The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) is running a national campaign called Faith in Safeguarding to help faith communities and faith-based organisations better understand the legal duty to make barring referrals – the requirement under the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 to notify DBS when someone is removed from a role due to safeguarding concerns.
The Faith in Safeguarding campaign raises awareness of the legal duty to refer – the process organisations must follow by law when there are safeguarding concerns about individuals in regulated activity, increasing understanding of when referrals must be made, how the process works, and why it matters.
Faith communities and faith-based organisations play a vital role in the lives of children and vulnerable adults, and this campaign aims to ensure that clergy, safeguarding leads, trustees, and community leaders have the knowledge and confidence they need to fulfil this duty.
The Catholic Church in England and Wales has established safeguarding structures and extensive reach across parishes and Catholic organisations, and therefore is a key partner of the DBS in ensuring safeguarding responsibilities are understood and upheld.
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.
Beginning on 25 March 2026, the DBS will be hosting free, in-person pop-up clinics across cities in England and Wales offering practical guidance tailored to faith settings. These sessions are open to anyone with safeguarding responsibilities in a faith setting.
The sessions will include an introduction to DBS and eligibility for DBS checks, what the legal duty to refer means for your organisation, practical scenarios applying the legal duty in faith settings, a walkthrough of the Barring Referral Service and time for questions.
Bishop Paul Mason, Lead Bishop for Safeguarding for the Catholic Bishops’ Conference said:
“I am pleased to be supporting this important campaign. Safeguarding is of vital importance to the Catholic Church in England and Wales and lies at the heart of our mission. I encourage Catholic clergy and all involved in safeguarding in the Catholic Church to participate in the Faith in Safeguarding campaign, attend the local pop-up clinics and to refresh and expand your knowledge and commitment to protecting the most vulnerable.”
More information about the Faith in Safeguarding campaign can be found here.
More information about safeguarding and the Catholic Church in England and Wales can be found here.
Local pop-up clinics
Greater London
Wednesday, 25 March 2026, 9:30am–1:00pm
The Chesterfield Mayfair, 35 Charles Street, Mayfair, London, W1J 5EB
Liverpool
Wednesday, 15 April 2026, 9:30am–1:00pm
Hilton Liverpool City Centre
Leeds
Wednesday, 22 April 2026, 9:30am–1:00pm
Radisson Blu Hotel
Birmingham
Tuesday, 28 April 2026, 9:30am–1:00pm
Clayton Hotel
Bristol
Wednesday, 6 May 2026, 9:30am–1:00pm
Holiday Inn City Centre
Newcastle
Tuesday, 12 May 2026, 9:30am–1:00pm
Leonardo Hotel
Peterborough
Tuesday, 19 May 2026, 9:30am–1:00pm
Park Inn by Radisson
Further sessions in Wales and Northern Ireland will be confirmed at a later date.
All sessions are free to attend. To register, visit the DBS Eventbrite page to secure your place.
