The Catholic Safeguarding Advisory Service (CSAS) is the national agency for driving improvements in safeguarding practice within the Church in England and Wales. The Church has a Council to assist the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA). The National Catholic Safeguarding Commission (NCSC) is the independent body that sets and directs the work of CSAS.
If you are concerned about the welfare of a child or adult at risk, do not delay in contacting the police, using 999 if a child or adult is believed to be in immediate danger.
It is the policy of the Catholic Church in England and Wales to report all allegations of abuse to statutory authorities, regardless of whether the abuse occurred recently or in the past, or whether the accused person is living or deceased.
If you are in any role within the Catholic Church in England and Wales, you must refer allegations directly to the safeguarding office for your diocese or religious congregation, or directly to the Police.
If you are a member of the public, please refer allegations directly to the police and also to the safeguarding office in your diocese; (the relevant Diocesan safeguarding office can be located using the interactive map on the links page of the CSAS website www.csas.uk.net – contact details will be shown when you click on the relevant area of the map). You can also contact CSAS by telephoning 020 7901 1920 or by email to: admin@csas.uk.net
In October 2019, the Bishops commissioned an independent review of the Catholic Churchâs Safeguarding Structures and Arrangements in England and Wales.
Ian Elliott was the Independent Chair of the Review. Published on 20 November 2020, the final report and recommendations, therefore, are sometimes referred to as the âElliott Reportâ. Mr Elliott is an experienced safeguarding professional who has worked across the world in this area.
Read the report and its recommendations.
The Project Implementation Team has pledged to disseminate a newsletter every two weeks giving an overview of the work undertaken since the Implementation Plan was adopted. The Project Implementation Team comprises of Carol Lawrence (Director), Dr Colette Limbrick, Dr Edward Morgan and Fr David Smolira SJ.
29 March 2021
The last two weeks has seen some significant progress in the project, in the recruitment of non-executive directors (NEDs) and Chair for the CSSA. Additionally on 1 April 2021 staff will transfer to the CSSA from CSAS.
For older news updates and more on implementation, visit our Implementation page.
Safe Spaces is a joint Anglican and Catholic Church in England and Wales project to provide a vital support service for survivors of church-related abuse. Details and more here.
The National Catholic Safeguarding Commission (NCSC) is an independent body mandated by the Catholic Bishopsâ Conference of England and Wales and Conference of Religious. The NCSC is responsible for setting the strategic direction, implementing policy and monitoring standards in respect of safeguarding children, young people and adults at risk in the Catholic Church in England and Wales. The NCSC sets and directs the work of the Catholic Safeguarding Advisory Service (CSAS). We have a profile page for the NCSC you can use to visit its website or make contact.
The NCSC and CSAS aim to keep people safe from harm while positively promoting the value of every human being through a One Church approach to safeguarding arrangements.
The Catholic Safeguarding Advisory Service (CSAS) is the national agency for driving and supporting improvements in safeguarding practice within the Catholic Church in England and Wales. More.
The Church has also set up a Council to assist the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA).
The Catholic Church in England and Wales welcomes the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA). Find out more about the council set up to assist the inquiry in its deliberations. More.
On Tuesday, 10 November 2020, the Independent Inquiry into Child Sex Abuse released its report on the Catholic Church in England and Wales.
Here is a Bishopsâ Conference statement on the report.
The Catholic Bishops of England and Wales have made a sincere apology to former child migrants. The Catholic Council and the organisations it represents are committed to learning from the past and taking all appropriate steps in the future to protect children from sexual abuse and exploitation. Download the full apology.
If you're concerned about the welfare of a child or vulnerable adult, this page provides the steps you can take to report the matter to the relevant authorities.
In October 2019, the Bishops commissioned an independent review of the Catholic Church's Safeguarding Structures and Arrangements in England and Wales.
The Catholic Safeguarding Project has been established to ensure the delivery of wide-ranging reforms to safeguarding structures and processes in the Church in England and Wales.
The Catholic Church in England and Wales welcomed the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) and has a council to assist the inquiry in its deliberations.
The National Catholic Safeguarding Commission (NCSC) is an independent body mandated by the Catholic Bishopsâ Conference of England and Wales and Conference of Religious to oversee the Church's safeguarding work.
The Catholic Safeguarding Advisory Service is responsible for driving and supporting improvements in practice throughout the Catholic Church in England and Wales.
Safe Spaces is a joint project of the Church of England and Catholic Church in England and Wales to provide a vital support service for survivors of church-related abuse.
The Day of Prayer for the Victims and Survivors of Abuse is an important initiative that was proposed by the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors. The Holy Father welcomed the proposal and asked that each Bishopsâ Conference choose an appropriate date to mark the day.
