Safeguarding

The District Safeguarding Officer (DSO)

Howard Smedley – 07758 239286
safeguarding@lincolnshiremethodist.org.uk

I would like to welcome you to the safeguarding pages of the Lincolnshire Methodist District website.

My role is to support the churches within the District to ensure safeguarding is at the core of its work and ministry and offer advice, support and at times direct involvement in situations where people need to be safe and free from harm.

All this is done with the enormous support and commitment of colleagues across the District in a vast array of roles, voluntary or paid.

We are especially mindful of things to come – the cost of living crisis, fuel poverty, the on-going impact of Covid and the increasing mental health needs of so many.

We try hard to be a learning organisation. Each year we hold a variety of safeguarding events to enable us to explore appropriate practice topics and implement what they tell us about better ways of working. Further, at the start of each new Connexional year, our policies and procedures are updated to take account of national and local developments and especially learning from learning within the District.

We will continue to make our churches a safe place and develop a culture within them that allows people to know how to get help when needed and have assurances that the church has a positive engagement with all aspects of safeguarding.

Further, the work of the District in responding well to victims and survivors remains a priority. We are learning things all the time about how we can walk alongside those who have been hurt, especially in the life of the church.

It's enough to have a niggle, a feeling in your belly or a sense that something isn't right to ask for help. Our polices will let you know who to go and the sort of help we can offer.

Finally, do let us know if you feel that there is any support that is not covered in our policies and procedures so we can work even harder to improve them for the safety of all.

Howard Smedley
DSO
01.09.2022