Safeguarding Summary

SAFEGUARDING POLICY FOR NEW HOPE COMMUNITY CHURCH

Section 1

Details of the place of worship

Name of Place of Worship: New Hope Community Church

Address: The Beacon, Old Lane, Halfway, S20 3GZ

Tel No: 0114 247 2994

General Email address: enquiriesnewhopecc@outlook.com

Pastor: Dawn Howe

Pastor Contact Telephone: 07791471728

Safeguarding Coordinator Name: Jacqui Gavins

Safeguarding Coordinator Contact: – 07309858955 - email: jacqui.nhcc@outlook.com

Membership of Denomination: None/Independent

Charity Number: 1151328

Insurance Company: Ansvar : Employers and Public Liability

Brief description of New Hope Community Church:
We believe that church is more than a meeting held in a building on a Sunday. In line with our statement of faith and trust document, we seek to actively engage with the local community by showing the love of Christ. On a practical level we aim to achieve this through our Food Bank, Furniture Project, Community Mental Health Support Group, Charity Shop and Coffee Shop.

We have put in place Standard Operating Procedures and safe working practices across our community engagement. We, the trustees and/or leadership team, have assessed that a DBS is required, we will seek guidance from our agency and agree to pay all costs incurred.

Our commitment
As a Leadership we recognise the need to provide a safe and caring environment for children, young people and adults. We acknowledge that children, young people and adults can be the victims of physical, sexual, emotional and spiritual abuse, and neglect. We accept the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant of Human Rights, which states that everyone is entitled to “all the rights and freedoms set forth therein, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status”. We also concur with the Convention on the Rights of the Child which states that children should be able to develop their full potential, free from hunger and want, neglect and abuse. They have a right to be protected from “all forms of physical or mental violence, injury or abuse, neglect or negligent treatment or exploitation, including sexual abuse, while in the care of parent(s), legal guardian(s), or any other person who has care of the child.” As a Leadership we have therefore adopted the procedures set out in this safeguarding policy in accordance with statutory guidance. We are committed to build constructive links with statutory and voluntary agencies involved in safeguarding.

The policy and any attached practice guidelines are based on the ten Safe and Secure safeguarding standards published by thirtyone-eight.

Prevention
Understanding abuse and neglect

Defining child abuse or abuse against an adult is a difficult and complex issue. A person may abuse by inflicting harm or failing to prevent harm. Children and adults in need of protection may be abused within a family, an institution or a community setting. Very often the abuser is known or in a trusted relationship with the child or adult.

Safer recruitment
The Leadership will ensure all workers will be appointed, trained, supported and supervised in accordance with government guidance on safe recruitment.

Safeguarding training
The Leadership is committed to on-going safeguarding training and development opportunities for all workers, developing a culture of awareness of safeguarding issues to help protect everyone. Safeguarding training
The Leadership is committed to on-going safeguarding training and development opportunities for all workers, developing a culture of awareness of safeguarding issues to help protect everyone.

Management of Workers – Codes of Conduct
As a Leadership we are committed to supporting all workers and ensuring they receive support and supervision. All workers have been issued with a code of conduct towards children, young people and adults with care and support needs.

Practice Guidelines
As an organisation / place of worship working with children, young people and adults with care and support needs we wish to operate and promote good working practice. This will enable workers to run activities safely, develop good relationships and minimise the risk of false or unfounded accusation.

As well as a general code of conduct for workers we also have specific good practice guidelines for every activity we are involved in and these are attached or in the appendices.

Working in Partnership
We have clear guidelines in regards to our expectations of those with whom we work in partnership, whether in the UK or not. We will discuss with all partners our safeguarding expectations and have a partnership agreement for safeguarding.
We believe good communication is essential in promoting safeguarding, both to those we wish to protect, to everyone involved in working with children and adults and to all those with whom we work in partnership. This safeguarding policy is just one means of promoting safeguarding.

Should you require further details please contact the Safeguard lead or church Pastor.

Hello and welcome to our church. If you are a new visitor, we have a page for you to get to know us and learn more about planning a visit.
Click to see more

Visitors click here

Planning your Visit

A Warm Hello

The following information is specifically for those planning a visit, so that you know, beforehand, what to expect on a Sunday morning.

Where and When

We meet at the Church Building (details here) for our Sunday Service starting at 10:00 am. For your first visit, we recommend arriving 10-15 minutes early to ensure you get a parking space and find somewhere to sit before the service begins. When you arrive, you will be greeted by someone on our Welcome Team.

Accessibility: There is wheelchair access into the building, and a stairlift for anyone who requires as the church meeting is held on the 1st floor. Please let one of the Welcome Team know on your arrival and they will help you to get set up. The disabled toilet is in the main foyer on the ground floor.

Our Service

The main service begins at 10:00 am with a warm welcome from one of our team members. Then follows a time of sung worship. We typically have 3 songs lasting approximately 20 minutes. Sometimes a person might pray out loud or read a small passage from the bible. We then share news and notices, usually about what’s going on in the life of the church. There will be a sermon that is bible based and that we can apply to our everyday life. We then finish with a time of worship, followed by tea or coffee and a time of fellowship.
There is always opportunity to receive prayer at the end of the service should you require.
Further information can be found on our "About us" page.

images: Services

What about my kids?

We have a great programme lined up for kids of all ages:

Seedlings (3-8 years)

Children stay with their parent or grown-up at the start of the service for the welcome, songs and notices. We really value worshipping God all together as a family. At the end of the notices someone will announce that it’s time for the younger members to go to their various groups.

The kids group activities vary depending on the age but usually there is a friendly welcome, bible stories, testimonies, praying, music, craft, drama, fun games and free play.

Children

Getting Connected

Small Groups

While Sundays are a great way to meet new people, it is often in smaller gatherings that you can really get to know someone. Being part of one of our small groups allows you to make new friends, share together and support each other. We have a variety of groups that meet throughout the week, some afternoons and some evenings. Check out Small Groups and see if there’s one that you could join, or we can put you in touch with a small group leader who will be more than happy to invite you along to their group.

Serving and Volunteering

If you want to get involved in the life of the church and help us make Sundays run smoothly, please speak with one of the leaders.
There may be further opportunities available in foodbank, furniture project and charity shop.

Get in touch with us to plan your visit

If you would like to come and visit the church beforehand you are more than welcome! Get in touch and we can arrange a time that suits you.

Name:

Telephone:

Email Address:
Comments / Questions or anything you would like to say?

Next, we will contact you by email to say hello and help arrange anything necessary for your visit.

Introduction to a couple of the church leaders, further details can be found on the staff and leadership page.


Alan		Dawn
Alan was part of the original church planting team which started the church in 2007. He holds a theology degree from Mattersey Hall, a Pentecostal and Charismatic Christian College. Alan loves to teach the Word of God and is passionate about people being discipled and thereby attaining their full potential "in Christ."		Dawn is married to Martin and has been in leadership since 2010, she is our main Safeguard point of contact. Dawn has 30 plus years experience of working in the NHS, She recently took a break to attend Bible College. Her passion is for overseas mission which has taken her to the Philippines, Kenya and India where she has been involved in both children's work and healthcare, demonstrating God's love in practical ways. Dawn and Martin have a son, Joshua. In our Vision presentation in August 2022, it was announced to the church that Dawn has become "Pastor in training" and will replace Alan when he retires.

We hope that whoever you are, you will feel at home at our church.

Best Wishes

Alan