encourages the reader to recognise that creating safer places for all is a biblical imperative and a vital part of Christian mission.

‘Safeguarding’ has become a familiar term within most church-based settings in recent times. Its prominence prompts a variety of responses from church-goers, workers and leaders, not all of which are positive. For some, safeguarding represents a government-led, bureaucratic, tick-

box process that has little place in the church. For others, it represents a series of hurdles to effective ministry. Yet, for others safeguarding principles and practice are an enabling force and a good sense guide for interacting with others.

‘Safeguarding As Mission’ takes the reader through a series of Jesus’ encounters with others, examining his character, attitude, and behaviour. It unpacks these interactions to shine a light on what it means to safeguard others and helps the reader to see that safeguarding is a meaningful and integral part of following Jesus’ example in mission.

About the author

Justin is a CEO and Head of Safeguarding and Development at Thirtyone:eight. Before joining the charity in 2010, Justin worked in a variety of social work and youth work settings for over 25 years, including the largest children’s charity in the UK. He has also served as a church Pastor and is a passionate advocate for justice and authentic leadership. He has written two other books, ‘Escaping the Maze of Spiritual Abuse’, and ‘Just Leadership’.

Christian Noise or Kingdom Influence?

Written by Andy Flannagan, Executive Director of Christians in Politics.

SAY NO TO POVERTY!

CWe’ll also mobilise huge numbers of people to march to make poverty history, send emails about climate change, or write letters about abortion.

But there’s a difference between just making noise and having real influence. That difference is relationship Can we make the journey from disconnected armchair

SIGN UP ACTION

TOGETHER we are STRONGER

‘CAN WE MAKE THE JOURNEY FROM DISCONNECTED ARMCHAIR COMMENTATORS TO PARTICIPANTS’

hristians know how to make noise. It’s in our DNA. Whether it’s trumpets at Jericho, cymbals in the Psalms, or worship bands with huge PAs.

commentators to participants who are being salt and light in the midst rather than at the edge of society?

In my last job leading ‘Christians on the Left’, I was preparing what I might say at our parliamentary launch, when the phrase, “They came expecting fireworks” dropped

LIBERATION NOW!

into my mind. It seemed an appropriate starting point for an event happening in the Houses of Parliament on the night of the 5th of November! I resisted the temptation to arrive in a Guy Fawkes costume.

It’s in the nature of a launch, with a hugely successful new website, a Twitter storm of positive messages and huge amounts of enthusiasm in the room to expect some fireworks

and glitz. There were a raft of newly joined members. Energy was high.

So I went on to point out that… In first century Palestine, they also came looking for fireworks. An oppressed people were looking for liberation – now. They were hoping for a mighty explosion of energy and light that would restore their status as God’s chosen people, back in charge of their own destiny. Some were looking for a military extravaganza. And it looked like this carpenter of Nazareth might just light the touchpaper.

They came looking for fireworks, but what they got was a bloke talking about a mustard seed. They got a story about something practically invisible. He said, “This isn’t necessarily going to be fast. This might be slow.” He said, “This isn’t going to start huge, it’s going to start infinitesimally

‘WE MUST PREPARE TO DO THE HARD YARDS RELATIONSHIPOF BUILDING.’

small”. Japanese theologian, Kosuke Koyama has written a book about this kingdom called ‘3mph God’. Our God seems to move slowly, because I believe he never moves faster than the speed of relationships. For him ends never justify means. For him it is about people, and he cares as much about the journey as the destination. He cares as much about the method as the product delivered. You could say the ‘how’ is as important as the ‘what’. What us activists often forget is that he also cares as much about his mission in us as his mission through us. That is why it is often a slow, long journey. That is why in politics especially, we must be in it for the long haul. We endure because we care about people not just ideas.

We must not get sucked into the instant culture of the 21st century of ‘overnight sensations’ and the ‘next big thing’. We must prepare to do the hard yards of relationship building. Change in political thinking and practice is rarely fast, but we must believe that the mustard seed will produce fruit. There is also something of sacrifice and death about that seed. We will not necessarily be lauded for what we do, but unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies…

Replication

We find encouragement in knowing that this slowly replicating, sprawling DNA of the kingdom is not ours.

