5 Common Challenges with Safeguarding in Churches

Jul 15, 2025

5 Common Challenges with Safeguarding in Churches

Christian Safeguarding Services' Paul Harrison joins Gavin to talk through 5 common challenges with safeguarding in churches:

5 Common Challenges with Safeguarding in Churches

Christian Safeguarding Services' Paul Harrison joins Gavin to talk through 5 common challenges with safeguarding in churches:

Security Team Member- Volunteer Role Description

This Security Team Member role description is designed to give members of the security team a clearer idea of what the role entails. Please feel free to adapt this to your church context.

Martyn's Law

Gavin recently sat down with Evangelical Alliance's Director of Advocacy Danny Webster to talk about one thing- Martyn's Law.

Martyn's Law- What does our church need to do next?

Gavin recently sat down with Evangelical Alliance's Director of Advocacy Danny Webster to talk about one thing- Martyn's Law.

The Importance of Good Governance and Gifting

In this episode Gavin talks to Lourens Du Plessis from Stewardship who leads the team that guides and strengthens churches and Christian charities with their governance and finances.

The Work of Ministry behind the Scenes

Introducing...Owen Gilham! After working in education (and a brief stint in theatre) Owen now works for Danbury Mission as the Operations Manager.

The Work of Ministry behind the Scenes

Introducing...Owen Gilham! After working in education (and a brief stint in theatre) Owen now works for Danbury Mission as the Operations Manager.

Navigating Data Protection as a Church

Data protection can often feel like a minefield, especially in a church context where sensitive data is handled frequently. Listen in as Gavin brings your questions to Harry and Leanne from the ICO.

Serving Churches Together

In this video, Gavin sits down with Phil Topham, the Executive Director of the FIEC, to share their passion to better support churches in the area of policy and governance.

Safeguarding Young People on a Residential Weekend

In this video Paul Harrison from Christian Safeguarding Services helps us to think through how we can best safeguard young people when taking them away on a residential trip.

Vulnerable Adults- Christian Safeguarding Services

Gavin sits down with Paul and Sue Harrison from Christian Safeguarding Services to chat about the services that they provide churches and christian charities.

Christian Safeguarding Services- Vulnerable Adults

Gavin sits down with Paul and Sue Harrison from Christian Safeguarding Services to chat about the services that they provide churches as well as discussing how to safeguard vulnerable adults.

Conflict of Interest Policy

Here's a Conflict of Interest Policy document template. Please feel free to adapt as required. We pray this serves you.

Food Hygiene Policy

If you're looking to set in place regulations for your church kitchen, this Food Hygiene Policy is a great place to start. Please feel free to use and adapt it to suit your church needs.

Trustees Code of Conduct

Here's a Trustees Code of Conduct document template. Please feel free to adapt the template as needed. We pray this serves you.

Human Resources Support for Churches

In this video Gavin talks to Andy Bagwell one of the Executive Director of UCAN who has helped launch a new HR Support Service for Churches in the UK.

HR Support for Churches

In this video Gavin talks to Andy Bagwell one of the Executive Director of UCAN who has helped launch a new HR Support Service for Churches in the UK.

Church Safeguarding Review

Church landscapes have gone through major changes in the past few years. So what do we need to consider when we start updating our policies and procedures to reflect the current climate?

How often should we DBS Check our volunteers?

Gavin asked Justin how often we should be DBS checking our children and youth workers in churches? The discussion around Safer Recruitment is so important for local churches.

Safeguarding Information Sheet

Good safeguarding policies are very church specific. This information sheet is to help get you started in creating your own church safeguarding policy and point you towards some helpful resources.

Creating Safe Environments in Church

In this podcast Gavin got the opportunity to interview Justin Humphreys the CEO of Thirtyone:eight who have been serving churches in the area of safeguarding for decades.

Creating Safe Environments

In this video Gavin got the opportunity to interview Justin Humphreys the CEO of Thirtyone:eight who have been serving churches in the area of safeguarding for decades.

