Safeguarding

Manchester Cathedral works hard to safeguard children and young people, vulnerable adults and those in abusive relationships. We aim to create safe environments, where children and young people are nurtured and protected; and where all people, and especially those who may be vulnerable for any reason, are able to worship and pursue their faith journey with encouragement and in safety.

We follow the Cathedral Safeguarding Handbook for our safeguarding policy and procedures. We act promptly on any complaints made, and work in partnership with Manchester Diocese, the police and social care services where children or adults at risk have been harmed or are at risk of harm or mistreatment.  We carefully select, support and train all of our workers (both paid and unpaid) in line with safer recruitment principles, including the use of criminal records disclosures and barring schemes wherever applicable.  Our Disclosure and Barring service is provided by Thirtyone:eight Opens in new window  (formerly The Churches’ Child Protection Advisory Service, or CCPAS).

Who to contact

If you have a general enquiry relating to safeguarding at Manchester Cathedral, please contact Canon Nigel Ashworth; (Cathedral Safeguarding Coordinator) on 0161 833 2220 (extension 222).

The Diocesan and Cathedral Safeguarding Advisor is Abbey Clephane-Wilson who can be contacted at Enable JavaScript to view protected content.

If you need to make urgent contact outside of office hours then please call Thirtyone:eight Opens in new window on 0303 003 1111.

Listening line - 0303 003 1111

This is a special helpline that has been set up for those who have been affected either directly or indirectly by abuse in a church or cathedral setting. The helpline will be staffed by Thirtyone:eight - an independent safeguarding charity and is available 7 days a week. You may be asked to leave a message but will be called back. Calls will be handled sensitively and confidentially.

To make a complaint about the handling of a safeguarding matter

A complaint about how safeguarding has been handled can be raised by writing to the Cathedral Administrator, unless the complaint is about that person in which case the complaint should be raised directly with the Dean.  Safeguarding complaints will be responded to in line with the House of Bishops’ Safeguarding Policy and Practice Guidance.  Should the complaint involve the Cathedral Safeguarding Advisor or be about policy, procedures or professional advice given then the complaint will be referred to the diocese and the Safeguarding Complaints Procedure will be followed.  The Cathedral has a Grievance and Complaints Procedure for staff wishing to complain about the handling of any issues including those around safeguarding.  Should a Cathedral Officer wish to pass on information about a wrongdoing that they consider to be in the public interest, there is a Whistleblowing Policy detailed in the Staff Handbook and Volunteer Code of Conduct.