Safeguarding

St. Mary’s Barnes is committed to ensuring everyone can worship, learn and work in a safe environment. We take the safeguarding and care of children and vulnerable adults very seriously.

Our Parish Safeguarding Officers are Elisabeth Munden and Natasha Mold. They oversee all our safeguarding arrangements. They can be contacted via [email protected]

If you have any concerns about the safety or welfare of a child or adult, please speak to  Elisabeth or Natasha who can also be contacted via the Church Office on 0208 741 5422.

Our Churchwardens are Stephen Cox ([email protected]) and Fouki Heller ([email protected]).

We work closely with the Southwark Diocese to ensure best Safeguarding practice at all times. We undertake regular Safeguarding audits and work within the Diocese Safeguarding guidelines set out in A Safe Church. The St Mary’s Safeguarding Policy is reviewed regularly by the Parochial Church Council (PCC) and Parish Safeguarding Officers (PSOs) and Safeguarding is itemised at every general PCC meeting to ensure the policy is being well implemented

Concerns about children, young people and vulnerable adults are diligently and promptly responded to according to our procedures, recognising the sensitivity it may hold for those involved. Our recruitment process for those working with children, young people or vulnerable adults includes DBS check and induction.

The Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser is Kate Singleton, she heads a team based at Trinity House in Southwark.  A member of this team can be contacted on 020 7939 9423 (office hours) or 07982 279713 (out of hours). If you would like to speak to someone outside of St. Mary’s, please contact the Diocesan team. See contact list here

If you have immediate concerns about the safety of someone, please contact the police on 999 (emergency) or 101 (non-emergency) and your local authority Children or Adults Services.

The links for Richmond Borough Social care are shown below:

Richmond Adult Safeguarding

Richmond Children and Family Safeguarding      Call 020 8547 5008 from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, or 020 8770 5000 out of hours.

Natasha Mold

[email protected]

Websites and Helplines

Childline: 0800 1111  www.childline.org.uk 

NSPCC Child Protection Helpline: 0808 800 5000 www.nspcc.org.uk

Action on Elder Abuse Helpline: 0808 808 8141    www.elderabuse.org.uk

National Domestic Violence Helpline: 0808 2000 247  www.nationaldomesticviolencehelpline.org.uk

Victim Support: 0333 250 4297   www.victimsupport.org.uk

Womensaid: 0808 2000 247       www.womensaid.org.uk

Alcoholics Anonymous: 0800 9177 650       www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk

The Samaritans: 116 123   www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help-you/contact-us