Reporting a concern

Urgent Safeguarding Concerns

If you are concerned about the welfare of a child or adult at risk, then please contact the Safeguarding Office. The office is not able to deal with out of hours emergencies.   Please call 999 if a child or adult is believed to be in immediate danger.

Reporting Safeguarding Concerns

If you are in any role within the Catholic Church in England and Wales, you must refer allegations directly to the safeguarding office for your diocese or religious congregation, or directly to the Police. You can call 101 to report non urgent concerns 24 hours a day 7 days a week.

Any referrals made directly to the Police must also be sent to the Diocese of Menevia Safeguarding office and a report made on myconcern.

If you are a member of the public, please refer allegations directly to the police and  the Diocese of Menevia Safeguarding Office.

Responding to your concerns

The Diocese of Menevia Safeguarding Co-ordinator can be contacted via:

Email: Direct any concerns via email to: safeguarding@menevia.org.uk

Phone: You can also report your concerns by speaking to the Safeguarding Co-ordinator on 01792 468672.

Anyone who brings concerns or allegations to the notice of the Church will be responded to sensitively, respectfully and seriously. All concerns and allegations will be addressed using the Church’s national procedures and in a timely manner.

The Diocese of Menevia uses myconcern software to case manage all safeguarding reports. www.thesafeguardingcompany.com

Are you or someone you know troubled by abuse?

We are here to help.

The Safeguarding team will do all they can to listen to you and support you to find the help you need. You can speak to them without giving your personal details.  We understand that speaking out about abuse can be very difficult and distressing,  You may not have felt able to tell anyone before. We are here to support you in sharing your experience and signposting to specialist support services. 

You are not to blame for what happened to you. You will be listened to and your concerns will be taken seriously and acted upon as necessary.

Safe Spaces is a free, 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 relationship with the Catholic Church of England and Wales, the Church of England or the Church in Wales.

If you have been affected, however long ago, Safe Spaces can provide you with support.

You do not have to have told the police or the church authorities, and you do not have to still be involved with the church.  Your information will not be shared without your consent unless you or someone else is in immediate danger.

You can contact the Safe Spaces team by:

Telephoning 0300 303 1056 (answerphone available outside of opening times)

Email – safespaces@firstlight.org.uk 

Referring to Statutory Agencies

It is the policy of the Catholic Church in England and Wales to report all allegations of abuse to statutory authorities, regardless of whether the abuse occurred recently or in the past, or whether the accused person is living or deceased. If you are a victim or survivor and do not wish for your details to be shared with the statutory authorities, then the referral will be made anonymously giving the details of the accused person only.

Local Authority – Social Services

You can also report your concerns to your local children and adult services. Most local authorities run an out-of-hours helpline, details of which can be found on their website.

To find out who is your Local Authority, please use the following link https://www.gov.uk/find-local-council

External National helplines

• NSPCC:  0808 800 5000, free helpline. Call if you are worried about a child. Monday to Friday 8am – 10pm and at weekends 9am – 6pm.

• NSPCC Childline: 0800 1111, the line is free and open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call if you are a child or young person and are worried about anything – no problem is too big or too small.

• National Domestic Violence Helpline: 0808 2000 247, free phone 24-hours. Call if you are experiencing domestic abuse.

• Samaritans: 0808 164 0123, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Call if you feel you are struggling to cope and need someone to talk to.

• Hourglass (Action on Elder Abuse) : 0808 808 8141, free phone Monday to Friday 9-5pm. Free text 078 6005 2906. Support to an older person or anyone concerned about an older person who is at risk.

• The Survivors Trust: 0808 801 0818, free phone Monday to Thursday: 10am-12.30pm, 1.30pm-5.30pm & 6pm-8pm; Friday: 10am-12.30pm & 1.30pm-5.30pm; Saturday: 10am-1pm; Sunday: 5pm-8pm. Support and empower survivors of rape, sexual violence and childhood sexual abuse.

• NAPAC: 0808 801 0331, free phone Monday to Thursday: 10am – 9pm; Friday: 10am – 6pm; Saturday and Sunday – Closed. Offers support to adult survivors of all types of childhood abuse, including physical, sexual, emotional abuse or neglect.