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Safeguarding

At Durham Cathedral the welfare of everyone we welcome, including children, young people and vulnerable adults, is a priority and safeguarding is at the heart of everything we do. The aim is to ensure a safe environment for everyone who wishes to worship, visit or contribute to any of the cathedrals activities.

Find help and support:

There are lots of ways to report a safeguarding concern.

If you are in the cathedral or on its grounds and you or someone you know is at risk of abuse, harm, neglect or exploitation, please find a member of clergy, staff or volunteer at the cathedral. If you witness an event you find worrying whilst in the cathedral, please let a member of our team know as soon as possible.

If you are not in the cathedral and would like to discuss safeguarding or need to report any concerns, you can contact the Durham Cathedral Safeguarding Officer using the following details:

Email

safeguarding@durhamcathedral.co.uk

Telephone

07951 624103

(Please note this number is not 24 hours a day, 7 days a week)

If you have urgent concerns about a safeguarding situation where a child or adult is in immediate danger or requires immediate medical attention call the emergency services on 999.

Support for victims and survivors

Durham Cathedral is committed to supporting victims and survivors of abuse. We would encourage anyone affected by abuse, either as a victim or because they know someone who has been a victim, to contact us for help or seek advice from the services below:

Safe Spaces

Safe Spaces a free and independent support service, providing a confidential, personal and safe space for anyone who has been abused through their relationship with either the Church of England, Church in Wales or the Catholic Church of England and Wales.

Find out how to access support

Other services and support

Here are the contact details of other agencies that are available to assist either on a 24-hour basis or through specialist helplines and services:

  • NSPCC Child Protection Helpline: 0808 800 5000 (lines free and open 24 hours). Phone if you are worried about a child.
  • Child-line: 0800 1111 (lines free and open 24 hours). Phone if you are a child or young person and are worried about anything.
  • National Domestic Violence Helpline: 0808 2000 247 (lines free and open 24 hours). Phone if you are experiencing domestic abuse.
  • Samaritans Helpline: 116 123 (open 24 hours). Phone if you feel you are struggling to cope and need someone to talk to.
  • Action on Elder Abuse Helpline: 080 8808 8141 (free phone Monday to Friday 9-5 pm)
  • NAPAC (The National Association for People Abused in Childhood): 0808 801 0331 (Monday – Thursday 10am – 9pm Friday 10am – 6pm) or email support@napac.org.uk
  • The Survivors Trust: 08088 010818 (free 7 day a week helpline) or email helpline@thesurvivorstrust.org

Meet the Safeguarding Team

Philip Plyming – Dean of Durham

As chair of the Cathedral’s governing body, Philip provides overall leadership concerning safeguarding, and encourages everyone to ‘Promote a Safer Church’. Philip has oversight of the activities that are the responsibility of the chapter, particularly involving children and vulnerable adults; he ensures that there is close cooperation with the Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser in the event of allegations, suspicions or disclosures of abuse, and ensures that those who may present a risk to children, young people and vulnerable adults are effectively managed; he encourages a culture of safety and vigilance; and provides an annual report to the bishop on safeguarding policy, procedures, practice and review in the cathedral.

Guy Sampson – Chapter Clerk & Chief Operating Officer

Guy is responsible for the implementation of the cathedral’s strategic agenda. He has overall responsibility for the lay administration, non-liturgical governance and operations of the Cathedral and is the senior administrator in the cathedral. Guy is responsible for the administrative support, functionality and matters of statutory compliance across the cathedral’s operation. Guy has overall responsibility for the effective and efficient performance of all strategic and operational functions at the cathedral which includes safeguarding at Durham Cathedral.

Michael Everitt - Canon Pastor and member of Chapter with responsibility for Victims & Survivors of Abuse

Michael’s role is to make sure that the voices of victims and survivors are heard, and their experiences help improve how we shape and support victims in the future. Michael is also chair of the cathedral’s Strategic Safeguarding Group, who undertake the effective scrutiny and management of Safeguarding across the cathedral. 

Contact: michael.everitt@durhamcathedral.co.uk

Tel: 0191 3840164

Pillars of Hope: Safeguarding Week

Durham Cathedral is a safe space where everyone is welcome. Every year we host a Safeguarding Week in autumn to show support for victims and survivors of abuse, and encourage our community to reflect on the words of those whose lives have been affected by abuse.

Take a look at Safeguarding Week at Durham Cathedral

Policies and proceedures

What Durham Cathedral does to keep people safe

Find out more about Safeguarding at Durham cathedral and access the cathedral's full safeguarding policy

How to complain about how a safeguarding issue has been handled

What to do if you are unhappy about how any aspect of Safeguarding has been dealt with by Durham Cathedral
Family outside of Durham Cathedral

Durham Cathedral Independent Safeguarding Audit

The Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) visited Durham Cathedral in July 2021 to carry out a Safeguarding Audit.

Durham Cathedral's Victims and Survivors Charter

At Durham Cathedral, we want all victims to know that they are heard, understood, believed and will be supported. Read or Victims and Survivors Charter here

Safer Recruitment and Selection Policy

The Cathedral is committed to treating all employees and applicants fairly and to recruit the best person for each role within Durham Cathedrall