CCPAS Press Release
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14 August 2008
‘CHURCHES ARE LIKE SUPERMARKETS - OPEN TO ALL. SO ALL WORSHIPPERS MUST ACT TO ENSURE CHILD SAFETY’, SAYS CCPAS
The Churches’ Child Protection Advisory Service (CCPAS) today likened churches to supermarkets in that they are open to all who wish to enter. That openness poses potential child protection problems, so CCPAS today called on worshippers across the UK to act to ensure the safety of the young people in their care.
CCPAS, one of the UK’s leading experts in advising and training churches, faith and non-faith organisations in safeguarding practices, made the call as it launched a new DVD resource pack. It hopes that all churches which support proper child and vulnerable adult protection policies will play it to their congregations over the next few weeks.
Called Kids are Safe Here, the lively six minute production aims to present a positive child protection message to church congregations and visitors. In particular it seeks to reassure parents and carers that proper safety policies and procedures are in place, and to gather the active support of every worshipper for the measures that have been taken. The DVD may be viewed online at www.ccpas.co.uk. (Click right hand button on site home page).
More than 5,000 copies of Kids are Safe Here have already been distributed to CCPAS member churches with copies also being sent to major Christian denominations in the UK. CCPAS is alsooffering to produce customised versions for users, so individual churches and denominations may incorporate details of their own child protection recommendations, measures and procedures. The DVD pack includes a range of posters relevant to the various sections of the church – the crèche, youth club etc and a web version so they may show it on their own website. The DVD can be purchased from the CCPAS on-line shop for £10 plus p&p.
One church that has already done this is Grace Community Church in Blackburn. The relevant part of its website, which is based on the CCPAS material, explains that everyone working with children in the church has undergone an enhanced-level Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check, is adequately trained and supervised and understands and follows the church’s child protection policy. Grace Community Church’s full child protection statement may be accessed on its website, http://www.graceccblackburn.com/child.html
Executive Director of CCPAS David Pearson says: “Churches throughout Britain have made enormous strides in terms of child protection over the past few years, despite some high profile cases of abuse recently. However, the price of our children’s safety is long term vigilance and it is essential that all worshippers understand the need for and support the measures that are being put in place. The purpose of Kids are Safe Here is therefore to demonstrate that both individual churches and large denominations take child protection seriously, and to encourage those in the pews to play their part in preventing child abuse in our places of worship.”
Media Enquiries: Iain Taylor
01732 461060 or 07979 914217
taylor.comm@tiscali.co.uk
NOTES TO EDITORS:
CCPAS is an independent Christian charity providing professional child protection advice and support across church denominations and organisations throughout the
CCPAS was established in 1977. It assists churches, organisations, social services and other child care agencies as well as individual children and families by: