Safeguarding is a task and commitment to which every member of the Church is called. Safeguarding is part of proclaiming the Gospel, for in all our efforts to care and protect the most vulnerable we give witness to Christ.

+ Mark Davies, Bishop of Shrewsbury

The Elliott Review and what it said

The Elliott Review of 2020 looked at the Catholic Church's safeguarding work and put the voice of victims and survivors at the centre. The conclusion was that a Church that listens to survivors is a Church that learns. A Church that does not, repeats its failures.

The Diocese of Shrewsbury accepts that review and its findings. Survivors are treated as people the diocese needs to learn from, not as a problem to be managed. Engagement is approached with humility and compassion, and survivors' wellbeing remains central in every conversation.

What Safe Spaces does

Safe Spaces is an independent telephone, email and webchat support service for anyone, of any faith or none, who has been abused through their relationship with the Catholic or Anglican Church in England and Wales. It is run separately from the Church to protect the independence of the service, but the costs are met by the Church.

The service is staffed by trained advocates with experience of trauma. They will listen. They will not pressure anyone to take a particular course of action. They can help with reporting if that is what you want, but they will also help you simply by being there.

How to contact Safe Spaces

• Telephone: 0300 303 1056
• Email: safespaces@firstlight.org.uk
• Website: safespacesenglandandwales.org.uk

Lines are open Monday to Friday during the day and into the evening, with reduced hours at the weekend. The full opening times are on the website. If you cannot talk by phone, the email and webchat options are there.

Reporting to the Diocese

You do not have to use Safe Spaces. If you would rather raise something directly with the diocese, the Diocesan Safeguarding Office is the route.

• Email: safeguarding@dioceseofshrewsbury.org
• Telephone: 0151 652 9855, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
• Safeguarding Coordinator: Andrew O'Brien, andrew.obrien@dioceseofshrewsbury.org
• Address: Curial Offices, 2 Park Road South, Prenton, Wirral CH43 4UX

If a child or adult is in immediate danger, ring 999. If the matter is urgent but not an emergency, ring 101. Tell the diocese after the statutory authorities know.

What happens when you report

The Safeguarding Office will listen and write down what you tell them. With your consent they will pass information to the police and to Local Authority Social Care. They will be in touch with you to explain what is happening, what your options are, and what support is available. You are in control of how much further you want this to go.

Survivors who have come forward describe the process as difficult but worth doing. The diocese owes its commitment to safeguarding today to the people who were brave enough to speak when no one wanted to listen.

Survivor Engagement Group

The diocese is developing a Survivor Engagement Group so that the voices of those affected by abuse have a permanent influence on how safeguarding is run in Shrewsbury. If you would like to be part of that, contact the Safeguarding Office.