Dear Brothers and Sisters,
It falls to me as Bishop to make our Annual Safeguarding Statement and to renew our commitment to the support of survivors of all forms of abuse.
As always, our goal is to nurture a culture of care within our Diocese by demonstrating a shared commitment to creating safe church environments, offering shelter, support, and compassion to all those affected by abuse.
Our safeguarding procedures are there to assist in creating this culture of care. These procedures include our Safe Recruitment Policy, which makes sure volunteers do not start their ministries until all necessary checks are completed, and our Mandatory Reporting Policy which ensures all allegations of abuse are reported to the police.
Safeguarding training plays a vital role in equipping all volunteers, group leaders, and Parish Safeguarding Coordinators with the knowledge to report all safeguarding issues appropriately.
Our clergy also receive training in safeguarding procedures and associated topics. Whilst these processes are crucial it is equally important that our culture of care encourages all in our parishes and communities to be vigilant, care for each other and pass on any safeguarding concerns.
I wish to give my thanks to Roger Bromage and members of the Diocesan Safeguarding Advisory Group whose knowledge and expertise continues to guide us in our aim to ensure our people, places and activities are safe within a culture of transparency and understanding.
Additionally, I wish to express my sincere gratitude to Linda Gourlay, our Diocesan Safeguarding Advisor, to clergy, parish safeguarding coordinators and volunteers for their ongoing work and commitment to safeguarding.
We humbly reach out to all survivors of abuse within the Catholic Church. There is no time limit for those who have suffered to come forward to share their experience of abuse. We pledge our commitment to offer the best support possible to anyone who needs our help.
I ask that you all remember survivors of abuse in your prayers as we continue to pray for their healing and peace.
With every good wish,
Yours in Christ
Bishop Andrew McKenzie