It is God’s. Incredibly each of us are formed with this divine DNA inside us, made in the image of God. Every tree has within it the potential to start a forest. The seeds are there. Every human has within them the potential to start a movement. The seeds of reproduction are there. The kingdom is unstoppable because it is in our DNA no matter how much we try to suppress it. Those moments of slow growth happen with every decision of righteousness and justice. They happen every time we choose the King’s way rather than the easier way of disengagement.

Ask yourself why you joined any movement. It probably wasn’t because of an impressive website, or piece of writing. It was probably through a person. A living, breathing human-being gave you the nerve to sign up. Knowing someone involved and knowing that they are centred as a human being is often the key element in someone getting involved. This kingdom will also replicate because our political system is crying out for integrity, creativity, and vision. All across the country this sort of vision is being shown by believers who are finding creative ways to tackle the challenges in their neighbourhoods. Whether it is befriending schemes, or debt counselling programmes or life skills classes, the church is stepping up. That energy is already starting to feed through into the political realm and we

‘LET’S BE PEOPLE WHO REALISE THAT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN JUST MAKING NOISE AND HAVING INFLUENCE IS RELATIONSHIP.’

have the privilege of being part of that transformation.

So as we attempt to influence the political realm, let’s remember again, it’s a long haul because our God is a God of relationship. In his very essence, God is a team. But relationships take time and relationships take effort, especially if they are being formed with people who we may well disagree with on some things. That is the road less travelled. As humans we generally form tribes and stick with the folks who won’t challenge us, but transformation happens when we stick our necks out beyond those comfort zones, not to just speak our truth and run away, but to build relationships.

Christians in Politics

The great news is that I see many young people taking up this challenge. Many are involved in prayer triplets where there is one ‘red’, one ‘blue’ and one ‘other’. Often young people are good at being rabble-rousers for their own tribe, but aren’t so good at framing an argument when they are exposed to public

debate. But our young people are growing into politics without the blinkers that come from being lost in a single tribe. They are in prayerful relationship with those from the ‘other side’ and therefore are much better at listening and persuading.

Of course there are times when noise is required. Jesus turning the tables was not a low volume event. But more often he was found listening, story-telling and relationshipbuilding across boundaries. We’re not naïve that those relationships will not also at times bring disagreement and challenge, but deep relationship allows those differences to be navigated away from social media.

What could you do?

So what’s the next adventurous relationship you might be called to? The good news is that you don’t have to do it alone. As the old African proverb says, “If you want to go fast, go alone, but if you want to go far, go together.”

Our Influence Course is designed to give participants a biblical understanding of God’s call for every one of us to be involved in the public square.

It’s not just about being a candidate.

It’s a 6 week course that your church small groups can do in person or online. It’s specifically designed to take people on a journey from zero. It’s not just a course for the ‘politically interested’ or ‘politically active’. It’s a far cry from dry intellectual and theorising, it’s full of fun activities and weekly challenges, alongside some ground-breaking content. You don’t even need to feel like an expert to run the course – the course guide gives you everything you could need. Let’s be people who realise that the difference between just making noise and having influence is relationship.

Andy Flannagan

The Transformative Power of Survivors Voices

Written by Jane Chevous, Director and Co-founder of Survivors Voice

Content warning: This article mentions varying forms of abuse from a survivors perspective.

I’m a survivor of familial abuse and sexual exploitation as a child, and for a while church was my safe space and God my comforter. Then I was groomed, spiritually and sexually abused by two ordained church youth officers, and at first my world fell apart. Overworking became my coping strategy, but of course that couldn’t last, and when I finally started reporting my abuse to the police and the church in 2001, I fell apart again.

That same year, an annual programme of closed support groups, led by abuse survivors, for abuse survivors, began at Greenbelt Christian arts and activism festival. Here I found hope again and began to get involved. By 2003 the programme had expanded to include a panel on church safeguarding, seminars on topics such as self-harm and survivor theology, and a Healing Maze that informed hundreds of survivors, allies and church members about abuse and healing from a survivor perspective. The impact was profound. As survivors told us,

“For the first time in my life I felt supported and understood. I didn’t need to explain, I could be me.”

“Awesome much needed private self-space just to be myself without having to wear a mask.

I’ve carried my burden on my own for so long and it’s just great to know that I am not alone and that I’m not the only ones who feels like the church does not know how to deal with delicate life issues.”

The seminars also brought much needed light on what until then was a taboo subject:

“Thank you for opening a world of hidden knowledge.”

