CCPAS - Press Release

SANCTUARY BECOMES PART OF CCPAS
CCPAS now able to support churches attended by sexual offenders

The Churches’ Child Protection Advisory Service (CCPAS) today announced that Sanctuary has become part of its organisation. Sanctuary was established in 2002 to give training, support and guidance to the high number of churches attended by known child sexual abusers, and to a variety of Christian groups which work with such offenders

to minimise the risk posed by sexual offenders by helping them to re-settle safely in what can often be hostile communities.
to encourage better engagement and dialogue between churches and public protection agencies.

Richard Foot, who founded Sanctuary and who will continue to run it within CCPAS, commented: “I originally trained as a Child Care Officer but have worked with adult offenders for most of my working life. Sanctuary works from the base point that all people – even those who have committed serious sexual offences - are still very much loved by God.

“The link up with CCPAS will give wider prominence to our work, which will help it to develop and to secure its long term future. It will also give us access to better staff and administrative backup and support than we had previously”.

CCPAS pioneered the use of contracts outlining boundaries and pastoral support when working with known sexual offenders which have been widely adopted by the denominations. CCPAS receives on average 7 calls a week to their helpline from churches faced with an offender joining their faith group.

David Pearson, Executive Director of CCPAS, commented: “We are delighted that Sanctuary has joined CCPAS, for two key reasons. Firstly, it builds on our existing work with sex offenders through our helpline and our resources, including our ‘Help….’ booklets and our training DVD, entitled “SOS – Supporting Offenders Safely’”.*

“Secondly, it brings additional, specialist, skills to CCPAS’s work with churches which are attended by sexual offenders. We are sure the link up will be a great success”.

Iain Taylor
Taylor Communications
01732 461060 or 07979 914217
taylor.comm@tiscali.co.uk

CCPAS is an independent Christian charity providing professional child protection advice and support across church denominations and organisations throughout 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: