Contact us
As a Diocesan Safeguarding Team, we want to give as many options for contact with us as possible. You can make contact in any of the following ways:
- Email us via: ku.gr1731696855o.coi1731696855dsolg1731696855@gnid1731696855rauge1731696855fas1731696855
- Call us on 01452 835516 (office hours) or 07944 680320 (out of hours)
- Ask an advocate or other third party to make contact with our team initially, so we can talk in general, anonymised terms about your case and how we might best make contact and respond to you
- In person at Church House in Gloucester or at a neutral alternative venue, with an advocate or other third-party present if wanted
- Via Zoom or Teams, with or without your camera on, to enable you to feel as safe as possible
- By post: Diocese of Gloucester Safeguarding Team, Church House, College Green, Gloucester, GL1 2LY
In addition to the above, contact can also come via the Church of England’s National Safeguarding Team (NST), who can be emailed at: gro.d1731696855nalgn1731696855efohc1731696855ruhc@1731696855gnidr1731696855augef1731696855as1731696855.
What Victims/Survivors can expect
We want to support anyone who has experienced abuse. We are aware that people disclose abuse that has taken place both inside and outside of church settings.
This document is a summary of responding well to victims and survivors of abuse and sets out what you can expect from the Church.
Responding Well – a guide for victims and survivors of abuse
We have also put together a short document which sets out how we will respond as a diocese.
Supporting those experiencing or who have experienced abuse
Other sources of support
Safe Spaces is a free and independent support service for anyone who has experienced abuse in relation to the Church of England, the Church in Wales, or the Catholic Church of England and Wales.
Accessing support in the Church of England
The Church of England’s Interim Support Scheme offers immediate help and support to survivors whose life circumstances are significantly affected by the abuse suffered, and the response to it.
- MACSAS supports women and men who have been sexually abused, as children or adults, by ministers, clergy or others under the guise of the Church. They support both Survivors who have remained within their Christian communities and those who have left.
- Survivors Voices is a survivor-led organisation that runs peer support groups for victim-survivors of all kinds of abuse, including faith-based abuse. It has a newsletter and other special events for survivors of abuse experienced in churches and other faith-based communities.
- Replenished Life is an independent charity that provides practical advice and support for those who have experienced abuse and trauma within faith and faith organisations providing a range of options.
- Thirtyone:eight is a leading independent, non-denominational Christian safeguarding charity providing a wide range of support to over 10,000 organisations across the UK. They exist to help create safer places for all, including an open access helpline.
- Age UK is the leading charity for older people. You can contact Age UK for help, information and advice on 0800 678 1602, 8am-7pm, 365 days a year.
- Childline is a free, private and confidential service designed to help anyone under the age of 19 with any issue they’re going through. You can talk to their counsellors by calling 0800 1111, email or using a 1-2-1 chat.
- Hourglass (formerly Action on Elder Abuse) works to challenge and prevent the abuse of older people. Call their helpline on 0808 808 8141 or email gro.s1731696855salgr1731696855uoher1731696855aew@e1731696855nilpl1731696855eh1731696855.
- If you’re worried about a child or young person, you can contact the NSPCC Helplineon 0808 800 5000 for support and advice for free.
- There are services that can help if you’ve been sexually assaulted, raped or abused. These include Rape Crisis, Women’s Aid, Victim Support, The Survivors Trustand Male Survivors Partnership.
- Refuge’s 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline(0808 2000 247) supports women fleeing domestic abuse and other forms of gender-based violence.
- Samaritans are available 24 hours a day for anyone who’s struggling to cope, who needs someone to listen without judgement or pressure. Call 116 123 for free.
- If you identify as LGBT+and have experienced abuse and violence, you can call Galop – the LGBT+ anti-abuse charity – on 0800 999 5428 for emotional and practical support.
- Male victims of domestic abuse can call Men’s Advice Line on 0808 8010 327 or ManKind on 0182 3334 244 for information and support.
- NAPAC supports adult survivors of childhood abuse. Call their free, confidential support line on 0808 801 0331.
Get involved
If you are a victim/survivor and would like to contribute to our ongoing development and learning about how we can better engage with and support those affected by abuse, please get in touch with us at ku.gr1731696855o.coi1731696855dsolg1731696855@gnid1731696855rauge1731696855fas1731696855 or you can contact Debbie Innes-Turnill, Independent Chair of the Diocesan Safeguarding Advisory Panel (DSAP) at ku.gr1731696855o.coi1731696855dsolg1731696855@drao1731696855bgsfo1731696855riahc1731696855 to discuss options and opportunities to get involved.