“Much needed seminars. Keep going in future years please. It is an issue for everyone to be aware of. Stop allowing the churches to sweep it under the carpet.”

The need for support and education was so great, the change we achieved was so important, we knew we had outgrown an annual festival. So in 2004, Survivors Voices (formerly known as S:Vox) was born. Over the last 20 years, our work has grown and developed, but always with the same five core activities, often developed in partnership with other survivor groups.

We gather

The core of all we do is gather as survivors to hold space for each other, to listen and to give and receive support. This community underpins everything we do. It’s where many of us find and have our voice. As well as open peer support, we now facilitate a community for survivor researchers, writers and activists, with regular online meetings to share our work and support each other.

We learn

In our survivor groups, we learn what matters to survivors, what challenges we face, what we need to survive, and how to move along the recovery journey towards healing and growth. More recently, we’ve co-led and supported a number of research projects with survivors and academic partners.

We teach

As the wonderful survivor-researcher and lecturer Angie Sweeney wrote, “The expertise about what we need to heal lies within us.”1 This is what we found in our groups and research –but often what is obvious to us it seems to be unknown to professionals, leaders, families and friends. So we run workshops and seminars, and offer training and consultancy, about traumainformed practice and what survivors really need to heal and recover.

We create

Art and creativity have always played an important role in our work. Violence, abuse and trauma are highly complex embodied experiences which are difficult to put into words. Art gives voice to the unutterable. It plays an important role in healing, accessing the part of the brain where trauma lives, helping us to process and reconnect. Later this year we shall be launching a new publishing arm, Survivors Voices Press, with four books from members of our writers’ community.

We transform

We believe that there is a path of recovery from trauma and abuse, that we can find healing and joy again, in relationship with others. We don’t accept that all abuse is inevitable, and we demand better of systems and institutions in

safeguarding, and in their responses to survivors. Everything we do is focussed on turning our pain into the power to change and improve the lives of survivors. For example our Survivors Engagement Charter has been used by many groups such as research teams and mental health projects, to ensure that their interactions with survivors are the opposite of abuse.

A wonderful example of community, art and activism all coming together is the ‘I, Lord’ show about spiritual abuse, from www.responseabilitytheatre.com. I am so grateful to be part of the survivors group who worked with writer Nell Hardy on production development, and to be offering peer support. As a faith-based abuse survivor, I’ve never seen something like my experience portrayed before. It was a tearful dress rehearsal, as I felt the power of recognition, with people who really understand the impact of spiritual abuse. Art like this changes the lives of all it touches; as a clergy member of the audience told Nell “Your courage has had a huge impact on our family and ministry.”

I experience this courage and change every week in our peer support groups. Facilitated jointly with Little Ro by a team of volunteers, each week I am sustained and comforted by the compassion, understanding and strength of my fellow survivors. We cannot fix each other’s pain; yet there is power in listening, as we honour each other’s experiences and provide a unique space to share things that can be hard to express in day-to-day life. We also encourage and support each other in the hard work of healing trauma. I know I’m not the only one who has found our peer support spaces to be literally lifesaving at times.

1 Sweeney, A., Perôt,C., Callard, F., Adenden, V., Mantovani, N. & Goldsmith L (2019) Editorial: Out of the silence: towards grassroots and trauma-informed support for people who have experienced sexual violence and abuse. Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences.

‘WE DON’T ACCEPT THAT ALL ABUSE IS INEVITABLE, AND WE DEMAND BETTER OF SYSTEMS AND INSTITUTIONS IN SAFEGUARDING, AND IN THEIR RESPONSES TO SURVIVORS.’

The solidarity and care of the group, and inspirational projects like I, Lord, keep me going when the hard slog of advocacy and campaigning to change policy and practice can feel overwhelming. I’m doing a lot of work with the Church of England at the moment, being one of the survivor representatives on the National Safeguarding Panel and bringing a survivor perspective to projects such as the Redress Scheme and safeguarding training programmes. I feel the responsibility of it, trying to reflect a range of perspectives from other survivors, doing my best to improve an institution that has caused such harm. Like all the other survivor activists I meet, I desperately want to use my experience to make life better for others. Psychiatrist, Judith Herman describes four stages of recovery from trauma, and Survivors Voices have provided the space for all of these for me:

• Safety and stability – alongside the work I’ve done in therapy, I’ve created safer spaces with others in our peer groups.

