Keeping Safe
If you are adult in immediate danger you can:
Call the police on 999
Speak to one of our Safeguarding Officers
Or contact one of the organisations below
If you are a child or teenager below the age of 19 and are in pain or distress from abuse by an adult you can:
Call the police on 999
Speak to one of our Safeguarding Officers
Or contact the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children on 0800 1111 (24 hours a day)
If you think that a child or adult is in immediate danger you can:
Call the police on 999,
Speak to one of our Safeguarding Officers
Or, for an individual below 19, contact the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children on 0808 800 5000 (10 am to 8 pm, Monday to Friday)
Our apology…
The Church of England’s recent history regarding abuse.
Our church has not always lived up to our own principles. Because of this and because we want you to know we take all forms of abuse very seriously, whether historic or current, we offer our apology to all.
We recognise that terrible things have been done to people in the name of religion.
People have used the power of their position for their own selfish gratification and immense harm has resulted. Often this has been compounded by attempts to defend the church’s reputation by denial and cover up, made worse by sheer incompetence.
We are profoundly sorry and are absolutely determined to do everything in our power to make our churches safe places for all who come.
Immediate danger
If you or somebody you know is in immediate danger…
Call 999 now.
Doing this alone might be very difficult, or not the route for you, so our Parish Safeguarding Officers can help, as well as the agencies below.
You can also make a silent 999 call if you cannot speak.
How to make a silent 999 call
If you’re in danger, call 999 and try to speak to the operator if you can, even by whispering. You may also be asked to cough or tap the keys on your phone to answer questions.
Calling 999 silently from a mobile
If you don’t speak or answer questions, press 55 when prompted and your call will be transferred to the police.
Pressing 55 only works on mobiles and doesn’t allow the police to track your location.
If you don’t press 55 your call will be ended.
Call 999 silently from a landline
If you don’t speak or answer questions and the operator can only hear background noise, they’ll transfer your call to the police.
If you replace the handset, the landline may remain connected for 45 seconds in case you pick it up again.
Calling 999 from a landline automatically gives the police information about your location.
Our Parish Safeguarding Officers
All safeguarding enquiries are treated with absolute privacy and discretion.
If you are not sure which Parish you are in, please contact any of our Safeguarding Officers for advice. From time to time a Safeguarding Officer may change, if you cannot reach a Parish Safeguarding Officer you can also contact your Parish Clergy or the Diocese of Exeter Safeguarding Team.
Parish Safeguarding Officer are listed below:
Belstone Church of St Mary the Virgin
Bratton Clovelly Church of St Mary the Virgin
Exbourne Church of St Mary the Blessed Virgin
Germansweek Church of St Germanus
Inwardleigh Church of St Petroc
Jacobstowe Church of St James
Lydford Church of St Petrock
Northlew Church of St Thomas of Canterbury
Okehampton All Saints Church
Okehampton Chapel of St James
Local help
Exeter Diocese Safeguarding team
For safeguarding concerns
Tel: 01392 294929
Email: safeguardingenquiry@exeter.anglican.org
Help and support for survivors who have experienced sexual abuse within the church
Help and support page
We recognise that those with a lived experience of abuse from within the Church may prefer to seek support or advice independent from the Diocese and as such have listed a number of relevant support services on this page.
Devon Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH).
If you are concerned about a child or young person in Devon and want to speak to someone.
The MASH is the central resource for the whole of Devon based at Devon County Council. They receive all safeguarding and child protection enquiries. It is staffed with professionals from a range of agencies including police, probation, fire, ambulance, health, education and social care.
These professionals share information to ensure early identification of potential significant harm, and trigger interventions to prevent further harm.
Tel: 0345 155 1071
For urgent safeguarding concerns out of hours call: 0345 600 0388
Email: mashsecure@devon.gov.uk
Helping to end sexual violence and domestic violence and abuse in our communities
A source for various supporting agencies.
They also help with addiction, hate crime, fraud, radicalisation and more
Dartmoor and West Devon Tel: 01822 813536
Email: claire.birch@swdevon.gov.uk
Support for adults and children in Devon with experience of domestic and sexual abuse
Tel: 0345 155 1074
Email: admin.devon@fear-less.org.uk
Devon Country Council
Domestic and Sexual Violence and Abuse
Rape and sexual abuse helpline: 0808 802 9999
Domestic abuse helpline: 0345 155 1074
Victim Care Devon and Cornwall
Tel: 0808 168 91111 (24 hour)
National help
National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children
Every child is worth fighting for
Help for adults concerned about a child
Tel: 0808 800 5000
Email: help@nspcc.org.uk
Help for children and young people
Childline: 0800 1111 (Free, 24 hrs a day, for children and young people under 19)
Whatever you’re going through, a Samaritan will face it with you. We’re here 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Tel: 116 123 (Free, 24 hours a day)
Plymouth Branch
Tel: 0330 094 5717 (Opening hours here)
Independent national housing advice charity
Tel: 0808 800 4444
Opoka helps women and children in the Polish community to improve health, wellbeing, financial stability and happiness by stopping domestic violence
Tel: 0300 365 1700
Email: info@opoka.org.uk
Tel: 0808 2000 247 – 24 hr freephone helpline for women
Tel: 0808 801 0327 – Mon to Fri: 9am – 5pm
We support LGBT+ people who have experienced abuse and violence
Tel: 0800 999 5428
Email: help@galop.org.uk
Modern Slavery and Exploitation Helpline
Tel: 08000 121 700 (Free. Open 24 hrs, over 200 languages spoken)
Email: hello@unseenuk.org
The Clewer Initiative is the national work of the Church of England to combat modern slavery.
Northmoor Team Ministry Safeguarding Policy
Promoting a safer church
In accordance with the Church of England Safeguarding Policy our churches are committed to:
- Promoting a safer environment and culture.
- Safely recruiting and supporting all those with any responsibility related to children, young people and vulnerable adults within the church.
- Responding promptly to every safeguarding concern or allegation.
- Caring pastorally for victims/survivors of abuse and other affected persons.
- Caring pastorally for those who are the subject of concerns or allegations of abuse and other affected persons.
- Responding to those that may pose a present risk to others.
The Parishes will:
- Create a safe and caring place for all.
- Have a named Parish Safeguarding Officer (PSO) to work with the incumbent and the PCC to implement policy and procedures.
- Safely recruit, train and support all those with any responsibility for children, young people and adults to have the confidence and skills to recognise and respond to abuse.
- Ensure that there is appropriate insurance cover for all activities involving children and adults undertaken in the name of the parish.
- Display in church premises and on the Parish website the details of who to contact if there are safeguarding concerns or support needs.
- Listen to and take seriously all those who disclose abuse.
- Take steps to protect children and adults when a safeguarding concern of any kind arises, following House of Bishops guidance, including notifying the Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser (DSA) and statutory agencies immediately.
- Offer support to victims/survivors of abuse regardless of the type of abuse, when or where it occurred.
- Care for and monitor any member of the church community who may pose a risk to children and adults whilst maintaining appropriate confidentiality and the safety of all parties.
- Ensure that health and safety policy, procedures and risk assessments are in place and that these are reviewed annually.
- Review the implementation of the Safeguarding Policy, Procedures and Practices at least annually.
Each person who works within this Ministry community agrees to abide by this policy and the guidelines established by this church.