Child Safeguarding January 2024
Dear Friends,
For some time now we have felt that it is important that we write to you all about the matter of child safeguarding.
We are all deeply saddened and upset by incidents of abuse that have recently come to light. We want to support those who have been victims, and we want to apologise for any cases that weren’t dealt with correctly in the past. We feel for these victims who still suffer from these cases. We want to learn from this and our purpose is to do all we can to protect children and to help those that have been affected. We want to ask all of you, and parents in particular, to be vigilant.
We also feel it is important that you are made aware of our child safeguarding statement/policy, procedures and practice.
The protection and welfare of children is of the utmost importance, and we want to do everything possible to ensure that no children come to any harm while involved with our fellowship. To this end, a child protection policy was put in place in 2018 with professional legal help to ensure it complied with regulations in the Republic of Ireland (ROI) and Northern Ireland (Nl). It sets out what we as a fellowship are doing to protect children and how we deal with any incidents that are notified.
Since 2018, a Designated Liaison Person (for ROI)/Designated Officer (for Nl) and two deputies have been appointed to provide information and advice on safeguarding children within the fellowship. They are responsible for ensuring that reporting procedures are followed correctly and promptly. Their names and contact details are listed overleaf. If you have any concerns or questions at any time, please contact any of the Designated Liaison Persons/Designated Officers or any worker.
We now want to make sure the policy is available to all. Anyone who wishes can get an electronic or paper copy of the policy by requesting it from any of the Designated Liaison Persons/Designated Officers or a worker. Designated Liaison Persons/Designated Officers are also in a position to answer queries or to put you in contact with someone else who can do so.
In ROI, workers are mandated persons’ who are legally required to report allegations of child abuse to the authorities in ROI. In order to help workers to fully understand their responsibilities a meeting for workers was held in January which was dedicated to enhanced training with the overall aim of improving our child protection practice.
Guidance in ROI and Nl makes it clear that the safety and welfare of children is everyone’s responsibility. Accordingly, anyone who has been a victim or has reasonable grounds for concern about child abuse should either report this directly to the appropriate authorities or contact a Designated Liaison Person/Designated Officer for advice.
Where an allegation against a worker or a friend is disclosed to a worker, or a Designated Liaison Person/Designated Officer we will immediately report this to the relevant authorities in accordance with the requirements of the law. The senior workers and the Designated Liaison Person/Designated Officer in consultation with workers, and friends as considered appropriate, and any professional advice, will decide on actions required to safeguard against further instances of potential abuse.
In general, a person who is subject to an allegation will not be allowed to attend fellowship meetings until the allegation has been thoroughly addressed.
The words from James 3,17 – “easy to be intreated” – has been in our thoughts. This is what we are striving for, along with the other qualities in this verse:
“But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.”
We want to emphasise that we are here for you all and that we care.
With kindest regards,
Craig Fulton & John Conley
Child Safeguarding Information
E-Learning Programme
An e-learning programme is available to support people of all backgrounds and experience in recognising concerns about children and reporting such concerns if they arise. Please access the programme via this link:
https://www.tusla.ie/children-first/children-first-e-learning-programme
Child Safeguarding Statement
The Fellowship’s Child Safeguarding Statement is available to all and can be obtained in electronic or paper form by requesting it from any of the Designated Liaison Persons/Designated Officers or from a worker.
Reporting Concerns
If you have reasonable grounds for concern about child abuse, please make contact with one of the Designated Liaison Persons/Designated Officers listed below who will be able to offer advice on what you should do. If you do not wish to make contact with a Designated Liaison Person/Designated Officer, you can also make contact directly with the authorities.
If a child is in immediate danger, you should contact the authorities immediately or telephone the PSNI/An Garda Siochana.
Tusia
www.tusla.ie à Child Protection and Welfare à Reporting Concerns or Contact a Social Worker
An Garda Siochana
www.garda.ie à Search Stations (or 999/112 in emergency)
Northern Ireland’s Health and Social Care Trusts
www.nidirect.gov.uk/Dublications/gateway-service-teams-contact-details
Police Service of Northern Ireland
www.psni.police.uk/ à Search Report (or 999 emergency/101 non-emergency)
Designated Liaison Person/Designated Officer
Adrian Landen / +353 (0)87 824 9157
Deputy Designated Liaison Person/Designated Officer
Janice Irvine / +44 (0)7470 061020
Deputy Designated Liaison Person/Designated Officer
Laura Griffin / +353 (0)86 822 3322
WINGS for Truth 
“The protection and welfare of children is of the utmost importance, and we want to do everything possible to ensure that no children come to any harm while involved with our fellowship”. At the very TOP of the agenda to keep kids safe, if that really is of “the utmost importance” — STOP HAVING GROWN MEN SLEEPING IN HOMES WITH CHILDREN!! With all the money that the organization has it’s not necessary for there to be “homeless adults”. Further, why don’t workers get jobs, something to occupy their time and minds, other than the meeting or two a week?