• Remembrance, mourning and identity – week by week sharing experiences in our support groups, and in making sense of my story and who I am in our creative writing and art projects.

• Reconnecting and reclaiming life – I’ve found lifelong friendships and strong companionship in the community we share. It’s also been where I’ve developed what Robert Loften calls the “survivor mission” – transforming my trauma and finding new purpose and healing through activism.

• Social justice – the best reward is seeing the difference our work can make, such as the contribution of our Charter in supporting survivor involvement in the MESARCH research project, or our own research in the Safe, Seen Supported project.

So I would encourage anyone to join survivor support and activist communities like us, Upfront Survivors’ National Creative Social Change Network, or Traumascapes. It won’t always be comfortable; it will change you, being with other survivors. But you will find hope and strength; and together we CAN tackle abuse and change responses to trauma.

I’ll give the last word to another survivor who came to one of our groups, as they expressed it beautifully:

“The comfort and relief of finally realising that I’m not the only one, and that there are ways out”

Find out more at Survivorsvoices.org

Safe as houses?

What next for the future of home-based youth work

Written by Peter Wright, Thirtyone:eight

As a young teen growing up in the 1980s Sunday evenings were one of the highlights of my week. A group of around 10 young people from our church would pile round the home of our church youth leader after the evening service. We’d feast on bags of cheese and onion crisps and mugs of hot chocolate. We’d laugh together, forgetting the stresses of the coming week, and talk about issues of life and faith.

The sense of safety, belonging and acceptance fostered in that home and the wisdom and guidance gained from more experienced peers and mentors was integral to my growing understanding of life, faith, and spirituality. Looking back, I’m so grateful for those informal evenings, for the genuine hospitality shown and the formative conversations had.

Reflecting on these experiences, I’m struck by how much it mirrors what we read in the Bible about hospitality. Much of Jesus’ own ministry we see unfolding in people’s homes. The early church itself found a sanctuary and a foundation in the setting of the home. Today, through Youth Bible studies and home groups, summer barbecues, movie nights and craft groups, the home continues to be a place that plays a key role not just in church activities but for many groups, in nurturing wellbeing and spiritual growth, and contributing significantly to the pastoral care and development of young people. But does new safeguarding guidance on the use of the home as a setting for youth work require us to rethink?

What are the risks?

Most of us would like to think of our homes as safe places. However, how aware are we to the potential risks of harm occurring, be it in our own home or someone else’s? As with any setting there are risks. These can include: the blurring of relational boundaries, issues around governance and the supervision of people and activities, the presence of other family members on the premises, and even issues with health and safety and insurance cover. With the pastoral responsibility there comes a need, as with any activity involving young people, to have comprehensive safeguarding measures in place. The challenge here is in striking the right balance between creating warm, welcoming, inviting spaces, and ensuring a safe and secure environment for all.

Understanding the guidance

There have been two significant pieces of guidance published or updated recently which relate to youth work in the home which it is important to be aware of. These are: the Department for Education’s (DfE) recently updated safeguarding guidance for the provision of after-school clubs, community activities, and tuition providers;1 and the new guidance published by the National Youth Agency (NYA) last autumn entitled Youth Work in Private Dwellings: Safety first – no compromises2 (where ‘Private dwelling’ refers to the home of a youth worker, organisation or another adult, or the home of a young person).

The Department for Education’s (DfE) guidance provides a framework for ensuring the safety and wellbeing of children in various out-of-school settings, including those organised by churches, charities, and community groups. Homebased youth activities would fall within this. It underscores the importance of safeguarding practices and includes advice for parents who use these settings to help them be clear on what safeguarding arrangements they should expect to be in place.

The National Youth Agency (NYA) guidance focuses specifically on what it calls ‘private dwellings’ and has potentially a more significant impact on activities such as faith-based youth work.

This guidance has been produced in response to a recognition that safeguarding in private dwellings has been inconsistent across the sector, especially during the pandemic, placing young people at potential risk and leaving youth workers open to criticism. It expresses caution about conducting youth work in private

dwellings, citing potential risks associated with varying home environments and in maintaining consistent safeguarding standards across them.

