The Diocese of Down and Connor is committed to promoting the welfare of its children and young people and all the lay faithful.
The practice of safeguarding within the diocese refers to the wide range of services, plans and activities that are put in place to protect both children, young people, and adults.
Safeguarding within our Church community is about making our Church a safe, welcoming, and enriching place for children, young people, and adults and those who may be at risk of harm. Although the Safeguarding Office may take a lead role in outlining the key aspects of what needs to be in place to protect children, young people, and adults from harm, safeguarding is very much a shared community responsibility in which each and every one of us has a part to play, whether that is reporting a concern about a child or adult or by volunteering in your parish in any activity.
Please visit the Down and Connor Safeguarding Website for further information: https://downandconnorsafeguarding.com/
(1) REPORTING A CONCERN
Please visit the Down and Connor Safeguarding Website for further information: https://downandconnorsafeguarding.com/
If you have a concern, suspicion or allegation of abuse of Children or Adults at Risk of Abuse, you can contact any of the following:
a) PSNI: Call 101
b) Belfast Health & Social Care Gateway Team: Call 02890507000 (9am-5pm) Or 02895049999 (out of hours)
c) The Diocesan Safeguarding Designated Liaison Person: Call 02890492798 Or mobile 07534992124
(2) AFFECTED BY ABUSE
Please visit the Down and Connor Safeguarding Website for further information: https://downandconnorsafeguarding.com/
The Safeguarding Office can share with you a number of options, which you may wish to consider by way of support.
Support Person – This is not the Designated Liaison Person, but a person, appointed by the Diocese, whose role is to assist and support you when making the complaint. The Support Person is someone from whom you can seek advice and guidance about what is happening. Their role is to assist and ensure that your wishes and concerns are put forward to the Diocese. The Support Person does not act in a counselling capacity or provide legal advice but is someone with whom you can discuss your concerns. They will help you consider what type of support may best meet your needs and may also help you understand more fully what services are available to you. The Support Person works alongside the DLP and can explain what is happening throughout the process so that you are kept fully informed.
Towards Healing – This is an independent organisation, funded by the Catholic Church in Ireland, providing professional support for people who have experienced institutional, clerical or religious abuse in Ireland. You can contact this support service directly by accessing their website (www.towardshealing.ie). which explains in more detail the nature of the service they provide. They can also be contacted directly by phone (Freephone: 1800 303416 in the Republic of Ireland or freephone 0800 0963315 in Northern Ireland and the
UK).
Towards Peace – This is a spiritual support service for survivors of abuse by Catholic personnel within the church. The aim of this service is to provide a safe, supportive space, where people who have been affected by abuse in a church context can be accompanied as they seek their own experience of spiritual peace, one step at a time. The service can be contacted by accessing their website (www.towardspeace.ie), by phone +353 (0) 1 5053028, or by mobile +353 (0) 86 7710533.