Embedded Files
Safeguarding, Policies, and
Safeguarding: so all can flourish
Safeguarding: so all can flourish
Northstowe Church Network is committed to creating communities and activities where children, young people and adults are safe, respected and able to flourish.
Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility. We seek to promote a safer culture, prevent abuse, respond promptly when concerns are raised, support those who have experienced abuse, and safely recruit and support those who hold positions of responsibility.
As a Local Ecumenical Partnership, the Northstowe Church Network has adopted the Church of England's safeguarding policy and procedures as the framework for our shared safeguarding practice, together with the procedures of the Diocese of Ely. This sits within our wider responsibilities as an ecumenical charity and our relationships with our Baptist and United Reformed Church partners.
The Church of England's safeguarding framework is based on Promoting a Safer Church and the current safeguarding Codes of Practice and House of Bishops' guidance contained in the Safeguarding e-manual.
🚨 I have a safeguarding concern
🚨 I have a safeguarding concern
If someone is in immediate danger
If someone is in immediate danger
call 999
If you are worried about someone, or something that has happened in connection with the Northstowe Church Network
If you are worried about someone, or something that has happened in connection with the Northstowe Church Network
Contact our Safeguarding Officer or Minister
Michelle Kemp
Michelle Kemp
Safeguarding Officer and Trustee
safeguarding@northstowe.church
Michelle has served as the Network's Safeguarding Officer since 2022 and is our local point of contact for safeguarding questions and concerns.
Revd Beth Cope
Revd Beth Cope
Pioneer Minister for Northstowe
01954 261 181
+ How we put safeguarding into practice (including offering training)
+ How we put safeguarding into practice (including offering training)
Safer recruitment
Safer recruitment
People taking on roles within the Network are recruited according to the safeguarding requirements appropriate to their role.
This may include:
role descriptions and clear responsibilities;
confidential declarations;
references;
identity and right-to-work checks where appropriate;
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks where the role is legally eligible for one;
appropriate safeguarding learning;
induction, support and supervision.
We do not use DBS checks simply as a general badge of trustworthiness: checks must be appropriate and legally available for the particular role.
The Network follows the current Church of England Safer Recruitment and People Management Code of Practice, including the requirements relevant to volunteers and ecumenical settings.
Safeguarding learning
Safeguarding learning
People in leadership and other roles complete safeguarding learning appropriate to their responsibilities.
The current Church of England core pathways are: Basic Awareness → Foundation → Leadership → Senior Leadership
with additional pathways for particular responsibilities, including Safer Recruitment and People Management and Raising Awareness of Domestic Abuse.
The level required depends on the role. Training is renewed according to the current Learning and Development Framework, normally on a three-year cycle where renewal is required.
We also encourage people who are regularly involved in the life of the Network to consider completing the Church of England's online Basic Awareness pathway, even where it is not required for their role.
Leadership and accountability
Leadership and accountability
Safeguarding is the responsibility of all the Trustees, not only the Safeguarding Officer.
Michelle acts as the Network's designated Safeguarding Officer and point of contact, while the Trustees retain overall governance responsibility.
We use the Parish Safeguarding Dashboard to help monitor our safeguarding responsibilities and maintain appropriate policies, learning and safer recruitment arrangements.
+ Knowing who is on team
+ Knowing who is on team
At our gatherings, our lanyards help you recognise who is taking responsibility for different roles.
🔵 Blue lanyards mean “on team”.
Someone wearing blue is helping as part of the team, but is not taking responsibility for leading that activity on that occasion. This does not mean they are less suitable, trusted or experienced — simply that their role is different that time.
Children in our Worship Gang also wear blue lanyards when they are on team. They may be welcoming, helping or taking part in leading worship, but the blue lanyard makes clear that they are participating as team members, not carrying adult responsibility for the activity.
🌸 Pink lanyards identify people holding a particular position of responsibility.
They have completed the training and checks required for the activity or role shown on their name card — for example, an activity leader, minister or Safeguarding Officer.
The colour therefore describes the role someone is carrying at that particular gathering, rather than their worth, experience or general suitability. The same person might appropriately wear a blue lanyard at one event and a pink one at another.
If you have a safeguarding concern, you can speak to Michelle, our Safeguarding Officer, or to another recognised leader, who will help make sure your concern reaches the right person.
