The LyCiG Designated Safeguarding Lead is Revd Harry Steele who can be contacted via the following email address:  safeguarding@leadingyourchurchintogrowth.org.uk

1. Purpose

Leading your Church into Growth (LyCiG) is committed to providing a healthy, nurturing and protective environment for everyone who engages with our community, attends our conferences or uses our resources. This policy will provide an understanding of the overarching principles to which we work and a clear understanding of our commitments to them. It will also provide guidance and procedures to respond to safeguarding matters that arise in the context of our ministry.

Leading your Church into Growth treats all concerns and complaints made under this policy seriously and will deal with them in an efficient and timely manner, and with appropriate confidentiality.

This policy applies to everyone who works on our behalf with children, young people, their parents/carers and adults at risk of abuse. It applies to our trustees, paid staff, volunteers and anyone else who acts in any capacity on our behalf.

2. Our Values and Commitments

Every person has value and dignity, which comes directly from being created in God’s image and likeness. Christians see this potential as fulfilled by God’s re-creation of us in Christ. Among other things, this implies a duty to value all people as bearing the image of God and therefore to protect them from harm. The church of which we are a part is not a gathering of sinless and perfect people, but rather a community of grace where we seek to encourage one another to grow in faith and obedience to God.

We are committed to:

• The care, nurture of, and respectful pastoral ministry with all children and adults

• The safeguarding and protection of all children, young people and adults when they are vulnerable

• Establishing a safe environment where there is a culture of ‘informed vigilance’ as to the dangers of abuse.

• Behaviour contrary to these policies and procedures must not be tolerated but dealt with decisively, effectively and transparently

3. How we will seek to fulfil these commitments

The Board of Trustees has overall responsibility for ensuring that all staff and volunteers are trained on LyCiG safeguarding policies and procedures.

• We will actively seek to create and maintain a culture that is consistent with our beliefs and best practices in safeguarding

• We will appoint a Designated Safeguarding Lead who will provide specialist advice and guidance for safeguarding across the organisation. Our designated safeguarding lead is: Revd Harry Steele

• We will appoint a member of the Trustee Board with responsibility for safeguarding. Our designated safeguarding trustee is Rev Harry Steele

• We will ensure that all our staff and volunteers are supported and trained to deliver best practice in safeguarding

• We will require that all our ordained staff and ordained volunteers request a current licence or PTO in whichever diocese they are based. The administering of a PTO will ensure that they are subject to diocesan safeguarding training and protocols.

• We will ensure that we consider safety in all areas of our work and ministry

• We will ensure that we monitor the conduct of our staff and that we have policies, procedures, and systems for managing allegations against staff or volunteers, supported by a culture of listening to allegations and responding with rigour, fairness and transparency

• We will seek to clearly identify concerns about the safety or well-being of those who are part of our community and to respond appropriately and proportionately

• We will record and store information accurately and keep it securely, sharing information appropriately in line with our legal duties, information-sharing policies and national and local guidance and agreements. This will include records such as:

  Consent/Permission forms

  Accident and incident reporting

  Confidential recording of safeguarding concerns

• In safeguarding matters involving children, young people, and adults at risk of abuse, we will involve their parents or carers wherever possible and whenever it is appropriate to do so.

• We will ensure that our leaders are competent and confident in handling complaints

• We will ensure that relevant policies and procedures are publicly available

4. People and Procedures

Safeguarding concerns may arise at any time. LyCiG leaders and conference delegates need to be aware of how best to address safeguarding concerns during a LyCiG conference.

The LyCiG Designated Safeguarding Lead is Revd Harry Steele. He can be contacted via the following email address: safeguarding@leadingyourchurchintogrowth.org.uk for any safeguarding matter that arises during - or in relation to - a LyCiG conference.

4.1 LyCiG leaders are expected to adhere to the following practices that build a culture of safety and trust.

• As far as possible, discussions should be held in groups and/or in public places. Meetings should never take place in conference centre bedrooms.

• Any prayer ministry should be undertaken by two members of the team, one of whom is of the same gender as the person being prayed for. Do not crowd the person being prayed for, and always ask permission before any physical contact is made.

• Individuals should listen carefully to pastoral issues and respectfully to what is being shared.

• If the meeting is to take place privately, make sure another team member is aware of the meeting and, if possible, its purpose.

• Reassure the individual that the meeting will be held in confidence unless the disclosure requires the involvement of a Designated Safeguarding Lead or of statutory services.

• If you have concerns about the behaviour of a conference speaker, delegate, or any other individual, you should contact your local Designated Safeguarding Lead or LyCiG’s Designated Safeguarding Lead.