SAFE TO GROW

I am very pleased to confirm that the children who come into the many activities at our church each week, continue to be cared for by a growing number of caring and committed volunteers. A fair number of our volunteers contribute in the very real and important role of providing care on a shared, rota or occasional basis. The number of adults with CRB clearance at the beginning of 2008 was 60 – yes, 60. By December 2008, a further fourteen had been added to this number, their ages ranging from 16 to 70 plus, and two more are “in the post” now, awaiting processing.

It is no trouble at all for me to do the paperwork for clearance. I can do this at your house or mine and on a good day, with a fair wind, I can get it in the envelope within 20 minutes. All of this is confidential and the CRB disclosure is sent directly to the applicant, with a separate confirmation coming to myself. The CRB checks offer security to our children and families on the first level. It is required by law that all “staff” in settings that provide care for children must have CRB clearance. The uniformed organisations model a very good standard in this. We are also required to receive regular training in safeguarding children. 24 volunteers from our own and neighbouring churches attended training on our premises with Andy Lloyd from Leeds in June and another ten attended the Advanced Safeguarding Training when we hosted the South Yorkshire Baptist training in November. This advanced training identified the development of the “child protection” concept in law and the steady shift towards the current multi-agency commitment towards Safeguarding Children, plus attention to the five outcomes of Every Child Matters 2004 and the Preventative Agenda.

We shall not stand still in enabling our children’s right to grow safely. There is more we can do in embedding our provision with other contributors to this in the wider community. We shall continue to provide up to date and high quality training.

Our thanks to all who serve in this way.

Marilyn Fenn, Linda Brennan, Carole Moore

Church Advocates for Safeguarding