Survive, alongside colleagues at ACT on IICSA, were disappointed that SYNOD did not feel ready or able, at this time, to implement independent safeguarding to protect children and adults from rape and sexual abuse within the Church of England (CofE).

Survivors of faith-related abuse, (recent and non-recent), often tell us that inaction, cover-up and decisions by the Church to stand by perpetrators caused them additional trauma and harm. The implementation of independent safeguarding was what survivors of church-related abuse had requested. It was also recommended by Prof Alexis Jay – the Chair of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse.

Independent safeguarding would have:

• ensured high standards in safeguarding responses from start to finish with every complaint;
• provided consistent responses;
• evened out resources according to need;
• and provided much better data including the ability to track perpetrators between parishes and dioceses.