Safeguarding is not always straightforward

Safeguarding within faith communities is often approached with care, commitment, and good intentions.

But harm rarely presents in obvious ways.

It can sit within trusted relationships, be shaped by power and influence, and remain unseen where there is a strong culture of trust, belief, or loyalty.

Many communities feel confident in their safeguarding until they are faced with a situation that is complex, uncertain, or difficult to interpret.

What this checklist is for

This checklist goes beyond policies and procedures to explore how safeguarding works in real situations, particularly where risk is less visible. It is designed to support reflection on how safeguarding is:

• Understood

• Recognised

• Responded to

• Lived in practice

What you’ll gain

By working through this checklist, you will:

• Identify where safeguarding feels clear and embedded

• Notice where there may be uncertainty or inconsistency

• Recognise where risk may be harder to see or interpret

• Reflect on how culture, relationships, and communication influence safeguarding

Who this is for

This checklist is for:

• Faith leaders and leadership teams

• Safeguarding leads within faith communities

• Trustees and governance roles

• Local authorities working alongside faith organisations

• Anyone responsible for the safety and wellbeing of others within a faith setting

A different way of thinking about safeguarding

Safeguarding is not only about having the right processes in place.

It is about whether we can recognise risk when it does not present in expected ways.

This includes understanding how:

• Trust and familiarity can obscure concerns

• Power and spiritual authority can influence decision-making

• Difference (including neurodivergence) can affect how risk is experienced, communicated, and understood

About this work

This checklist reflects the approach I take in my safeguarding work supporting organisations and communities to recognise and respond to risk where it is not always obvious.

I bring over 30 years of experience working with children, young people and families, both in the UK and internationally, including time as a manager at the NSPCC and in anti-human trafficking work.

My work focuses on strengthening safeguarding practice in areas where harm can be easily overlooked, including faith contexts, hidden vulnerability, and the impact of difference on how risk is understood.

Your Faith Community Safeguarding Checklist

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