The Charity Commission has contacted the Church of England as it plans to make safeguarding changes for its network of church charities following the Makin Review.
Published in November, the Makin Review into the abuse committed by John Smyth led to the resignation of Archbishop Justin Welby.
Members of the Church of England’s General Synod are scheduled to debate two new possible models for independent safeguarding at their upcoming meeting in London from 10 to 14 February.
Ahead of this meeting, commission chief executive David Holdsworth has written to all Synod members who are trustees of church charities to draw attention to their legal duties to ensure that safeguarding concerns are not able to be ignored or covered up.
Safeguarding proposals
Synod members will consider two new ways of responding to concerns, both of which would involve safeguarding work being scrutinised by a second external body.
In one model, safeguarding officers currently working in dioceses, cathedrals and the Church of England would transfer to work for a new organisation.
The alternative proposal is that diocesan and cathedral officers would remain with their current employers but most national staff would move to a new body.
Synod members will also be asked to approve new safeguarding codes of practice including guidance on managing allegations.
Joanne Grenfell, the Church of England’s lead bishop for safeguarding, said: “The proposals on safeguarding independence are the product of a huge amount of work and feedback from across the church including from victims and survivors and it is right that Synod now makes the decision on which model to pursue.”
Commission letter
While the commission does not regulate the Synod itself, as it is not a charity, it has engaged with Church of England authorities following the Makin Review as their decisions impact on Anglican church charities.
The commission met senior Church of England representatives including the Archbishop of York earlier this month.
Following this, Holdsworth wrote to church charity trustees to draw attention to their legal duty to take reasonable steps to protect from harm people who come into contact with them.
He encouraged trustees to consider the extent to which any safeguarding proposals “will enable you to comply with your duty to take reasonable steps to keep all who come into contact with your charity safe”.
The commission vowed to continue its regulatory engagement to ensure trustees of Church of England charities are able to fulfil their duties.
‘Now is the time for action’
Holdsworth said: “The Makin Review underlined concerns about the sufficiency of changes made by the Church of England in implementing improvements to safeguarding.
“The commission has been in active dialogue with national church bodies to monitor their response to the Makin Review.
“As part of that engagement, we have made clear that safeguarding-related matters to be considered at the forthcoming General Synod must fully address any structures or processes which may prevent trustees of charities within the church from fulfilling their legal safeguarding duties.
“We have made clear the time for review has passed, and now is the time for action. We have also made clear our regulatory expectations that the necessary changes must be implemented as soon as possible, with the church using its legal powers if needed to expedite the action required.”
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