Policy and Privacy Statements
This page contains the following policies and statements for aspects of church life.
Safeguarding - Children, Young People and Adults
Our vision
The vision statement of Addlestone Baptist Church is:
We commit to being a truly worshipping community.
Seeking to follow Jesus, live in fellowship, love fully and participate in God's activity on earth.
In fulfilling this vision, we:
-
Welcome children and adults at risk into the life of our community
-
Run activities for children and adults at risk
-
Make our premises available to organisations working with children and adults at risk
Our safeguarding responsibilities
The church recognises its responsibilities in safeguarding all children, young people and adults at risk, regardless of gender, ethnicity or ability.
As members of this church we commit ourselves to the nurturing, protection and safekeeping of all associated with the church and will pray for them regularly. In pursuit of this, we commit ourselves to this policy and to the development of sound procedures to ensure we implement our policy well.
-
Prevention and reporting of abuse
It is the duty of each church member to help prevent the abuse of children and adults at risk, and the duty of each church member to respond to concerns about the well-being of children and adults at risk. Any abuse disclosed, discovered or suspected will be reported in accordance with our procedures. The church will fully co-operate with any statutory investigation into any suspected abuse linked with the church.
-
Safer recruitment, support and supervision of workers
The church will exercise proper care in the selection and appointment of those working with children and adults at risk, whether paid or voluntary. All workers will be provided with appropriate training, support and supervision to promote the safekeeping of children and adults at risk.
-
Respecting children and adults at risk
The church will adopt a code of behaviour for all who are appointed to work with children and adults at risk so that all children and adults are shown the respect that is due to them.
The church is committed to providing an environment that is as safe as possible for children and adults at risk and will adopt ways of working with them that promote their safety and well-being.
The church is committed to the prevention of bullying. The church will seek to ensure that the behaviour of any individuals who may pose a risk to children, young people and adults at risk in the community of the church is managed appropriately.
Safeguarding contact points within our church
The church has appointed the following individuals to form part of the church safeguarding team:
Sarah White, Designated Person for Safeguarding (DPS)
She will advise the church on any matters related to the safeguarding of children and adults at risk and take the appropriate action when abuse is disclosed, discovered or suspected.
Phone number 07958 063596 Email address sarah_65@live.co.uk
Brian Channell, Safeguarding Trustee
He will raise the profile of safeguarding within the church and oversee and monitor the implementation of the safeguarding policy and procedures on behalf of the church trustees.
Phone number 01932 873856 Email address brian.channell@addlestonebaptist.org.uk
Our church minister is also an important part of the Church Safeguarding Team. Where possible, the Church Safeguarding Team will work together if and when issues arise. However, each person has a responsibility to report allegations of abuse as soon as they are raised.
Putting our policy into practice
-
A copy of the safeguarding policy statement will be displayed permanently on the church noticeboard and church office, and is available on our church website.
-
Each worker with children and/or adults at risk will be given a full copy of the safeguarding policy and procedures and will be asked to sign to confirm that they will follow them.
-
A full copy of the policy and procedures will be made available on request to any member of, or other person associated with the church.
-
The policy and procedures will be monitored and reviewed annually, and any necessary revisions adopted into the policy and implemented through our procedures.
-
The policy statement will be read annually at the church AGM, together with a report on the outcome of the annual safeguarding review.
Back to top
Privacy Statement
Under Data Protection legislation the church Charity Trustees of Addlestone Baptist Church (ABC) are the Data Controller and can be contacted by ringing 01932 820709 or emailing:
dataprotection@addlestonebaptist.org.uk
We are collecting this information to enable the church to keep in touch with you and provide pastoral support as appropriate.
Data Protection legislation allows us to process this information as we regard it as being in the church’s legitimate interest.
Your name and contact details will be entered into our church database which is held on the church office computer, minister’s laptop and mobile phone, all are password protected and accessed only by the Minister, Church Secretary and Church Treasurer. If you are members your names and details of your membership will be entered into our membership roll which is held on the Church Secretary’s computer, and is password protected and accessed only by the Church Secretary. Your contact details will be removed from the database once you are no longer a member of or connected to the church – unless you ask to remain as one of our “church friends”.
If you serve Addlestone Baptist Church as a member of staff or in a key role then we will pass on your name and contact details to the Baptist Union of Great Britain and/or South Eastern Baptist Association (of which we are members) to enable them to send you information relevant to your role. We will always ensure you are aware of what information is being shared with themand you will be able to decide which contact details are shared.
To enable us to provide adequate pastoral support to you and your family, the Minister or one of the Leadership may record information which may be regarded as sensitive. This information will be stored on the church computer (in password protected documents) or locked securely in the church office or the minister’s home, passwords or keys will only be available to the Minister or Leadership. This information will NOT be disclosed to anyone else without your consent.
You have the right to ask to see any information we hold about you (including the pastoral support information) by submitting a ‘Subject Access Request’ to the Church Secretary. You also have the right to ask for information which you believe to be incorrect to be rectified.
If you are concerned about the way your information is being handled please speak to our Data Protection Trustee. If you are still unhappy you have the right to complain to the Information Commissioners Office.
To read our full Privacy Policy please click on the link and download the following pdf file:
Back to top