As part of the Church of England, we recognise that the Church has sometimes failed to keep people safe in the way that everyone deserves and the Gospel requires. In our Diocese we are passionate about learning from past failures to make the necessary changes, so that we do everything we possibly can to keep people safe and respond well when things go wrong.
We urge and welcome anyone to give information or make a disclosure regarding church-related abuse. However, people with a lived-experience of abuse within the church may choose to seek help and support from agencies that are independent to our Diocese.
Contact details of agencies that are available to assist either on a 24-hour basis or through specialist helplines and services:
Safe Spaces
A free and independent service supporting survivors of church-related abuse delivered by the service providers, First Light.
Opening Hours
Monday to Friday 9am – 9pm
Saturday 9am – 1pm
Sunday 1 – 5pm
A member of the Safe Spaces team will make contact within 48 hours of making a contact request or referral. Find out more
Church of England Interim Support Scheme
Offering immediate help and support to survivors whose life circumstances are significantly affected by the abuse suffered, and the response to it. Find out more
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. Find out more
Survivors Voices
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. Find out more