Staff Evaluation and Review

When done right, performance reviews can help employees understand what they’re doing well, how they can improve, how their work aligns with the church’s vision, and final what is expected of them.

Wedding Vows Booklet

Wedding vows are extremely personal and are spoken before God and in front of your family and friends. Here is a starting point for you to use and develop for your own wedding.

Whistleblowing Policy

A Whislteblowing policy helps to protect the church. This adaptable policy advises church members, volunteers and staff on a clear procedure to raise concerns in a positive and informal way.

Social Media Policy

This policy will provide staff and volunteers with the overarching principles and guide to e-safety and so they do not put themselves in a vulnerable position when using social media.

Involving Young Volunteers

Involving young volunteers in church life can have many benefits for everyone involved. Here's a paper by Gavin outlining why this should be considered and what it could look like practically.

Lone Working Policy

A lone working policy helps the church protect its staff. This adaptable policy advises staff members on procedures in place to protect them when they are working on their own.

Parental Leave Policy

This is an editable parental leave policy that covers maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental leave. Please feel free to adapt this document so that it applies to your church context.

Wedding Policy

One of the most meaningful ways that the church building can be utilised for its members is to be a place where weddings and receptions are held. Here is a Wedding Policy and Manual.

Gavin Smith

Church Manager

Church Policies

Church policies are some of the most important bits of paperwork to get right. Therefore, we have made this collection of editable document templates of all our policies. We hope they will serve you.

5 Common Challenges with Safeguarding in Churches

5 Common Challenges with Safeguarding in Churches

Security Team Member- Volunteer Role Description

Martyn's Law

Martyn's Law- What does our church need to do next?

The Importance of Good Governance and Gifting

The Work of Ministry behind the Scenes

The Work of Ministry behind the Scenes

Navigating Data Protection as a Church

Serving Churches Together

Safeguarding Young People on a Residential Weekend

Vulnerable Adults- Christian Safeguarding Services

Christian Safeguarding Services- Vulnerable Adults

Conflict of Interest Policy

Food Hygiene Policy

Trustees Code of Conduct

Human Resources Support for Churches

HR Support for Churches

Church Safeguarding Review

How often should we DBS Check our volunteers?

Safeguarding Information Sheet

Creating Safe Environments in Church

Creating Safe Environments

Staff Evaluation and Review

Wedding Vows Booklet

Whistleblowing Policy

Social Media Policy

Involving Young Volunteers

Lone Working Policy

Parental Leave Policy

Wedding Policy

Other Topics

Charities and the Church

Church Finances

Q & A

Church Planting

Church Policies

Church policies are some of the most important bits of paperwork to get right. Therefore, we have made this collection of editable document templates of all our policies. We hope they will serve you.

5 Common Challenges with Safeguarding in Churches

5 Common Challenges with Safeguarding in Churches

Security Team Member- Volunteer Role Description

Martyn's Law

Martyn's Law- What does our church need to do next?

The Importance of Good Governance and Gifting

The Work of Ministry behind the Scenes

The Work of Ministry behind the Scenes

Navigating Data Protection as a Church

Serving Churches Together

Safeguarding Young People on a Residential Weekend

Vulnerable Adults- Christian Safeguarding Services

Christian Safeguarding Services- Vulnerable Adults

Conflict of Interest Policy

Food Hygiene Policy

Trustees Code of Conduct

Human Resources Support for Churches

HR Support for Churches

Church Safeguarding Review

How often should we DBS Check our volunteers?

Safeguarding Information Sheet

Creating Safe Environments in Church

Creating Safe Environments

Staff Evaluation and Review

Wedding Vows Booklet

Whistleblowing Policy

Social Media Policy

Involving Young Volunteers

Lone Working Policy

Parental Leave Policy

Wedding Policy

Other Topics

Charities and the Church

Church Finances

Q & A

Church Planting

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