The Parish Safeguarding Handbook states that the incumbent and PCC “will ensure that safeguarding arrangements are clearly visible on the front page of the parish website”.

The purpose of this webpage is to clarify both the minimum requirements and the best practice for parish websites.

Minimum Requirements

Safeguarding arrangements

A parish website must have a section labelled ‘Safeguarding’ which, as a minimum, includes:

  • The contact details of a local person who can offer safeguarding help and who knows how to respond appropriately to a safeguarding concern or allegation*; and
  • The contact details of the Diocesan Safeguarding Advisor

*This could be a phone number (or email address) of the Parish Safeguarding Officer, the incumbent, or someone else who knows how to respond to a safeguarding concern or allegation. It could be their personal contact details or a dedicated ‘safeguarding’ phone number or email address.

.…are clearly visible

There are two choices:

  1. To display the safeguarding arrangements on the front page; or
  2. To provide a ‘Safeguarding’ link on the front page.

With option 2, the ‘Safeguarding’ link should be displayed in a prominent location (not hidden behind a menu). Furthermore, the safeguarding arrangements should be clearly visible once the link is clicked (without the need to click anything else).

…on the front page

If a parish has its own website, the ‘front page’ means the home page.

If a parish shares a website with other parishes, there are two choices. The ‘front page’ can mean:

  • The home page of the website; or
  • The main page for the parish.

…of the parish website

The Parish Safeguarding Handbook specifically refers to a “parish website” (i.e. a dedicated website for a parish or a group of parishes).

The above ‘minimum requirements’ do not apply to A Church Near You, community websites or social media pages. However, these are covered by the ‘Best Practice’ guidance on the next page.

Best Practice

The aim of the Church of England is to make churches safer and also to create safe places where people feel able to disclose abuse beyond the church (e.g. at home, school or work). In order to facilitate this, parishes may want to consider how they can move beyond the minimum requirements and embrace best practice.

Other information on parish websites

In addition to the ‘minimum requirements’, consider displaying:

  • “Call 999 if a child or adult is in immediate danger of significant or serious harm”
  • A link to the parish safeguarding policy
  • A link to the safeguarding section of the diocesan website
  • National helplines:
    NSPCC – 0808 800 5000
    Childline – 0800 1111
    Stop it Now – 0808 1000 900
    NAPAC – 0808 801 0331
    Samaritans – 116 123
    Family Lives – 0808 800 2222
    National Domestic Violence Helpline – 0808 2000 247
    Action on Elder Abuse – 0808 808 8141

A Church Near You

Every parish has its own section on A Church Near You which can be updated by a local editor.

Whether or not the church has its own website, consider adding a ‘Safeguarding’ page to the parish section on A Church Near You.

Community websites

If the church has a page on a community website, consider displaying some safeguarding information there too.

Social media

If the church has a page on Facebook or other social media sites, consider adding some safeguarding information or a safeguarding link.

If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact your Diocesan Safeguarding Advisor.