Safeguarding

We are committed to providing a safe environment for children, young people and adults with care and support needs. Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility.

Our Core Principles

• Safety First: We work to prevent harm in every church activity.
• Respect & Dignity: Everyone is valued and has the right to protection.
• Zero Tolerance of Abuse: All forms of abuse are taken seriously.

Oversight & Accountability

• Elders and trustees are responsible for safeguarding across all church activities.
• All staff and volunteers follow our safeguarding policy and code of conduct.
• Our designated lead for safeguarding is Matt Hutchings — contact: pastor@woodfordec.org.uk

Safe People & Practice

• Safer recruitment and DBS checks where appropriate.
• Mandatory safeguarding training and supervision.
• Clear guidelines for behaviour, communication and managing activities safely.

Responding to Concerns

• Any concern or allegation is acted on immediately.
• Concerns are reported through the proper channels and referred to statutory services when needed.
• Confidentiality is respected on a need-to-know basis.

All our groups and activities are run in line with our safeguarding policy, which is available upon request. This page provides a summary only.