Governance and Safeguarding

Safeguarding

If you think a child or adult is at immediate risk of harm or a crime has been committed, you should call 999. If you have any concerns around the welfare of a child or vulnerable adult, please contact our St Gregory’s Safeguarding Officers (see below for their details).

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. Among other things 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 of the Church of England's Safeguarding Policy: ‘Promoting a Safer Church’ and follow the practice guidance of the National Church.

  • We commit ourselves to nurture, protect and safeguard all our members, particularly children, young people and vulnerable adults. 

  • 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 vulnerable adults, 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 vulnerable 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 vulnerable adult. 

Every person who works within this church community will agree to abide by this policy and the guidelines established by St Gregory’s.

Safeguarding Contacts


If you have any concerns around the welfare of a child or vulnerable adult, please fill out this form and send it to St Gregory’s Safeguarding Officers at safeguarding@stgregorys.uk

St Gregory’s Safeguarding Officer 
Rev’d Anna Mason

St Gregory’s Safeguarding Officer 
Hedy Hodson

St Gregory’s Safeguarding Officer (Trustee Representative)
Rich Spens

Other contacts
If you would prefer to speak with someone outside of St Gregory’s, please contact the Diocese of Truro or one of the following agencies:

Truro Diocesan Safeguarding Officer: 01872 360037

Children: Multi-agency Referral Unit (MARU): 0300 1231 116

Adults: Cornwall Care 0300 1234 131 or 01208 251300

Domestic Abuse & Sexual Violence Support: First Light 0300 777 477 www.firstlight.org.uk 

If you are a young person and you feel unhappy about something happening to you, you can call Childline: 0800 11 11

Further guidance can be found via the Church of England:
1. Safeguarding Policies and Practice Guidance
2. Safeguarding Handbook

Governance

Good governance within the church context is crucial for maintaining transparency, accountability and solid ethical practice. It enables the church to live out its vision, mission and values while safeguarding the interests of the community. As a charity, we are governed by our board of Trustees. The role of a Trustee is explained further here. Our Trustee board meets five times a year and discusses all aspects of the church’s activities, finances, risks and future plans.

As an Anglican Church, St Gregory’s is also accountable to Bishops, Archdeacons and the Truro Diocese. The foundation of this is our BMO (Bishop’s Mission Order) which defines our vision and enables our mission in the locality of the Pydar Deanery. 

We also want to specifically highlight the following safeguards in place at St Gregory’s that have been recently reviewed and updated.

  • Experienced and empowered Trustee board, made up of highly skilled internal and external voices from a range of professional backgrounds.

  • Safeguarding Oversight and Training. St Gregory’s is supported by the Truro Diocese Safeguarding Team who provide formal training and ongoing support. Please use safeguarding@stgregorys.uk to contact our Safeguarding Officers. The Diocese of Truro Safeguarding team can also be contacted at safeguardingconcerns@truro.anglican.org

  • St Gregory’s Complaints Policy. This is a way to report any concerns about St Gregory’s. We welcome complaints, compliments, and comments as every piece of feedback helps us to understand what we are doing well and where there are opportunities for us to learn and improve. If we have failed to meet the high standards, we set for ourselves then we would like to know what has happened, to deal with the situation as quickly as possible and to take action to make sure that the same thing does not happen again.