Chapter has appointed Chris Milton as the Designated Safeguarding Lead to monitor and promote sound safeguarding practice throughout the cathedral. Chris is a member of the cathedral’s Safeguarding Management Group which meets regularly to discuss safeguarding issues. Contact Chris on 01432 374 201 or [email protected]

Lay Canon and Chapter member Dr Duncan Jones is the Safeguarding Lead for Chapter and holds an advisory position giving guidance and support to Chapter and the wider cathedral community.  Duncan has a background in education and school inspection. He is a member of the Cathedral’s Safeguarding Management Group and he can be contacted via email [email protected]

Carl Steventon is the Diocesan Safeguarding Officer for the Diocese of Hereford and Hereford Cathedral. He provides advice, information and support and liaises with both voluntary and statutory bodies. His role within the cathedral is to advise the Safeguarding Leads on all aspects of safeguarding relating to both children and adults and to ensure appropriate procedures are followed. Carl attends and contributes to the Cathedral's Safeguarding Management Group. Contact Carl on [email protected] or 07593 817717, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Karen Evans is employed as HR & Safeguarding Officer, responsible for day to day aspects of safeguarding and Safer Recruitment at the cathedral. Karen is also a member of the Safeguarding Management Group. Karen can be contacted on 01432 374254 or [email protected]

The cathedral has appointed David Owen as Volunteer Liaison Officer; he coordinates the cathedral volunteers and ensures that Safer Recruitment is applied to all voluntary appointments. David is also a member of the Safeguarding Management Group and can be contacted via email [email protected].

IF YOU THINK THAT A CHILD OR ADULT IS IN IMMEDIATE DANGER CALL THE POLICE ON 999

The Chapter of Hereford Cathedral is committed to:

• A respectful Christian ministry that ensures the pastoral care and nurture of all children, young people and adults.
• The safeguarding and protection of all children, young people and vulnerable adults who have contact with the cathedral.
• The establishing of a safe, caring community that provides a loving environment in which there is a culture of informed vigilance as to the possibility and dangers of abuse.

We will carefully select and train all those with any responsibility in the cathedral community, in line with safer recruitment principles, including the use of criminal records disclosures and registration with the relevant vetting and barring scheme.

We will respond without delay to every complaint made which suggests that an adult, child or young person may have been harmed, cooperating with the police and local authority in any investigation.

We will seek to work with anyone who has suffered abuse, developing with him or her an appropriate ministry of informed pastoral care.

We will seek to challenge any abuse of power, especially by anyone who is in a position of trust.

We will seek to offer pastoral care and support, including supervision and referral to the proper authorities, to any member of the cathedral community who is known to have offended against a child, young person or vulnerable adult.

In all these principles we will follow current legislation, guidance and recognised best practice.

A copy of our complete safeguarding policy can be downloaded here (updated November 2023).

Church of England Past Case Review 2 Report

The Church of England has completed a review of more than 75,000 files, some dating back to the 1940s, with the publication today of its national Past Cases Review 2 (PCR2) report. The purpose of PCR2 was to identify both good practice and institutional failings in relation to how allegations of abuse have been handled, to assess any identified risks and respond to these where appropriate, and to provide recommendations to the Church which will lead to improvements in its safeguarding work.

To read the full national Past Case Review 2 report, please visit the Church of England website: https://www.churchofengland.org/safeguarding/safeguarding-news-releases/national-report-church-englands-second-past-cases-review

For the Executive Summary of results from the Diocese of Hereford, please see https://d3hgrlq6yacptf.cloudfront.net/60187623b57f6/content/pages/documents/hereford-diocese-pcr2_exec-summary.pdf

Independent Safeguarding Audit by SCIE September 2019

In line with all other cathedrals and dioceses, Hereford Cathedral was audited by the Social Care Institute for Excellence on behalf of the Church of England, to review its provision and procedures for the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults in and around the cathedral. To download the report on these findings please click the link below.

Independent Safeguarding Audit by SCIE September 2019 (pdf download)

Chapter has prepared an Safeguarding Action Plan to show how those areas highlighted by the audit will be addressed. To download the action plan please click the link below.

Hereford Cathedral Strategy and Action Plan (March 2022)

Safe Spaces

Safe Spaces is a free and independent support service, providing a confidential, personal and safe space for anyone who has been abused by someone in the Church or as a result of their relationship with the Church of England, the Catholic Church in England and Wales or the Church in Wales.  If you have been affected, however long ago, Safe Spaces can provide you with support. Further information on this independent service can be found on the Safe Spaces website, by calling 0300 303 1056, or by email on [email protected]  

From Monday 9 January 2023, the service will be run by independent provider, First Light which means that operational opening hours will increase to:

Monday to Friday 9am – 9pm

Saturday 9-1pm

Sunday from 1-5pm (excluding bank holidays, subject to review)

Safe Spaces can also be contacted at Safe Spaces England and Wales (safespacesenglandandwales.org.uk)