St Luke’s is committed to safeguarding children, young people and adults at risk of harm to worship and grow safely in Christ.
Our vision is to create a safe environment for everyone to take part in our gatherings, events and activities and to follow the correct procedures to ensure everyone is protected to the best of our ability.
Every person has a value and dignity which comes directly from the creation of male and female in God’s own image and likeness. Christians see this potential as fulfilled by God’s re-creation of us in Christ. This implies a duty to value all people as bearing the image of God and therefore to protect them from harm.
We accept and endorse the principles set out in Safeguarding in the Diocese of London.
We commit ourselves to nurture, protect and safeguard all our members, particularly children, young people and adults at risk of harm.
We recognise that safeguarding is the responsibility of the whole church community.
We undertake to exercise proper care in the selection, appointment, training and support of those working in both paid and voluntary positions with children or adults at risk of harm, including the use of Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) disclosures and making appropriate referrals to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
We will respond without delay to concerns or allegations that a child or adult may have been harmed, cooperating with the police and social care services in any investigation.
We will challenge any abuse of power by anyone in a position of trust.
We will seek to offer pastoral care and support to anyone who has suffered abuse, developing with them appropriate pastoral support.
We will seek to offer pastoral care and support, including supervision and referral to the proper authorities, to any member of our church community known to have offended against a child, young person or adult.
Our Safeguarding Officer is the first person to speak to if you have any concerns around the welfare of a child or adult at risk.
You can contact the SO via email:
To report a safeguarding concern, please fill in this form.
If you would prefer to talk to someone outside the church please contact Michelle Burns, the London Diocesan Safeguarding Advisor on 020 7932 1224 or michelle.burns@london.anglican.org.