The guidance strongly recommends that youth work should not take place in private dwellings, whilst at the same time recognising that it does occur, for a variety of reasons, including due to limited resources. The guidance therefore offers recommendations for safer practices in circumstances where youth work does occur in the home setting, aiming to make youth work as safe as possible in locations that it sees as not ideal.

The guidance strongly suggests exploring alternative venues for youth work, such as community centres, to mitigate the challenges posed.

How can we make home-based youth work safer?

There are several ways that activities held in the home setting can be made safer. Here’s ten things to consider:

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

Risk assessments. A full risk assessment should be done for each property to be used and of the activities to be carried out. Careful consideration should be given to the potential risks, the layout of the home, potential hazards, and the overall safety measures in place.

Criminal record checks. As with any activity, anyone doing youth work needs to have an appropriate level of DBS/PVG/Access NI check and this applies regardless of the location of the provision.

Consent forms. Specific consent to conduct youth activities in someone’s home should be sought from the parent/guardian beforehand, and emergency contact details should be collected and kept on hand for the duration of any activity.

Clear travel arrangements. You should make it clear that a youth worker would not be permitted to transport young people without parental permission and that of the Safeguarding Lead so own transport to and from the home would need to be arranged with clear drop off and pick up times.

Safeguarding information. You should provide clear information about safeguarding measures and how people may address any concerns.

Close collaboration with homeowners. The active involvement of the homeowner in setting up any activity is vital to ensure the homes meet safety standards.

Additional supervision. Extra supervision of the young people in attendance may be required and specific training may need to be given to ensure a safe environment without compromising the unique benefits of home gatherings.

Keeping a register. A register of attendees should be kept along with records of any adults present.

No other adults permitted. Other adults should not be permitted on the premises or in the same space that the activity is happening.

Seek young people’s views. You should seek the view of how comfortable the young people are with the setting. Listen to their voices and give choice where possible.

In addition, you could consider holding a session with the young people to help them understand boundaries, be clear on relationships with youth leaders, and what to do if they feel unsafe or want to report a concern. You could include agreeing a set of ground rules, irrespective of where the activity is taking place.

A balanced approached

The guidance cautioning against youth work in private dwellings prompts a thoughtful consideration about how we balance the need for a secure environment with the benefits of more informal settings such as the home. Organisations that currently run youth activities in the home should ensure they consider the risks involved and take action to mitigate these, whilst following the recommendation for considering alternative venues.

1 www.gov.uk/government/publications/keeping-children-safein-out-of-school-settings-code-of-practice

2 www.nya.org.uk/new-guidance-for-youth-work-in-privatedwellings-demands-no-compromises-around-safety-ofyoung-people

For more advice and guidance visit our online Knowledge Hub or call our helpline on 0303 003 1111.

Public Policy Matters

Leigh McFarlane, Public Policy and Research Manager at Thirtyone:eight, shares her thoughts on why public policy is for everyone.

Leigh, before we start, what is ‘public policy’?

Public policy is a collection of the actions, proposals, guidelines, and legislation that governments and organisations create in order to address a specific area of life in society. The aim is improve public life and to improve welfare.

Why is Thirtyone:eight involved in public policy?

Firstly our name is also our vision. It comes from Proverbs 31:8 “speak out on behalf of the voiceless, and for the rights of those who are vulnerable.” This is our mandate, and we want voices heard in all spheres and levels of society and the church. We want to ensure there’s no limitation on being heard, and that our members are represented well. So we want to create space for them to engage with politicians, faith leaders, safeguarding professionals and other experts.

Secondly, we want to create opportunity for learning. For example, through our

We spoke to Leigh McFarlane, Public Policy and Research Manager at Thirtyone:eight about her role in public policy.

work with the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) we’re able to bring key groups of people together. Those whose work overlap but that may not necessarily be working together. It also means politicians can hear directly from survivors and survivors have a space to influence too.

Finally, our expertise lends itself to public policy. We’ve got many, many years of experience across our team that allows us to understand the different perspectives in public policy and how to work within them. That experience means we can work in an accountable and transparent way, helping to shape good quality, well researched and evidence-led public policy that creates safer spaces for everyone.

What sort of things are Thirtyone:eight involved with?

I already mentioned the APPG. We are the secretariat (administrative office). That group consists of politicians, survivors, faith leaders and other charities. There

can be a huge disconnect between the statutory sector and safeguarding and faith sectors. But the APPG is a very good example of where a huge amount of overlap has been identified. By these groups working together, the APPG has been instrumental in successful campaigning for changes in legislation.