You don’t need to remember the colours. Name cards explain people’s roles, and anyone on team can help you find the right person to speak to.
+ Safeguarding in an ecumenical church
+ Safeguarding in an ecumenical church
Northstowe Church Network is a Local Ecumenical Partnership involving the Church of England, Baptist Union of Great Britain and United Reformed Church. Different denominations have their own safeguarding structures. LEP guidance therefore requires a partnership to agree one safeguarding policy and procedure to follow consistently, rather than choosing between denominational procedures case by case.
The Northstowe Church Network follows the Church of England safeguarding framework and Diocese of Ely procedures for its shared local safeguarding practice.
Where a safeguarding concern involves an ordained or accredited minister, or another matter in which a partner denomination has its own responsibilities, the relevant denominational safeguarding teams may also need to be informed and work together.
+ Support if you have experienced abuse
+ Support if you have experienced abuse
We know that churches have not always been safe places, and that sometimes the Church itself has caused or compounded harm.
You may prefer to speak to someone independent of Northstowe Church Network.
Safe Spaces
Safe Spaces
Safe Spaces is a free and independent service for adults who have experienced abuse through their relationship with the Church of England, Catholic Church in England and Wales, or Church in Wales.
📞 0300 303 1056
It provides confidential support, information, advocacy and help in understanding Church or police processes.
Photography, online safety, and speaking up
Photography, online safety, and speaking up
+ Photography and consent
+ Photography and consent
We enjoy taking photographs that tell the story of life in our communities, but someone's participation in a church event does not mean that they have automatically agreed to be photographed or identified publicly.
Our Photography Policy explains how photographs and video may be taken, stored and used in church publicity, displays, print, websites and social media.
Where individual consent is required, we seek it. We also provide a way for people to tell us that they do not want to appear even in more general group photography.
If you would prefer not to be included in photographs at one of our activities, please tell the session leader.
[Photography Policy →]
[Set your photo preference in ChurchSuite→]
+ Social media and digital communication
+ Social media and digital communication
The same safeguarding principles apply online as they do face-to-face.
Our approach to digital communication is guided by Church of England safeguarding guidance and the principles of the Church of England's Digital Charter: truth, kindness, welcome, inspiration, togetherness and safeguarding.
Church officers and volunteers should use appropriate boundaries and authorised methods of communication, particularly when communicating with children and young people.
If something you see in connection with our online activity causes you a safeguarding concern, please contact our Safeguarding Officer rather than attempting to investigate the matter yourself.
+ Raising concerns and speaking up
+ Raising concerns and speaking up
Not every complaint is a safeguarding concern — but a safeguarding concern must never be treated merely as an ordinary complaint.
If your concern involves the safety or welfare of a child, young person or adult, possible abuse, or the behaviour of someone in a position of trust, use the safeguarding contacts above.
For other concerns about the way the Northstowe Church Network has acted, our Complaints Policy explains how you can raise the matter and how it will be considered.
Our Whistleblowing Policy provides a route for workers and volunteers to raise serious concerns about wrongdoing or unsafe practice.
[Church Complaints Policy →]
[Whistleblowing Policy →]
Our policies
Our policies
These policies help turn our commitments into consistent practice. They are reviewed and updated as required by the Trustees.
Governance, information and operations
Governance, information and operations
Our Equalities Policy reflects our commitment to communities in which people are treated with dignity, respect and fairness, and where discrimination is challenged. You can read more about what this means in practice on our Access & Inclusion page.
Governance documents
Governance documents
+ Constitution and ecumenical governance
+ Constitution and ecumenical governance
Northstowe Church Network is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, registered charity 1206577, and a Local Ecumenical Partnership.
Our principal governing documents are:
CIO Constitution - The Constitution establishes the Northstowe Church Network as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation. It sets out the charity’s purposes, powers, Trustee arrangements and legal responsibilities.
Partnership Agreement - The Partnership Agreement names and sustains our relationship with the Church of England, Baptist Union of Great Britain and United Reformed Church. It describes how the Network belongs within all three traditions and how the partners remain accountable to one another.
Operating Procedures - The Operating Procedures explain how our local church life works in practice, including membership, meetings, leadership and shared accountability.
