Safeguarding Matters

The Southport Methodist Circuit takes its duty and obligation to protect all extremely seriously. We have adopted the connectional church’s robust procedures and guidelines. This section gives you the information you need to help protect vulnerable people.

The Southport Methodist Circuit aims to:

Promote the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk of harm
Prevent abuse occurring
Protect those at risk of abuse
Respond well to those who have been abused

Reporting Abuse

If you have information about a safeguarding situation where a child or adult is in immediate danger or requires immediate medical attention, call 999.

If you do not think there is a risk of immediate danger, but you are concerned that a child or vulnerable adult is at risk of harm, you should approach your Local Safeguarding Children’s Board or Local Safeguarding Adults Board. See below for details of your Local Safeguarding Board. If you do this, please also inform the Circuit Safeguarding Officer, Debs Attwater.

Please inform the circuit safeguarding officer about any case where a child or vulnerable adult appears to be at risk or where an adult appears to present a risk. Inform them of any safeguarding concerns involving a Church Officer. A ‘Church Officer’ is anyone appointed/elected by or on behalf of the Church to a post or role, whether they are ordained or lay, paid or unpaid.

The Southport Methodist Circuit is committed to responding to safeguarding concerns, providing advice, and supporting survivors. We cannot offer an emergency or 24-hour response.

Contact details for safeguarding:

Debs Attwater, Circuit Safeguarding Officer
Tel: 07350 479095 E-mail: safeguarding@southportmethodist.org.uk
Linda Locke, Liverpool Mission Area – District Safeguarding Officer
Tel: 07341 773728 E-mail: lockel@methodistchurch.org.uk
If you wish to report any safeguarding concerns directly to the National Safeguarding Team please email safeguarding@methodistchurch.org.uk

Our Support for Survivors and Victims

Reporting abuse may be very difficult and distressing. The Southport Methodist Circuit aims to deal with any contact made by a survivor/victim of abuse in a church-related context with empathy and integrity. Click here for information about how you can get support and advice

Support
You may wish to contact one of these 24-hour helplines to report abuse

NSPCC Child Protection Helpline: 0808 800 5000 (freephone and open 24 hours). Phone if you are worried about a child.
Childline: 0800 1111 (freephone and open 24 hours). Phone if you are a child or young person and are worried about anything.
National Domestic Violence Helpline: 0808 2000 247 (freephone and open 24 hours). Phone if you are experiencing domestic abuse.
Samaritans Helpline: 08457 90 90 90 (open 24 hours). Phone if you feel you are struggling to cope and need someone to talk to.
Action on Elder Abuse Helpline: 080 8808 8141 (freephone Monday to Friday 9-5 pm).
Sexual Violence Support website: Find Specialist Support in The North West – Sexual Violence Support

Church Advice

The Methodist Church has a whole host of resources available, including: Support for survivors, policies, procedures and information, resources on domestic abuse, training, recruitment, hiring Methodist premises and more. These can be found here.

For further information or advice on Safer Recruitment, click here

For further information or advice relating to Safeguarding Training, click here

For general safeguarding enquiries, please contact the Circuit Safeguarding Officer at safeguarding@southportmethodsit.org.uk