At St Mary’s we are committed to ensuring that all those who come into contact with our church have a safe and positive experience. The care and protection of children, young people and adults involved in church activities is the responsibility of everyone who participates in the life of our church. As well as the information on this page, there cards at the back of church which you are welcome to pick up which give useful information including warning signs to look out for, contact numbers and websites for information and support.
- Download our Safeguarding policy
- Download our Domestic Abuse policy
- Recruitment of ex-offenders policy
If you are concerned that someone you know is at risk of, or is being abused, or presents a risk to others, please seek advice from a Safeguarding Advisor or, if necessary, report the matter to the local authority (social care services) or the police without delay.
- Hilary Stevenson (St Mary’s Safeguarding Officer): 07840 564221
- Jeremy Hirst (Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser): 01727 818107 or 07867 350886
- Dave Adams (Assistant Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser): 01727 818104 or 07469 351357
The Parochial Church Council has approved the following guidelines:
- Duty of care
- Best practice guidance for working with children
- Best practice for working with vulnerable adults
- Lone working
- First Aid and administration of medication
- Guidelines for the appropriate use of touch
- Transport – private cars and minibuses
- Bellringers – general safeguarding statement
- Model safeguarding provision to attach to a Hire of Church Premises agreement
- Safer working practice with children, young people and vulnerable adults
- Inappropriate behaviour by children, young people or vulnerable adults
- Unaccompanied children, young people or vulnerable adults at church services
- Safe use of images policy
Other information and help
There is a considerable amount of information available from the website of the Diocese of St Albans.
Childline: 0800 1111
Family Lives: 0808 800 2222
NAPAC: 0808 801 0331
National Careline: 0800 0699 784
National Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0808 2000 247
NSPCC: 0808 800 5000
Respect Phoneline: 0808 8010 327
Samaritans: 116 123
Stop It Now: 0808 1000 900
We commit to processing all personal data collected by us in accordance with applicable Data Protection laws for the purpose of our ministry in the community.
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At St Mary’s we welcome and support the principles of the report ‘Removing Barriers’, designed to enable those with access needs (physical needs and learning needs) to worship God in fellowship with other members of the community.
St Mary’s is proud to be an Inclusive Church.
In 2017 the United Church Council agreed that St Mary’s register with Inclusive Church and adopted its statement of belief:
We believe in inclusive Church – church which does not discriminate, on any level, on grounds of economic power, gender, mental health, physical ability, race or sexuality. We believe in Church which welcomes and serves all people in the name of Jesus Christ; which is scripturally faithful; which seeks to proclaim the Gospel afresh for each generation; and which, in the power of the Holy Spirit, allows all people to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Jesus Christ.