North Severnside Benefice takes its safeguarding responsibilities very seriously. Any individual wishing to come forward with information or to make a disclosure is encouraged to contact the Parish Safeguarding Officers (details below). Alternatively, you can contact the diocesan Safeguarding Team or speak to someone from a dedicated independent support service where this is more appropriate. Our Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser, Adam Bond, can be contacted at 07543 504977. The details can also be found on the Safeguarding Pages of the diocesan website.
Policy Statement
The Parochial Church Councils of St Helen’s Alveston, St Mary’s Olveston, St John’s Elberton and St John’s Aust, has adopted the House of Bishop’s “Promoting a Safer Church: Safeguarding Policy Statement” – (signed Rev David Moss incumbent). We are committed to:
• Promoting a safer environment and culture
• Safely recruiting and supporting all those with any responsibility related to children and vulnerable adults
• Responding promptly to every safeguarding concern or allegation
• Caring pastorally for those who are the subject of concerns/allegations of abuse and other affected persons
• Responding to those that may pose a present risk.
Documents
• Please click here to view our ‘Safeguarding Policy‘ document.
Volunteers working within church settings need to be aware of safeguarding issues. We encourage all volunteers to take the online basic awareness module on the CofE training portal. It takes 1-1.5 hours to complete and provides excellent insight into safeguarding issues that could arise in a church setting. Register, take the training, and let your local safeguarding officer know you have completed the module. You will then have the basic safeguarding awareness to work confidently in church.
Parish Safeguarding Officers
The PCC appoints Parish Safeguarding Officers and supports the church leadership in forming and implementing our safeguarding policies and procedures. They are also the first port of call for safeguarding concerns or questions in the North Severnside Benefice.
Our parish safeguarding officers are:

Debbie Harries – St Mary’s Olveston with St John’s Aust e: oboe-debbie@live.co.uk tel: 01454 340339
Adults, Children and Young People at Risk

Clare Stephens, St Helen’s Alveston e: claremstephens@yahoo.co.uk or t: 01454 850197
Adults, Children and Young People at Risk.

Judith Heybyrne, St John’s Elberton e: judith.heybyrne@gmail.com tel: 01454 616725
Adults, Children and Young People at Risk
If you are concerned…
If you are concerned that someone you know is at risk of, or is being abused, or presents a risk to others, please seek advice from one of our Parish Safeguarding Advisers or, if necessary, report the matter to the Local Authority Social Care Services or the Police without delay.
You can email the Parish Safeguarding Officers using the email addresses above. This is for genuine safeguarding concerns ONLY. For all other queries or in an emergency, please contact the St Helen’s church office on 01454 415190.
You can contact the Local Authority Social Care Services here.
If there is immediate risk or danger, please contact the Police on 999.
For more information, including what to do in an emergency, please visit the Safeguarding Pages on the Diocese of Bristol Website.