Weekly Newsletter

October 2026

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

I’m very pleased to write this introduction to this Safeguarding Newsletter.

The good news of Jesus Christ is about human flourishing in its deepest sense. ‘I have come that they may have life: life in all its fulness,’ says Jesus, and it is that which God has enabled and made possible for us at the greatest cost to himself, through the death of his Son upon the cross.

It matters so much to our God that human beings should flourish that he sent Jesus to die for us. But abuse in all its forms at its heart denies people that opportunity to flourish. It robs them of that right. Abuse is therefore a fundamental denial of the gospel, and a fundamental denial of all that God desires and purposes for us: which is why our God is so implacably opposed to it.

Abuse of any kind is antithetical to the gospel. It is not only incompatible with the good news of Jesus Christ; even more than that, it is an outright denial of it. If the gospel is about the free, open and un-coerced entry of human beings into fullness of life in Christ, abuse is its direct opposite: its currency is secrecy and coercion and it is fundamentally life-denying. It cannot therefore be tolerated in any form.

Safeguarding - abuse on the one hand and human flourishing on the other - are matters of the deepest concern to God. So they must be of the deepest concern to us. You can say that these are matters of core business for God – so they must be matters of core business for us too.

So I hope this Newsletter will help you better understand how you can make safeguarding your core business – and thus make our churches, schools and chaplaincies safer and ever more faithful to the gospel of Christ.

With my thanks for all you do to attend to this vital task,

+Philip

A few words from your Diocesan Safeguarding Team...

Thank you for all that you do to support good safeguarding in our Diocese. We know there is often a great deal of information to keep up with and, following your feedback, we have been looking at ways to make safeguarding updates more regular and easy to access.

To help with this, we are introducing a monthly Safeguarding News Recap, bringing together the safeguarding-related articles and updates that have appeared in the diocesan weekly newsletter over the previous month. This includes local and national safeguarding developments, policy and guidance updates, training and DBS information, learning from our statutory partners, and links to useful resources.

The articles are included below for easy reference, and you can also download the complete recap as a PDF if you would prefer, to save or share it.

With best wishes,

The Diocesan Safeguarding Team

Download the September Safeguarding News Recap

DOWNLOAD

Safeguarding Sunday Evensong

15 November, 3:30pm, Winchester Cathedral

Winchester Cathedral warmly invites PSOs to a Safeguarding Sunday Evensong, celebrating the commitment and dedication to safeguarding across our diocese. The service will provide an opportunity to pray for those who support this vital work within our church communities and will include an act of commitment to the ministry of Parish Safeguarding. A drinks reception will follow in The North Transept. To assist the cathedral with catering requirements, PSOs are asked to complete this form, and accompanying clergy are asked to complete this form.

Book Safeguarding Training

Our Autumn safeguarding training programme is now underway, with courses running throughout the term. There is still good availability on a number of weekday, evening, and weekend sessions. If you need to complete safeguarding training or update your learning, now is a great time to book a place before courses fill up later in the year.

Need help with safeguarding training?

Find course information and booking details here
Unsure which course is required for your role? Check here
Having trouble accessing your training account? Use these login and password reset instructions

Diocesan Safeguarding Conference

28 October, 10am, St Paul's Church Winchester

The Winchester Diocese Safeguarding team would like to invite our Parish Safeguarding Officers to our Safeguarding Conference. With an opening address from Bishop Philip, the main themes of the conference include thinking differently about safeguarding, and neurodiversity and the Church. Find out more.

New Chorister Safeguarding Toolkit Launched

The National Safeguarding Team recently launched the Chorister Safeguarding Toolkit, designed to help cathedrals and churches strengthen safeguarding practice, promote wellbeing and support positive experiences for choristers. The Toolkit offers practical tools, examples and resources to support safer environments for children and young people. Download the toolkit.

Welcoming the New Chair of the DSAP

We are pleased to announce that Elizabeth Folarin has been appointed as Chair of the Diocesan Safeguarding Advisory Panel (DSAP). Elizabeth said, "As I begin the role, I’d really value prayers for wisdom, openness and good relationships – that I listen well, ask the right questions and provide both support and constructive challenge where it is needed." Read more here.

Church Action on Poverty Sunday Resources

18 October 2026

Resources for Church Action on Poverty Sunday are now available! This year's theme is 'Food, Faith and Fellowship', and resources include prayers and sermon notes, suggested hymns, art resources, posters, as well as tabletop conversation cards and placemats for churches hosting lunches. Get the resources.

Disability Awareness Sunday Resources

20/27 September (or any Sunday!)

Churches across the UK are encouraged to mark Disability Awareness Sunday, a day to ensure disabled people are fully included in Church. Christian charity Through the Roof have created service outlines and other resources to help churches hold their own services, and have teamed up with the national church to share an online service on 20 September.

Save the Date - Safeguarding Sunday 2026

Registration is now open for Safeguarding Sunday (15 November), an annual awareness campaign led by Thirtyone:eight. This year’s theme is Love Protects, helping churches explore safeguarding as an expression of care, protection and love. Registering will allow you access to resources including service-planning materials and ready-to-use content. Get the resources here.

DBS Criteria Change from 1 September 2026

From 1 September 2026, the law about regulated activity with children in England and Wales is changing. The current rule about the supervision of paid staff and volunteers carrying out specific activities with children will be removed from the legal definition. This will help to strengthen the protection and safeguarding of children. Find out more.

The government shared further guidance on eligibility for DBS checks which applies whether the individuals are paid or unpaid, and includes faith leaders, drivers, activity leaders and workers, management staff and caretakers. Find out more.

Safeguarding Structures Reform Programme

In February 2025, General Synod voted for greater independence in the CofE’s management of safeguarding. The vote followed debate of the Future of Church Safeguarding Synod paper. The Safeguarding Structures Programme has been set up to deliver these reforms. The aim of the programme is to strengthen safeguarding through improved consistency and quality of service, and to rebuild confidence and trust in Church safeguarding through greater operational independence and scrutiny of safeguarding activities. Find out more here.

Safeguarding Contacts

To register a safeguarding concern with the Diocesan Safeguarding Team, or for safeguarding advice, please email: safeguarding@winchesterdiocese.org or telephone: 01962 737317

Safeguarding advice outside of normal working hours can be obtained via the numbers below:

Hampshire (Children and Adults) - 0300 555 1373

Southampton (Children) - 02380 233344

Southampton (Adults) - 0300 555 1373

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (Children) - 01202 738256

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (Adults) - 0300 123 9895

Dorset (Children and Adults) - 01305 221000

In a safeguarding emergency, ring 999.