Examples of these successes are the changes in legislation around positions of trust, and removing the ability for sex offenders to change their name by deed poll. Together, we’re continuing to advocate for the Government to embed our recommendations following the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA).

We work with the four Governments across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland to try to ensure what is legislation in one nation, becomes legislation in the other nations, so that there is equity of safety across the UK.

We also support other faith groups to engage with public policy and ensuring that churches and faith spaces are safer places for everyone.

So what does your job look like on a daily basis?

It’s really different every day.

I work across the four UK nations, where policies vary. Some days I am focused on responding to Government policies or announcements, or attending parliamentary meetings. Other days I may be writing papers or supporting our commitment as the administrative office of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for safeguarding in faith communities at Westminster.

Can you tell us about the Thirtyone:eight Manifesto?

It’s our first ever manifesto. We wanted to clearly and intentionally set out the key policy aims that we would want to advocate for before the four UK governments. The manifesto sets out what we want to do, what it is we’re asking governments to do and gives us a launch point to have those discussions. Really, we produced it because we wanted to resource and equip our members to enable them to be part of the discussions as well.

Public Policy work sounds like it could be quite challenging, how do you stay motivated?

I’m personally very motivated by the bible verse that says, “to act justly and to love mercy and walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8). There are examples throughout the bible of people engaging with the powers of the day to make society a better place which inspires me.

A long time ago a friend gave me this piece of advice, “when you get bogged down in the details, sometimes you need to zoom back out to see the big picture.” It’s easy to think we’re not getting anywhere when you’re zoomed in, so we need to keep an eye on the bigger picture to see how far we’ve come. We have to celebrate the small steps, even when there’s still a way to go. We have to remain realistic and manage our expectations. But when we pause and remember why we’re doing this and who we’re doing it for, it drives us. I always think ‘what if these issues affected my own children, how long would I fight for that? How long would I advocate for to make sure that they are safe?’

What is good for my kids is good for every other child. That gives me dogged determination to keep going.

It can be disheartening at times, but I see every knock back as a learning opportunity. Yes, you feel anguish, but you also get more savvy about what you need to do. It’s like Thomas Edison. If he’d given up trying to make the light bulb at the 199th attempt, we’d all be sitting in the dark! You know, you’ve got to learn from the failures and successes.

Finally, what legacy do you hope is left through the public policy work?

That’s a big question, but ultimately, we want our work to bring about a safer world. We want good policy to influence good practice, and for all of that to be underpinned by healthy and safe cultures.

Changing and updating policy takes time. It’s not a one year or five year journey. Sometimes it could be 20 years before you see that change or longer. But my hope is that what we do now will make the world a safer place for everyone.

‘CHANGING AND UPDATING POLICY TAKES TIME. IT’S NOT A ONE YEAR OR FIVE YEAR JOURNEY. SOMETIMES IT COULD BE 20 YEARS BEFORE YOU SEE THAT CHANGE OR LONGER. BUT MY HOPE IS THAT WHAT WE DO NOW WILL MAKE THE WORLD A SAFER PLACE FOR EVERYONE.’

Safeguarding Standards Award.

Boost your credibility, motivate your team and assure the highest level of protection for those you serve.

Scan here or visit thirtyoneeight.org/award to find out more.

“The Safeguarding Standards Award allowed us to demonstrate our commitment to this vital area.”

Riverside AOG church, 2023 Award recipient.

Charity no. 1004490.

Scottish charity no. SCO40578

Members spotlight

Congregational Federation

Written by Yvonne Campbell General Secretary Congregational Federation

The Congregational Federation has over 230 affiliate Independent Congregational churches. We offer support and advice on all church matters from trusteeship to training, resources to research, social media to safeguarding. We were formed in 1972 although the Congregational tradition dates back to 1662.

In 2020 it was decided by the Council of trustees considering the high-profile cases and IICSA report, that all churches who affiliate must complete the process we have in place for

good safeguarding practice. This was a huge challenge as just under half of the churches needed to act.

We had to make sure that every church had addressed safeguarding in their local church meetings. Our process involves writing a policy so that each church knows what to do and who to contact if a safeguarding matter arises and a visit by one of our regional checkers. These visits make sure the church is a safe place physically and ensure fire prevention is in place and general health and safety is adhered to. It also includes those in positions of trust at the church have an up-to-date DBS or PVG certificate.

