Our Family Holy Communion service on 17th November marked ‘Safeguarding Sunday’. This came at the end of a week when sadly, the Church of England had been in the news after the publication of the Makin Report.
We watched a video message from Bishop Michael in response to recent events which can be viewed by following this YouTube link.
Safeguarding Sunday provides a time when churches think about how they are supporting those who have been hurt or harmed and highlight and celebrate all the good work that is being done, in the majority of places, to protect vulnerable people and create safer cultures and communities for all both now and in the future. These themes were reflected in our prayers, reading and worship songs. Our reflection took the form of a poem especially produced for Safeguarding Sunday which was both thought provoking and challenging. If you would like to watch it, you can find it in the Church News section of our website https://winsandchurches.org.uk/church-news/
We are fortunate to have two dedicated Parish Safeguarding Officers in our benefice who ensure that all our staff and volunteers undergo the necessary checks and have training that is up to date and relevant to their roles. They also deal promptly with any issues that may arise.