–
Then it’s said, “The words from James 3,17 – “easy to be intreated” – has been in our thoughts. This is what we are striving for, along with the other qualities in this verse:
“But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.” …This is what we are striving?! If you’re coming into my house and you don’t have these characteristics already but that is what your shooting for, and your my ” worker”, the one I hold highest in life? Your only “striving for” these attributes? Really, who you?
In its 2013 CSA Guidelines produced by WINGS, the homestay system was addressed. While many of those who had input into the guidelines preferred abolition of the homestay system, it was eventually modified to call for short stays only where minors are present in homes. We don’t have an issue with workers staying in homes with adults only, but would prefer no homestay where there are minors present or maximum 1 day.
“Parents or guardians are the decision makers as to a home visit, including visit length, and the sleeping arrangements for their family and for worker visitors.
Where areas have limited homes resulting in longer visits in homes with minors, a viable option is the use of “baches.”
Brief visits of overnight stays rather than long stays is preferable in homes where there are minors.”
Who Are You?
WOW! BINGO! Reminds me of the man in humble attire, who the sales men all ignored, who a short time later purchased and paid for a Porsche. It is ALL in the ‘what they want you to think’! NOT Know!
lol its Ireland tho, they haveva “mission” every night of the week !
“We also feel it is important that you are made aware of our child safeguarding statement/policy, procedures and practice”.
Statements, policy, procedures and practices are all written on paper by people with well intended consequences. All the rules in the world won’t stop the sexual predator that has power and control, as automatically given along with the title of ” worker”, that they all hold. Criminals don’t care what is written on paper.
@who are you?
I totally agree with your post. At most the “workers” have two gospel meetings a week and rely on others to bring in “outsiders”. I have had young very healthy brother workers here on visits who were bored mentally and physically out of their minds because of the sitting around. They don’t seem to give spiritual visits, that are uplifting to the person who is hosting them. All who have visited me in these later years, can’t wait to get their phones out to see what is on their phone.!! I have felt very insulted by this and have made up my mind to not invite them for a meal anymore. When Jesus taught to visit the sick, and elderly, he didn’t mean to play on your phone. Besides this, “GOOD MANNERS ” wouldn’t allow me to open mine while a guest in someone’s home.
You are so right about getting a job !! Paul worked at tent making to put in his time, while also preaching to those who visited at his house while under guard. Paul who they say, was probably the most educated man in his day, never thought it was beneath him to work and keep busy. Perhaps there is a lesson in this for all. !! Especially those who can’t keep their hands “OFF” of children. Today, they seem to feel “their rights” far exceed the rights of those who lived in the days of the bible.
“You are so right about getting a job !! Paul worked at tent making to put in his time, while also preaching to those who visited at his house while under guard. Paul who they say, was probably the most educated man in his day, never thought it was beneath him to work and keep busy. Perhaps there is a lesson in this for all. !! Especially those who can’t keep their hands “OFF” of children. Today, (workers) seem to feel “their rights” far exceed the rights of those who lived in the days of the bible”. There is a huge difference between the apostle Paul, a follower of Jesus, and “workers ” who are followers of William Irvine. That is a stark difference! Jesus was fulfilling the plan of God. William Irvine was fulfilling his own plan, where William Irvine was enriching himself and pursuing his own agenda. People learn from who they follow after.
Just a few thoughts here.
First of all, a Child Protection Policy was put in place in 2018? This was 6 years ago, how come the most of us did not know of it’s existence until two weeks ago?
Now, if we actually want to read the document, we have to request it from a worker, or one of the designated people. Given that there has been no discussion encouraged around the subject, I really can’t see too many folk jumping through the hoops to get their hands on a copy. I feel that one copy could easily have been made available to each bishop and have them copy and distribute.
Forgive me if I’m incorrect, but is this not a public document that should be displayed at all meeting places? Other youth groups who use the halls that we use, will often have their policy pinned to the notice board. It is my understanding that where a child safety policy is in place, that it must be displayed where there are children using a facility.
The letter states that we want to learn from past mistakes.Yet, we know that known perpetrators are freely attending most meetings (including tonight’s gospel meeting!) Somehow, that doesn’t seem to be a lesson well learned. I’m getting a feeling of deja vu back to the same old cover up, shuffle about, don’t talk about it, of forty years ago. We can’t expect a different result if we keep doing the same thing.
Is the Child Safeguarding Policy posted for actual purposes for change after such a horrendous number of sexual assaults have occurred, or is this being touted for political reasons? To make it just look like something is being done? This comment is very valid: “We can’t expect a different result if we keep doing the same thing”. So what is it?
I find it quite curious that though those in meetings have struggled to come to any consistent set of policies that bridge across geographies, yet the much-maligned Catholic Church has somehow managed to do so, making the ruling in April 2023:
“One of the major outcomes of that meeting was the promulgation of a sweeping new church law, Vos Estis Lux Mundi (“You are the light of the world”), mandating for the first time that all priests and members of religious orders worldwide are obligated to report any suspicions of abuse or its cover-up.”
Note the words “mandating”, “all”, and “obligated”.
There is no excuse for either the primary crime, nor a subsequent cover-up.