Safeguarding
We take the safeguarding and care of children and vulnerable adults very seriously at St Matthew’s
St Matthew’s has adopted the Diocesan Safeguarding Policy (‘A Safe Church’) which you can find here.
Every person who works with children or vulnerable adults at St Matthew’s has to be DBS checked. In addition, those who hire our facilities have to abide by the Diocesan safeguarding policy.
The Parish of Wimbledon Complaints, Grievance, and Whistleblowing policies can be found here.
If you have concerns about a child, young person or adult in need or at risk of harm; or concerns about anyone or anything that may put someone else or you at risk of harm (this may include concerns about: people in positions of authority within the Church; or people who attend), you can speak to:
our Safeguarding Officer Catherine Gilonis (07803 038 732, safeguarding@stmatthewswimbledon.org)
our parish Priest Alastair Newman (07434 647101, vicar@stmatthewswimbledon.org)
our Churchwardens Jane Jefford and Peter Welsh (wardens@stmatthewswimbledon.org)
or to the Diocesan safeguarding team:
Safeguarding referrals / general enquiries: safeguarding@southwark.anglican.org / Telephone: 0207 939 9441 (Mon to Fri 9am – 5pm)
Safeguarding training enquiries: safeguardingtraining@southwark.anglican.org / Telephone: 0207 939 9476
Admin and DBS enquiries: safeguardingadmin@southwark.anglican.org / 020 7939 9478
For urgent out of hours advice: (Mon to Fri, after 5pm / weekends and bank holidays) please contact 020 3874 6743.
If you suspect you or someone else is at risk of immediate harm, phone 999 and any of the following agencies
Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) 020 8871 7899 Out of Hours : 020 8871 6000
Adult Social Services Access Team 020 8871 7707 Out of Hours : 020 8871 6000
NSPCC Freephone Child Protection Helpline on 0808 800 5000
Other sources of information, advice and help:
A wide range of local support can be accessed by inputting a postcode into the following resource.
Hub of Hope – UK’s leading support database, provided by a national mental health charity and brings local, national, peer, community, charity, private and NHS services together in one place for the first time, accessed via the following link: https://hubofhope.co.uk/
Further sources of support may be found here:
NSPCC Child Protection Helpline: 0808 800 5000 (lines free and open 24 hours). Phone if you are worried about a child.
Child-line: 0800 1111 (lines free 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 (lines free and open 24 hours). Phone if you are experiencing domestic abuse.
Samaritans Helpline: 116 123 (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 (free phone Monday to Friday 9-5pm).