Safeguarding

Promoting a Safer Church

At Knowle Parish Church we are committed to safeguarding children, young people and adults.
Safeguarding Poster Dec 2022

The following policy was agreed at the Knowle Parochial Church Council (KPCC) meeting held on 27th September 2023.

KPCC agrees to adopt the House of Bishop’s safeguarding policy, Promoting a Safer Church 2017, and all of the accompanying safeguarding practice guidance and The Church of England – Birmingham’s procedures for their implementation.

In accordance with the Church of England Safeguarding Policy our church is committed to:
• Promoting a safer environment and culture.
• Safely recruiting and supporting all those with any responsibility related to children, young people and vulnerable adults within the church.
• Responding promptly to every safeguarding concern or allegation.
• Caring pastorally for victims/survivors of abuse and other affected persons.
• Caring pastorally for those who are the subject of concerns or allegations of abuse and other affected persons.
• Responding to those that may pose a present risk to others.

The Parish will:
1. Create a safe and caring place for all.
2. Have a named Parish Safeguarding Co-ordinator (PSC) to work with the incumbent and the PCC to implement policy and procedures.
3. Safely recruit, train and support all those with any responsibility for children, young people and adults to have the confidence and skills to recognise and respond to abuse.
4. Ensure that there is appropriate insurance cover for all activities involving children and adults undertaken in the name of the parish.
5. Display in church premises and on the Parish website the details of who to contact if there are safeguarding concerns or support needs.
6. Listen to and take seriously all those who disclose abuse.
7. Take steps to protect children and adults when a safeguarding concern of any kind arises, following House of Bishops guidance, including notifying the Bishop’s Safeguarding Adviser (BSA) and statutory agencies immediately.
8. Offer support to victims/survivors of abuse regardless of the type of abuse, when or where it occurred.
9. Care for and monitor any member of the church community who may pose a risk to children and adults whilst maintaining appropriate confidentiality and the safety of all parties.
10. Ensure that health and safety policy, procedures and risk assessments are in place and that these are reviewed annually.
11. Review the implementation of the Safeguarding Policy, Procedures and Practices at least annually.

Each person who works within this church community will agree to abide by this policy and the guidelines established by this church.

This church appoints Ruth Lancaster as the Parish Safeguarding Co-ordinator.

Incumbent: Geoff Lanham
Churchwardens: Roderick Street and Elizabeth Welton

Date: 27th September 2023

A copy of our policy can be downloaded by clicking here.

Planning your Visit

A Warm Hello

Whether you are thinking of coming to church for the first time because you are interested in exploring faith, whether you’re new to the area and looking for a church, or whether you’re investigating baptism or marriage, you are really welcome. Our vision is to be “A house of God’s light for all peoples and generations,” and we really hope you’ll get to experience some of that light.
Screenshot 2023-09-25 at 11.20

You’ll find we have different styles of services that reflect our diverse congregation. Click here to find out which of our services might suit you. When you arrive you should be met by a member of our Welcome Team who will be wearing a Welcome badge. Please do make yourself known to them so that they can let you have a Welcome Pack and, if you like, can introduce you to someone to sit next to in the service.

What is there for my children?
If you are coming along with children, you might find our 9.30 Family Service most suitable. Most weeks, the children start in the church with their accompanying adult (we really value worshipping God altogether as an inter-generational community.) After around 15 minutes, children go out to their own Sunday groups. More details of these age groups can be found on our Children and Young People page. On the first Sunday of the month, we hold either an All Age or All In service.

How do I get to know people in such a big church?
While you will get to know some people if you come to a church service, it is often at smaller gatherings which happen during the week that you will get to know people better. Click here to read about the other groups which run during the week and here for activities that go on at the church.

How can I get involved?
Click here to read about the many ways in which you can get involved in the life of the church. Getting involved is another great way of way of getting to know people. We’d love KPC to be a church where we grow spiritually by contributing.

We hope very much that you will like what you taste and soon feel at home in our church.

Best wishes,
Geoff Lanham, Vicar
Geoff Lanham BCU 2022 IMG 4089

Get in touch with us to plan your visit

If you would like to come and visit the church beforehand you are more than welcome! Get in touch and we can arrange a time that suits you.

Name:

Telephone:

Email Address:
Comments / Questions or anything you would like to say?

Next, we will contact you by email to say hello and help arrange anything necessary for your visit.