We had a report from our Safeguarding Officer, Allan Brown, at PCC on Monday. If you are in one of the designated categories of volunteers you will receive an email from the parish office asking you to undertake online diocesan training.
Why is this necessary?
The answer is not that we suspect you of being the kind of person who wishes to harm others. The more people who understand the kind of abuse that others have been subjected to, the less likelihood there is that a potential abuser will be able to cause harm to anyone. If people know what to look for, church is going to be a difficult place for abusers of children or vulnerable adults to operate in.
PCC members are required only to do the basic course, but a number volunteered at the meeting to take both the basic course and the next level up.