Resources & Materials

The last few months have been devastating for the reputation of The Church of England's capacity to safeguard children and adults at risk.

People have been harmed and, while the Archbishop of Canterbury has resigned, many view that those responsible have not been held to account.

As revelations of the Church of England's failure to safeguard people from the offending of John Smyth have dominated the headlines, many have criticised the approach taken by senior leaders in the Church. 

The Church of England's safeguarding arrangements have been the focus of independent case reviews, intense media coverage, and detailed forensic analysis by IICSA (Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse).

More recently the Chair and Secretary of IICSA, Professor Alexis Jay and John O'Brien CBE, published the 'Future of Church Safeguarding' report, recommending radical change to the structure and organisation of the Church of England's safeguarding functions.

A version of those recommendations are due for debate by members of the General Synod, the Church's national assembly, in February. 

Where does the Church of England go from here?

Our Panel is chaired by Steve Reeves, Executive Director of Global Safeguarding, and includes:

•  Dame Jasvinder Sanghera, Former Independent Safeguarding Board Survivor Advocate
•  John O'Brien, Former Secretary of IICSA and Co-author of the Future of Church Safeguarding
•  Rev Matthew Ineson, Survivor of Church-related Child Sexual Abuse
•  Gavin Drake, Director of The Jill Saward Organisation and former Member of the General Synod of the Church of England