Our membership to Thirtyone:eight was vital for us to enhance and give worth to this process.

I am delighted to share that now at the end of 2023 we have almost every church displaying the safeguarding certificate. This has been a huge project, and largely due to the patience of our Safeguarding officer and the regional checkers who have given 110%. It has been difficult for

Yvonne Campbell

some churches who don’t have children or don’t have many people in membership to understand why it is so important, but we made personal visits and had made phone calls to help and offer support.

We also wanted to offer safeguarding training to churches but all the organisations we looked at initially were secular and work based. When we found Thirtyone:eight it was such a relief because not only was the training church focused there was also such a wealth of other resources and support on offer for our membership. The Safeguarding Officer, Lisa Vickers and I completed every resource available over lockdown so we could recommend first hand which would be most appropriate. They cover so many topics, and we are delighted now to be able to offer training sessions to our churches and respond to need. We run three sessions on adult safeguarding and three on children, plus this year we have offered Spiritual Abuse training in response to requests.

We approached Thirtyone:eight for membership initially to help with our safeguarding policy but we have used their services for so much more including the advice line, resources and training.

One of first things I remembered from the first training I attended with Thirtyone:eight was that wherever you are with safeguarding that’s ok

as long as you keep reviewing and moving with it – that was such an encouraging message to hear and a key one for churches – we can get frightened of things we don’t understand but not doing anything or hoping it will go away is not the answer – there is support and training to help.

‘WHEN WE FOUND THIRTYONE:EIGHT IT WAS SUCH A RELIEF BECAUSE NOT ONLY WAS THE TRAINING CHURCH FOCUSED THERE WAS ALSO SUCH A WEALTH OF OTHER RESOURCES AND SUPPORT ON OFFER FOR OUR MEMBERSHIP.’

Our membership has been a lifeline because if we have any safeguarding concerns, we can ring the helpline and have someone who will listen in confidence and offer advice that is up to date and precise and written evidence of the advice for record keeping. They also follow up and check you are OK which is such a generous and extremely loving thing to do, but they understand safeguarding, the seriousness of it, the stress it can cause, and the upset it can create. Our

A small selection of resources available from thirtyone:eight

churches can also have this reassurance as the number is included in every policy.

Thirtyone:eight helped us tremendously with our safeguarding policy, they gave us a set list of what to include and then were able to check we had everything included before we shared it with churches as an exemplar for them to follow and add their own details.

One of our concerns was that the policy and training wouldn’t be valid for our churches in Scotland as well as England and Wales. We had extra paragraphs added for Scotland and all the training sessions made sure if there were differences then they are highlighted and covered in any sessions.

As well as putting in place a process for churches we wanted to make sure all those on our nationally accredited ministries list had up to date training to equip them in their roles. We were delighted to work with Thirtyone:eight to create a bespoke safeguarding training course to be mandatory for all those ministers who have been accredited but also those serving our churches

could be invited. As a small organisation we haven’t got the ability to have own programs so this was the best of both worlds for us.

It is also wonderful to now have a link person who has been to visit us and shared resources –we had been asked by our churches to create a bullying resource and so talked to Thirtyone:eight who recommended the culture conversation cube which has been well received as a resource.

It was also good to hear about the new children’s resources which we will be promoting in our churches next year.

When I look back now to pre-pandemic and all the things we have put in place it has been such an incredible achievement. The Congregational Federation have invested time and money, but it has been worth it, and I believe small independent Congregational churches are less vulnerable because of what we have put in place with the help of Thirtyone:eight so thank you for your support.

Find out more at www.congregational.org.uk

OSouth West Youth Ministries

Written by Tim Cadoux, Training and Communications Manager for SWYM

ur vision and passion at South West Youth Ministries (SWYM) is that every child and young person in the South West would encounter Jesus, know him, and make a choice to live for more. As we work towards this vision, safeguarding is not just a responsibility but a critical aspect of our commitment to creating a safe and nurturing environment for all. In the ever-evolving landscape of working with children and young people, Thirtyone:eight has been a reliable partner for many years.

