Safeguarding
| Bristol Cathedral has a duty of care to all the children, young people and adults who engage with our life and work. |
We take our responsibility very seriously and work closely with our partners to ensure that there is a safe and secure culture within the Cathedral. We can offer support and signposting to appropriate services to anyone experiencing domestic abuse, modern slavery or has another safeguarding concern.
If you have a safeguarding concern or have any questions about safeguarding at Bristol Cathedral, please contact our team.
Safeguarding Policy and Handbook
Click here to download the Cathedral’s Safeguarding Policy, including our notification procedure. Any allegations and issues are managed in concert with the Diocesan Safeguarding Advisor and the Cathedral Schools Trust where it relates to the schools on site. We work closely with the Diocese of Bristol to ensure our safeguarding procedures are appropriate.
If you would like to download our safeguarding handbook click here. Please let us know if you would like to access any particular appendix [email protected]
Our Commitments
- Our Safeguarding Committee meets quarterly and includes the Diocesan Safeguarding Advisor, Cathedral staff and clergy.
- We require disclosure and barring service checks (DBS) for all staff and some volunteer roles.
- All staff and volunteers receive regular safeguarding training.
Latest Safeguarding Updates
Click here to view the report from our 2021 SCIE Safeguarding Audit.
Click here to view our latest Safeguarding Action Plan.
Safeguarding Team Contact
If you have experienced abuse, however recently or long ago, there are a range of organisations who will listen to you and offer you support.
Whether you feel able to report the abuse or would rather access support and talk through the options first, we encourage you to speak with someone. That could be someone you already know, your ministry team if you are part of a church, or a person at one of the organisations listed below.
National Safeguarding Guidance
The Church of England provides national guidance and information on safeguarding.
Learn MoreRedress Scheme
The Church of England’s Redress Scheme offers financial redress as well as therapeutic, spiritual and emotional support, acknowledgment of wrongdoing on the part of the Church, apology and support to survivors of Church-related abuse.
Learn MoreSafe Spaces
Safe Spaces is a free and independent support service, providing a confidential, personal and safe space for anyone who has been abused through their relationship with either the Church of England or the Catholic Church of England and Wales.
Contact Details:
Phone them on 0300 303 1056 (a voicemail facility is available outside of opening times)
Email them at [email protected]
Learn MoreBristol Survivor Pathway
Bristol Survivor pathway provides signposting to the most appropriate services for those who experienced abuse.
Learn MoreNext Link
Next Link provide services for people who are experiencing domestic abuse.
Learn Moreunseen uk
unseen offer a uk modern slavery and exploitation helpline and support to those who have experienced modern slavery.
Learn MoreMental Health Services
Find out more about the Mental Health Services available in Avon and Wiltshire.
Learn MoreCharity for Action on Spiritual Abuse
They offer tailored support services to people in the UK who have experienced harm in faith cultures. This includes:
- Survivors and victims of spiritual abuse
- People who have experienced harm as a result of being in an unhealthy faith culture, even if they wouldn’t say they experienced direct abuse
- People who are supporting others who have experienced harm within faith cultures
- People who are concerned about an unhealthy or abusive faith culture and are deciding what action to take
Contacting the Police
You can make a report to the police about abuse that you have experienced, we would especially encourage you to do this if there is any possibility that the person who harmed you may still be in a position to harm others. Police are contactable nationwide on telephone: 101 or in an emergency 999.