CCPAS Press Release

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20th November 2002

CCPAS ISSUES CHURCHES WITH SAFE GUIDELINES FOR SANTA CLAUS

Amidst alarming reports that British department stores are abandoning the traditional 'Santa's Grotto' due to fears of child abuse, the Churches' Child Protection Advisory Service today issued guidelines for churches and other children's workers who want to run a Santa's grotto.

CCPAS Director David Pearson said: "Child protection is vital, but we don't want to take the innocent fun out of Christmastime. It is important that parents have confidence in the way that workers, including Father Christmas, have contact with their children.

"Christmas is one of the highlights of the year for children, and there is no reason for shops and schools to shut down Christmas traditions such as 'Santa's Grotto' simply in fear of what might happen. All that is needed is to apply some common sense and sensible child protection guidelines."

CCPAS' recommended guidelines for Santa's grotto's are:

• Ideally, use one of your organisation's 'approved' children's workers as Santa. The worker will then have been recruited in accordance with the Government's 'Safe from Harm' policy, and a criminal records check will have been undertaken.
• If using someone else, then Father Christmas should always have a suitably dressed assistant present, who is an approved worker.
• Ensure that touching and contact remain in the child's control. Provide a seat or a bench for the children to sit on, rather than encouraging them to sit on Santa's lap.
• Ensure that Santa is in an area which is as well-lit and public.
• Advertise the event well in advance and invite parents to be present.
• Never take chances, if you feel uneasy about a particular Santa, then go with your 'gut' feeling and ensure someone else takes over.

The guidelines, which form part of the comprehensive advice CCPAS offer, will this week be sent out to hundreds of churches, Christian Institutions and organisations across the country.

Dave Pearson concluded, "Parent's fears are understandable because on the one hand children are being warned to stay away from strangers, but here we have a situation where they are being encouraged to frequent with a stranger, even sit on his lap. However, provided churches adopt sensible safety procedures, we see no reason why they should not follow the lead of Marks and Spencer and provide traditional entertainment this Christmas."

Enquiries:

Allen Moxham
EA Media Consultancy
020 7207 2154 or 07747566596

www.media-consultancy.co.uk

NOTES TO EDITORS

CCPAS is an independent Christian charity providing professional child protection advice and support to churches and organisations in the UK

CCPAS was established in 1977. It assists churches, organisations, social services and other child care agencies as well as individual children and families by:

• helping churches and other organisations adopt safe practices in order to protect children from abuse - and youth workers from the possibility of false allegations
• advising on individual cases, giving ongoing help to leaders and others. CCPAS has a helpline - 0845 120 4550 - with an out of hours office service
• training across the UK and providing "in-house" training and other resources
• acting as external consultants to denominational/organisational child protection advisors
• counselling individual adults or children about past or present instances of abuse.