SWYM exists to serve local churches across the South West of England. We want to help churches from Lands End to Gloucester, to Swindon, to Salisbury establish the best models of ministry, stand in partnership together, and learn from each other. Our core strategy involves placing trainee children and youth workers with various churches and projects across the region that have a heart and vision to reach

their community. Working with such a diverse array of projects highlights the need for our team to maintain up-to-date knowledge and comprehensive training.

We believe that this generation desperately needs leaders who are passionate about Jesus and live out their faith in a genuine, contagious way. The training courses on offer, from gap years to degree options, provide a setting where developing leaders can grow in their relationship with God and in their character.

In recruiting applicants and placing trainees in varied contexts, Thirtyone:eight’s online DBS system has streamlined our application process, ensuring a quick and secure turnaround for the necessary checks. Kath Entrican, Local Ministries Manager, says “Thirtyone:eight run a great system for applying for DBS checks –they turn around applicants promptly and are always available to provide help and assistance when needed.” Using Thirtyone:eight’s DBS

Tim Cadoux

‘OUR JOURNEY HAS TAUGHT US THE IMPORTANCE OF EMBEDDING SAFEGUARDING WITHIN OUR TEAM’S CULTURE.’

service has enabled us to make safer recruiting decisions efficiently, and reduce workload for our admin team.

SWYM also run a range of residential events designed to serve as valuable resources for youth and children’s workers. These events play a crucial role in providing a space for young people to explore their faith in a relevant way. From small, activity-based residentials with 25-40 attendees to larger events like Spree SW (with 1000+ attendees), safeguarding is always a priority. Having Thirtyone:eight’s support in developing our policies, procedures, and DBS checks has been invaluable in ensuring the safety of everyone involved in these events.

The access to Thirtyone:eight’s dedicated team of professional safeguarding advisors through the Safeguarding Helpline has also proven to be invaluable. In the complex world of safeguarding, the ability to pick up the phone and connect with experts who understand the nuances of Christian organisations, whilst giving highly professional advice and support is very important to us. In moments of crisis, having a reliable source of information and support has strengthened our Safeguarding Leads’ ability to navigate complex scenarios, and given them the confidence to respond appropriately.

or comparison. We fight to create a community where we prefer one another and protect the vulnerable.

Sadly, we have often seen leaders, including those in churches and Christian organisations, who have failed to nurture a healthy, humble, and servant-hearted character. Pride is regularly called out in scripture as sin, and there is a clear link between pride and controlling, abusive and unhealthy relationships.

Over the last year our Director, Paul Friend, has been reflecting on the importance of humility in leadership, recently releasing a book called Fierce Humility – Leading in the Way of Jesus (swym.org.uk/fierce-humility). In this attempt to put humility back at the centre of leadership, Paul takes the reader on a journey through the Gospels looking at the person, lifestyle and leadership of Jesus to enable reflection on how we might humble ourselves before God and others.

The book launch event, featuring a panel of Christian leaders, including Justin Humphreys from Thirtyone:eight, highlighted the need for Christian leaders to tackle the pitfalls, dangers and root issues that are behind unhealthy actions and attitudes in leadership.

One key reflection from our safeguarding journey is the importance of fostering a culture where safeguarding is not viewed as a mere checkbox exercise but as a continuous commitment to the well-being of our community, and the communities which we seek to serve. One of our values at SWYM is “Servant Hearted Community”. We want to create a community where every person is looked out for, and where there isn’t any space for competitiveness

Another of our organisation’s values is to “Pursue Excellence Together”. Our journey has taught us the importance of embedding safeguarding within our team’s culture. Safeguarding is not the isolated responsibility of a select few, but a collective duty embraced by every member of our team, together. Moreover, we’ve come to appreciate that effective safeguarding is not

achieved through once-a-year training sessions alone. It must be an integral part of our regular conversations, woven into team meetings and our engagement with churches and other organisations. By making safeguarding a continuous area of discussion, we not only stay abreast of evolving challenges but also cultivate a heightened awareness and sensitivity to the needs and concerns of those under our care.

Paul Friend says “Thirtyone:eight have been a valuable support to SWYM over the years

through their excellent helpline support, training, DBS service and policy support. We value and appreciate all they provide to help us to keep safeguarding as an area we pursue excellence in.”

South West Youth Ministries (SWYM) provide Christian Gap Years, Youth Work Training, and Children’s Ministry Training through placement based courses to degree level.

Find out more: www.swym.org.uk