Key sections:
- Reporting serious incidents to the Charity Commission
- Safeguarding Training
- Parish Dashboard
- Guidance & Policies for parishes
- Past Case Review 2
- Parish Safeguarding Annual Checklist – 2019
- Parish Safeguarding Officers (Safeguarding Nominated People): advice
- Safer Recruitment, DBS forms, applications and changes
- Safeguarding Privacy Notice
- Modern Slavery
News & training
- Leadership Safeguarding Training- 7 November & 14 November
07/11/2023 - Leadership Safeguarding Training- 21 September & 28 September
21/09/2023 - Mental Health First Aider – 2 day training course
17/09/2023 - Raising awareness of domestic abuse
14/09/2023 - Register your church for Safeguarding Sunday
25/08/2023 - Safeguarding – Basic Awareness & Foundation
17/06/2023 - Recognising the difference a volunteer can make
05/06/2023 - Stand up to domestic abuse: Message from Bishop Rachel
22/05/2023
Our Safeguarding Strategy
We will do all we can to ensure that our worshipping communities offer the safest places for children and vulnerable people.
Read more; full strategy →
Some brilliant organisations:
Mind UK →
Restored →
Clewer →
NSPCC →
Cycles of abuse: ‘Stop It Now’ →
Safeguarding Adults, Glos
Childline →
We will do all we can to ensure that our worshipping communities offer the safest places for children and vulnerable people. Our office is based in Gloucester.
Latest Newsletter
18/09/2023 – Safeguarding News – September 2023
10/07/2023 – Safeguarding News – July 2023
19/06/2023 – Safeguarding News – June 2023
26/05/2023 – Safeguarding News – May 2023
Who’s Who

Judith Knight
Director of People, Pastoral and Safeguarding
07801 750664
ku.gr1695298572o.coi1695298572dsolg1695298572@thgi1695298572nkj1695298572
Judith leads on all Safer Recruitment issues

Brett Riches
Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser
01452 835516 (Office hours) / 07944 680320 (Out of hours)*
ku.gr1695298572o.coi1695298572dsolg1695298572@gnid1695298572rauge1695298572fas1695298572
Brett works Monday to Thursday. He is the diocesan lead for all safeguarding casework and advice/guidance on safeguarding matters generally.
*Out of hours cover on weekends is provided by thirtyone:eight – 0303 003 1111

Melanie Biscoe
Assistant Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser
01452 835516 (Office hours) / 07944 680320 (Out of hours)*
ku.gr1695298572o.coi1695298572dsolg1695298572@gnid1695298572rauge1695298572fas1695298572
Melanie is our Assistant DSA and works full time. Melanie triages safeguarding enquiries and calls, and also has a lead safeguarding connection role with Sportily.
*Out of hours cover on weekends is provided by thirtyone:eight – 0303 003 1111

Becca Faal
Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser
07401 197280
ku.gr1695298572o.coi1695298572dsolg1695298572@laaf1695298572acceb1695298572
Becca is the Diocesan Strategic Lead for all our safeguarding training and learning. With the national framework for learning pathways and creativity in having spotlight areas to raise awareness about, working with partner organisations and bringing her own professional experience, Becca works Weds-Friday each week.

Laura Evans
Safeguarding Training Administrator
01452 835531
ku.gr1695298572o.coi1695298572dsolg1695298572@gnin1695298572iartg1695298572nidra1695298572ugefa1695298572s1695298572
Laura works with Becca as our safeguarding training administration and can answer your queries about how to log on to the national Church of England training portal for the online Basic and Foundation courses.
In addition Laura links directly with all our clergy, PTO clergy and Readers and automatically books them on to refresher training at the appropriate time to keep our records accurate and issues the completion certificates when training has been completed.

Kate Peake
DBS and Safer Recruitment Administrator
07401 284087
ku.gr1695298572o.coi1695298572dsolg1695298572@ekae1695298572pk1695298572
Kate works weekdays except Weds, from 9.30am to 4pm. She administers our processes including DBS, and our three year rolling recheck process. Please email Kate for any of your Safer Recruitment or DBS related questions.
Reporting abuse and finding support
NSPCC helpline for Children and Adults: 0800 80 20 20
This is a special helpline that has been set up for the Past Case review 2 for those who have been affected either directly or indirectly by abuse in a church or cathedral setting. Calls will be handled sensitively and confidentially.
We understand reporting abuse may be very difficult and distressing to you and it may add to your hurt by our not being able to immediately assist you. Therefore here are the contact details of other agencies that are available to assist either on a 24-hour basis or through specialist helplines and services. Finding support contacts
The Safeguarding Team is available at all times to help support you and provide advice and guidance. Please see contact details above.
Diocese of Gloucester: Supporting people who have been or are experiencing abuse
Chair of the Advisory Panel
Introducing our new Independent Chair of the Diocesan Safeguarding Advisory Panel, Debbie Innes-Turville.
Reporting serious incidents to the Charity Commission
If you have a complaint or concern about how we have dealt with a safeguarding issue, please see the following policy and procedure documents below:
Safeguarding Complaints Procedure
Complaints policy GDBF updated 2021
Whistleblowing policy and procedure
Videos