Safeguarding News - Summer 2026

Debbie writes: Safeguarding support is probably the most rewarding yet most challenging element of my work in the YBA. Each week new enquiries and referrals come to us - ranging from simple process questions to guidance on complex risk assessments and attendance contracts. Every conversation or email reflecting the lived experience of followers of Jesus as well as those who do not yet know Him, and in all this our motivation is to ensure that churches are safe places for all.

Of vital importance in this is the myriad resources and guidance which are freely available through the Baptists Together website. And this month, two new safeguarding resources have been made available.

Safeguarding Training for Junior Leaders

This new training is intended for young people aged 14 to 17 years old who would like to volunteer with children’s work in your church. It might be that they are planning to help with a holiday club, Messy Church or a Sunday School group. It is designed to be delivered by the Designated Person for Safeguarding for your church alongside the children’s group leader responsible for the group that they will be involved with. There is a package of resources linked to this which can be found here.

Safeguarding Training for Adult Volunteers with Learning Disability

This resource has been created in partnership between people with experience of supporting people with learning disabilities as well as safeguarding leads and trainers from the Church in Wales and the Baptist Union of Great Britain. It is also designed to be delivered by your church Designated Person for Safeguarding. The package of resources linked to this can be found here.

Both of these new resources have been created as a direct result of feedback and requests from BUGB member churches, and in consultation with those who are experts in their field.

Training Opportunities

And finally, a gentle reminder to book places on our Autumn safeguarding training sessions as soon as possible. Bookings are going well and some sessions are already full!

We also have a DPS training day coming up in November. This is led by Nicky Gibbard from our national safeguarding team; if you are a DPS, don’t miss out on this opportunity to meet with DPS’s from throughout the YBA, train together and share together.

Details of all sessions can be found on our Events page here.

Any enquiries relating to bookings for training are dealt with by An Eeraerts. She can be emailed here.

And if you are an accredited or recognised minister and need to make a new DBS application, these are now administered by Sally Baker. Sally can be contacted here.

As always, please do be in touch if we can help with any safeguarding related matters.

With best wishes, Debbie