[View our Charity Commission entry →]
The CIO was registered on 17 January 2024.
Formal Wording of our Charitable Objectives
Formal Wording of our Charitable Objectives
The objects of the Local Ecumenical Partnership (LEP), to be carried out for the public benefit in the geographic area of Northstowe in Cambridgeshire (hereinafter referred to as ‘the area of benefit’), are:
(3.1) To advance the Christian faith in accordance with the principles and practices of the Participating Denominations in the area of benefit. In furtherance of this object, but not otherwise, the LEP may engage in a range of activities, either on its own or with others, including (but not restricted to):
the celebration of public worship in accordance with the doctrines, practices and traditions set out in the Partnership Agreement entered into by the Participating Denominations;
the teaching of the Christian faith;
mission and evangelism;
pastoral work, including visiting the sick and the bereaved;
the provision of facilities with a Christian ethos for the local community, including (but not restricted to) the elderly, the young and other groups with special needs.
the support, within a Christian ethos, of charitable organisations in the UK and overseas.
(3.2) To further or benefit the residents in and around the area of benefit without distinction of sex, sexual orientation, race or of political, religious or other opinions by associating together the said residents and the local authorities, voluntary and other organisations in a common effort to advance education and to provide facilities in the interests of social welfare for recreation and leisure time occupation with the objective of improving the conditions of life for the residents. In furtherance of these objects but not otherwise, the trustees shall have power: To establish or secure the establishment of a community centre and to maintain or manage or co-operate with any statutory authority in the maintenance and management of such a centre for activities promoted by the charity in furtherance of the above objects.
+ Annual reports
+ Annual reports
Our annual reports give a fuller account of our activities, governance, safeguarding, finances and development.
Northstowe Church Network CIO
Northstowe Church Network CIO
Annual Report — year ending 2025
Earlier Pathfinder Church reports
Earlier Pathfinder Church reports
Before the creation of the CIO, the Annual Reports were in the name of Pathfinder Church Northstowe which operated within the structures of the Diocese of Ely.
+ Fundraising standards
+ Fundraising standards
Northstowe Church Network is registered with the Fundraising Regulator.
This means we commit to fundraising that is legal, open, honest and respectful, and to following the Fundraising Code of Practice.
+ For our volunteers and team
+ For our volunteers and team
If you’re part of one of our teams, My ChurchSuite is the easiest place to keep track of what’s happening and when you’re helping.
More details (and a link to the volunteer expense form) below...
📅 Check upcoming events
📅 Check upcoming events
In My ChurchSuite, choose My Events to see events you’re signed up for or have been invited to, as well as the wider church calendar where available. You can open an event to see its details and, where enabled, manage your sign-up.
🙋 Check your rotas
🙋 Check your rotas
Choose My Rotas to see your upcoming serving commitments.
From there you can:
see when and where you are next serving;
view the full rota;
accept or decline a serving request where that option is enabled;
add dates when you are unavailable;
arrange a rota swap once you have agreed it with another team member; and
sign up for additional dates on rotas where self-sign-up is available.
Your Next Serving view shows your upcoming rota commitments for the next three months, and can also show serving dates for linked family members.
Can’t see My Rotas?
It only appears when you are part of an active ministry, have a future serving commitment, can sign up to a published rota, have a linked family member on a rota, or are a ministry overseer. Get in touch if you have any questions: hello@northstowe.church
✉️ Find emails from ChurchSuite
✉️ Find emails from ChurchSuite
If your inbox is busy, My ChurchSuite can also help you find messages that have been sent to you through ChurchSuite.
Open the Communications area to see emails and other communications sent to you through ChurchSuite. This can be especially useful if you know the church has sent something but you can’t easily find it among the rest of your email.
It gives you one place to check recent ChurchSuite messages without having to search your whole inbox.
💷 Claiming volunteer expenses
💷 Claiming volunteer expenses
We don’t want anyone to be out of pocket because they volunteer with the Northstowe Church Network.
If you have agreed expenses to reclaim, please complete our Volunteer Expense Claim Form and provide receipts as requested.
[Volunteer Expense Claim Form →]
If you are unsure whether something can be claimed, please check with our Treasurer before spending:
treasurer@northstowe.church
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