Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults: Policy and Procedure
Benefice of Mears Ashby and Hardwick and Sywell with Overstone
In this benefice, we take safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults very seriously. Our Safeguarding Policy and Procedure was adopted by our Parochial Church Councils in February 2024. It follows and is consistent with the Church of England's House of Bishops' Promoting a Safer Church - Safeguarding policy statement for children, young people and adults 2017 and Parish Safeguarding Handbook, and incorporates Working Together to Safeguard Children 2018 and Care Act 2014.
For a copy of our policy and procedure, please CLICK here.
For guidance on "What to do if", please follow this FLOWCHART.
Our Contacts
Please note: To prevent automated spams and phishing attempts, we have added a space either side of the @ in email addresses. To send an email to one or more of the following, please remove these spaces before sending your message.
Our Benefice Safeguarding Officer is Ms Libby Thomson who can be contacted via e-mail on thomsonlibby65 @ gmail.com or on 07909 891050.
You can also contact our vicar, Revd Katrina Hutchins, who can be contacted on katrinahutchins94 @ yahoo.co.uk or on 07710 464675 / 01604 812907.
The Diocesan Safeguarding Advisers can be contacted as follows:
Team - safeguarding @ peterborough-diocese.org.uk or on 01733 887040
Diocesan Safeguarding Officer - Beth Miller at beth.miller @ peterborough-diocese.org.uk or on 07968 034075.
Safeguarding Learning Development & Case Worker - Amie Freeman at amie.freeman @ peterborough-diocese.org.uk or on 01733 887041.
Assistant Safeguarding Officer - Angie Barber at angie.barber @ peterborough-diocese.org.uk or on 01733 887039.
Safeguarding Admin Assistant - Sharon Welbourne at sharon.welbourne @ peterborough-diocese.org.uk or on 01733 887027.
Sources of support and help:
Safe Spaces:
Safe Spaces is a free and independent support service, providing a confidential, personal, and safe space for anyone who has been abused by someone in the Church or as a result of their with the Church of England, the Catholic Church in England and Wales or the Church in Wales.
Safe Spaces Helpline - 0300 303 1056.
Mondays to Fridays: 09:00 to 21:00
Saturdays: 09:00 to 13:00
Sundays: 13:00 to 17:00
To visit their website - click HERE.
Domestic Abuse:
If you - or someone you know - are in immediate danger, call 999 and ask for the police. If you - or someone you know - are in danger and unable to talk on the phone, call 999 and then press 55. This will transfer the call to the relevant police force who will assist without the caller having to speak. Help is also available from the National Domestic Abuse Helpline - 0808 2000 247 (calls are free and lines are open 24/7). Other helplines are:
Men's Advice Line: 0808 801 0327 - Confidential helpline for men experiencing domestic violence. To visit their website - click HERE.
The Mankind Initiative: 0870 794 412 - Confidential support and information for male victims of domestic abuse. To visit their website - click HERE.
Galop - National LGBT Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0300 999 5428 or 0800 999 5428. To visit their website - click HERE.
Action on Elder Abuse Helpline: 0808 808 8141 (freephone Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm).
Sexual Abuse:
Stop It Now: 0808 1000 900 - Preventing child sexual abuse.
NAPAC - National Association for People Abused in Childhood: 0808 801 0331. Support for adults abused as children.
Mental Health:
MIND has guidance for helping family and friends, carers and others to offer support and take care of themselves. To visit their website - click HERE.
You can also contact the Samaritans Helpline: 08457 90 90 90 (open 24 hours).
Sexual Assault Referral Centre:
The centre for our area is Serenity on 01604 601713. It offers a sensitive and confidential 24/7 service to anyone in Northamptonshire who has been the victim of a rape or serious sexual assault. To visit their website - click HERE.
See also the helplines in our Safeguard Policy and Procedures.