Press Releases03 Jun 16

Role of the Faith Communities in Safeguarding Children

The Safeguarding Board for Northern Ireland (SBNI) yesterday held a conference to discuss the role of faith communities in safeguarding children in Northern Ireland. The conference explored the role which faith communities play, highlighting good practice and also the associated challenges.

The SBNI strives to improve learning, enhance practice and ensure that children’s voices are at the centre of all that is done by the organisations and professionals who together make up the Child Protection System. In May 2015, the SBNI established its Interfaith Sub Group. The rationale for the creation of the group was to acknowledge the important and central role which faith communities play in the wider safeguarding agenda for children and young people throughout Northern Ireland.

One of the main tasks of this working group is to provide a formal arrangement for the faith community to meet regularly, to share their knowledge, skills and experience of best practice arrangements for safeguarding children across the churches in Northern Ireland.

Glenys Johnston, Interim Independent Chair of the SBNI, said: “Today gives us the opportunity to bring together different denominations, so together we can enhance the safeguarding work already well–established within the faith sector in Northern Ireland.”

The conference allowed for the sharing of safeguarding policies and procedures, training materials, resources, and local community initiatives. It enhanced effective communication and co–operation about safeguarding matters across faith groups.

Barbara McDermott, Chair of the Interfaith group of SBNI, said that the conference, the first of its kind, demonstrates “a real commitment by faith communities to genuinely work together to protect and promote the welfare of all children and young people, in Northern Ireland. As faith communities we are delighted to be part of the ethos, culture and work of SBNI.”

Detective Chief Superintendent George Clarke, Head of the PSNI’s Public Protection Branch, said: “The PSNI recognises the significant and valuable role which faith organisations play in the lives of so many young people. The Interfaith group of SBNI fulfils a crucial role in developing and sharing this good practice and we are delighted to be able to support this conference.”

Membership of the Interfaith group comprises of staff with a safeguarding role, currently working within the four main churches. The Most Rev Richard Clarke, Archbishop of Armagh, added: “The Church of Ireland holds safeguarding as a priority and the welfare of children is paramount in all we undertake. We are pleased to be sending a large number of delegates to the Interfaith Conference run by the Safeguarding Board.”

Following the event communication between the SBNI and the faith groups has been strengthened and good practice shared, working towards a safer future for all children. For further information on the work of SBNI see www.safeguardingni.org

A further selection of photos from the conference is available at www.flickr.com/photos/churchofireland