Safeguarding

1 Our vision

The vision statement of Sandhurst Baptist Church is
“Bringing Christ and His love to our communities”.

In seeking to fulfill this vision, we will welcome and care for all within our community, including children and adults at risk. We make our premises available to organisations working with children and adults at risk.

2       Our safeguarding responsibilities

The church recognises its responsibility in safeguarding all children, young people and adults at risk, regardless of gender, ethnicity or ability.

As members of the 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.

2.1    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-cooperate with any statutory investigation into any suspected abuse linked with the church.

2.2   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 safeguarding of children and adults at risk.

2.3   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.

2.4   Safer working practices
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.

2.5    A safer community
The church is committed to the prevention of bullying. The church will 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.

3       Safeguarding contact points within our church

The church has appointed the following to form part of the church safeguarding team.

3.1    Designated Person for Safeguarding (DPS): Selwyn Skone
He 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
Contact can be made by phone:     0118 328 7117
                                      or e mail:    safeguarding.sandhurstbaptists@gmail.com

3.2    Deputy Designated Person for Safeguarding (DDPS):  Rev Amanda Redwood
She will assist the DPS in helping 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. Contact details: 01628 781930 / bhbcminister@gmail.com

3.3    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. Contact details: tim@jinkerson.co.uk / 0118 328 3282

3.4    Our church minister would also an important part of the Church Safeguarding Team. Where possible the 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.

4       Putting our policy into practice

4.1   A copy of the safeguarding policy statement will be displayed permanently on the church noticeboard and church office and made available on our church website.

4.2   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.

4.3    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

4.4   The policy and procedures will be monitored and reviewed annually, and any necessary revisions adopted into the policy and implemented through our procedures.

4.5   The policy statement will be read annually at the church AGM, together with a report on the outcome of the annual safeguarding review.

Planning your Visit

See you Sunday?

It can be daunting going to a church for the first time. There is great variety in the way Christians worship.
We are more relaxed and less formal than many, but we try not to be casual and thoughtless.

We hope the following information will give you an idea of what to expect if you join us on a Sunday morning.

Where and when?

We meet each week in our Chapel for a service starting at 10:30am.
This usually ends between 11.30am and noon.
On the first Sunday of the month, we share Communion together.

For any first visit, we recommend arriving 10-15 minutes early.

Car parking at the Chapel is limited but there are two, free, public car parks not far away along Yorktown Road.
In one direction there are spaces beside the Library and in the other, beside the Memorial Park.

There is wheelchair access to both the Chapel and the Hall.
There is an accessible toilet in the Chapel Hall.

What?

On arrival one of our welcomers will greet you and help you find a seat.
There will be time to meet other folk before the service begins, but if you would rather sit quietly, please feel free to do so.

After the service we serve tea, coffee and biscuits in our Hall. This is the building behind the Chapel.
Sharing refreshments is a great way to meet people, or simply to take time to find your bearings.
Refreshments are free.

What happens in the service?

The service begins with a welcome and some notices.
There follows a time of songs, readings and prayers.
The words for songs and other items, are displayed by data projector.

There is usually a talk (sermon) that explores a passage or idea taken from the Bible

At some point during the service a collection will be made.
Many members of our congregation give to the church directly by the banking system.
Others still like to give cash.
Don't feel you must contribute, or feel embarrassed to let the collection bag pass by.

Children can stay with their parent or a grown-up throughout the service.
We value worshipping God all together as a family.

On Communion Sundays, we enact in a very simple way, the Last Supper that Jesus shared with His disciples.
As we remember what took place and what it all meant, small pieces of bread and little cups of grape juice are offered to all.
You do not have to take part.
Please feel free to let the elements pass by.
We hope just being there will be helpful to you.