Safeguarding

Here in the Parish of St. David’s we have a number of families with children of all ages and at all stages in their faith development.

We have a number of volunteers who provide support to the children by presenting the Liturgy of the Mass of the day through a range of appropriate planned activities aimed specifically at meeting the needs of the Primary School age range of the children.

A further group of volunteers undertake the role of Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist taking Holy Communion to the sick or housebound.

As a parish we warmly welcome and fully appreciate the contributions made by all those who volunteer in whatever way and using whatever skills they may have to enhance the spiritual and temporal life of our parish of St. David’s.

In law, anyone who works with children or adults at risk is obliged to undertake a Disclosure check. In our parish this process is carried out through the Parish Safeguard Team, together with Father Andrew, who have been approved by the Diocese to carry out the administration work involved.

The Bishops‘ Conference of Scotland has a further requirement that anyone who offers their services as a volunteer with vulnerable groups must complete an application form, self declaration form and provide two character references.
They are provided with a role descriptor and go through an interview with the parish clergy and/or Parish co-ordinator and finally all volunteers are obliged to attend presentation sessions to learn about "Awareness and Safety in our Catholic Communities".

PLEASE NOTE - this information is presented to reassure you that all possible steps are taken to ensure that the children, young people and adults at risk in our parish are as safe as they can be when they are in our care.

To anyone thinking of volunteering their services in this parish community of St. David’s please let this information be an encouragement and not a deterrent. Thank you.

Graeme Sharkey, Anne Theresa Lawrie & Father Andrew.
Parish Safeguard Team 0131 663 4286.

National Office for the Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults.
Archdiocese of St. Andrew's and Edinburgh.
Office for Safeguarding Support 0131 623 8943.
Archdiocese Safeguarding Website page.
Click on Safeguarding (which is the last item in the menu).

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Annual Safeguarding Announcement
(Read out in Mass the last weekend in January)

My name is Graeme Sharkey and along with Anne Theresa Lawrie we are your Parish safeguarding co-ordinators in this parish.
Safeguarding concerns every one of us
It is the responsibility of clergy and lay people to ensure that the church is a safe and welcoming place for everyone and to ensure that children and vulnerable adults are protected.
Pope Francis has asked that families are made aware that they have a right to expect to be safe and secure in “our Father’s house”. The Bishops of Scotland are committed to ensuring this.
Safeguarding in the Catholic Church means doing everything we can to protect our children and vulnerable adults.
Firstly, we have a safe system of recruitment for clergy, religious, employees and all our volunteers. This includes PVG checks, references and safeguarding training.
Secondly, we have a reporting system so people can come forward with any concerns, be listened to and have those concerns acted upon. Safeguarding also includes care and support for survivors.
In this Archdiocese, we have a dedicated safeguarding team.
This includes Monsignor Allan Chambers, the Vicar General for Safeguarding, Emma Boothroyd, our Safeguarding Advisor, as well as a Safeguarding Officer and Administrator.
The Safeguarding team is based at the Gillis Centre in Edinburgh and can be contacted by e-mail or phone to advise on any safeguarding matter. I have details or you can find them on the Safeguarding page of the Archdiocesan website.
Every parish has trained safeguarding co-ordinators. Alongside the Parish Priest, they ensure the safe recruitment of volunteers working with children and vulnerable adults in the church.
There is a poster at the back of this church with my details on it. Please contact us if you have any concerns about a safeguarding matter.
We do an annual safeguarding audit to assess the safeguarding work being done in every parish and diocese. The Church in Scotland has a mandatory reporting policy. This means that if an allegation of abuse is received it is immediately reported to the police.
It is imperative that any abuse, historic or otherwise, will be met with a listening ear, and action taken to restore people’s trust in our Church and our clergy and religious.
Archbishop Leo Cushley, Fr Andrew and the Safeguarding Team are grateful for all the hard work done by the parish safeguarding co-ordinators and volunteers in every parish across the Archdiocese in keeping the Church a welcoming and safe place for all.
Thank-you.