PREVENTION: safeguarding digital shorts
A second series of Speak Out, Stay Safe digital shorts has been produced, unpacking the theme of Prevention as one of the five National Standards of the Church of England
The videos highlight the proactive measures taken to stop abuse, neglect and harm and are designed to be used in conjunction with the Speak Out, Stay Safe posters which are being distributed for display in parishes and community settings around the diocese.
The videos are being shared, one at a time, in the weekly diocesan ebulletin and on social media in the run up to Safeguarding Sunday in November. They try to explain, in real terms, how safeguarding policies, procedures, resources and training help to make our places safer and protect vulnerable individuals, both children and adults, from potential risks.
Series 2: Video 1 - TEAM
In our teams, we follow the ‘Safer Recruitment and People Management House of Bishop’s Guidelines’ for recruiting and employing our staff and volunteers. What that means is there are processes and procedures in place to make sure that paid and unpaid people taking official roles go through the appropriate checks and references.
Series 2: Video 2 - RESOURCES
We provide a range of good materials and methods to promote safeguarding to all audiences and age groups. For example, our Speak Out, Stay Safe campaign includes age-appropriate printed posters and contact cards which have been produced in consultation with children and young people, and we’re already working on our next campaign with vulnerable adults and those with different abilities and language needs.
Series 3: Video 3 - LISTENING
We consider the needs, experiences and voices of children, vulnerable adults and survivors in prevention planning to make our church safer. For example, we work with our network of children and young peoples’ workers across the diocese, and have regular listening exercises in our schools. We listen to all, including victims and survivors, in our Executive and Advisory groups to build in lived experiences of everyone, at all stages of our safeguarding delivery.
Series 4: Video 4- PHYSICAL BOUNDARIES
We understand appropriate boundaries. For example, we have guidelines for sharing The Peace in our worship to reflect on how physical contact may be received and accepted.
For copies of the PREVENTION poster and the series of Speak Out, Stay Safe Safeguarding Posters for your church please email speakoutstaysafe@chester.anglican.org
4 August 2025