Our vision
The vision statement of The Meeting Place: Motivated by our faith in God, we are called to be a catalyst for the whole community of Westbourne to Create, Connect, Care and Celebrate life in all its fullness.
In fulfilling this vision, we are proud to:
- Welcome children and adults at risk into the life of our community
- Run activities for children and adults at risk
- Make our premises available to organisations working with children and adults at risk
Our safeguarding responsibilities
The Meeting Place Trustees and Partners recognise their responsibilities in safeguarding all children, young people and adults at risk, regardless of gender, ethnicity or ability.
We commit ourselves to the nurturing, protection and safekeeping of all associated with The Meeting Place and will pray for them regularly. In pursuit of this, we commit ourselves to this policy and to the development of sound procedures to ensure we implement our policy well.
- Prevention and reporting of abuse
It is the duty of each Meeting Place Trustee, Partner and volunteer to help prevent the abuse of children and adults at risk, and everyone’s duty to respond to concerns about the well-being of children and adults at risk. Any abuse disclosed, discovered or suspected will be reported in accordance with our procedures. The Meeting Place will fully co-operate with any statutory investigation into any suspected abuse linked with the organisation and community.
- Safer recruitment, support and supervision of workers
The Meeting Place will exercise proper care in the selection and appointment of those working with children and adults at risk, whether paid or voluntary. All workers will be provided with appropriate training, support and supervision to promote the safekeeping of children and adults at risk.
- Respecting children and adults at risk
The Meeting Place will adopt a code of behaviour for all who are appointed to work with children and adults at risk so that all children and adults are shown the respect that is due to them.
The Meeting Place is committed to providing an environment that is as safe as possible for children and adults at risk and will adopt ways of working with them that promote their safety and well-being.
The Meeting Place is committed to the prevention of bullying. The Meeting Place will seek to ensure that the behaviour of any individuals who may pose a risk to children, young people and adults at risk in the community is managed appropriately.
Safeguarding contact points within our community
The Trustees have appointed the following individuals to form part of the Meeting Place safeguarding team:
Jenny Attewell, Designated Person for Safeguarding (DPS)
She will advise the community on any matters related to the safeguarding of children and adults at risk and take the appropriate action when abuse is disclosed, discovered or suspected.
Phone number 079696 73648 Email address jattewell@yahoo.com
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Katy Newman, Safeguarding Trustee
She will raise the profile of safeguarding within The Meeting Place and oversee and monitor the implementation of the safeguarding policy and procedures on behalf of the church trustees.
Phone number 07526 950251 Email address katynewman67@hotmail.com
Putting our policy into practice
- A copy of the safeguarding policy statement will be displayed permanently on the noticeboard in the lobby and is available on our website.
- Each worker with children and/or adults at risk will be given a full copy of the safeguarding policy and procedures and will be asked to sign to confirm that they will follow them.
- A full copy of the policy and procedures will be made available on request to any member of, or other person associated with the church.
- The policy and procedures will be monitored and reviewed annually, and any necessary revisions adopted into the policy and implemented through our procedures.
- The policy statement will be read annually at the Trustees and Partners AGM, together with a report on the outcome of the annual safeguarding review.