This week marks the first anniversary of the publication of the Makin Review which focused on the failures of the Church’s response to the horrific abuse perpetrated by John Smyth.
To mark the anniversary, the Church of England has issued a statement from the lead safeguarding bishops, the Right Reverends Joanne Grenfell and Robert Springett. The National Safeguarding Steering Group also published a paper setting out the progress of the Makin Review recommendations.
In our own Diocese, there has been a continued focus on safeguarding compliance but also a strengthened vision that to keep vulnerable people protected in our churches, safeguarding has to be everyone’s responsibility.
Here is a 12-month snapshot of just some of the work to keep vulnerable people in our diocese protected.
- Over 1,400 DBS checks carried out as part of Safer Recruitment
- 1,604 people completed at least the Basic Awareness safeguarding training module
- 317 people completed the safeguarding Leadership training, with three in-person sessions facilitated by the Diocesan Safeguarding Team in the last 6 months.
- 141 parishes are at the top level 3 in the Parish Dashboard completion. This is the system used to record compliance with all safeguarding requirements including training and risk assessments.
- 6 Safeguarding Surgeries delivered to provide a space for Parish Safeguarding Officers and their Incumbents to learn and share experience on a variety of safeguarding issues and risk types.
- The Diocesan Safeguarding Team has been strengthened with an additional caseworker, bringing the team to six people, providing safeguarding services and cover from Monday-Friday.
- The Diocesan Safeguarding campaign, See it. Hear it. Report it. was launched in July 2025. So far almost 100 of our parishes have signed up to help raise awareness and encourage greater vigilance around the signs of abuse.
- Over the past three months, the Diocesan Safeguarding Team has been actively engaging with parishes across the region, providing face-to-face support to approximately 45 parishes.
- The Diocesan Safeguarding Team has started hosting Deanery Cluster events to strengthen parish safeguarding best practice and resilience, through direct support and peer networks.
Reflecting on the anniversary of the report, Bishop Andrew said:
“The Makin Review was a significant wake-up call for the Church of England, leading us to redouble our efforts to work towards a safer Church that protects all, especially the most vulnerable. Safeguarding has always been an integral part of our diocesan vision of a ’Transforming Church, Transforming Lives’, and I’m so grateful to every clergy and lay person who has stepped up to the challenge of improving both our understanding and our behaviours in this aspect of our life together.”
If you have suffered abuse or know someone who has, help is available and you can access local and national support services.