I am a victim/survivor

Reporting abuse can be very difficult, if you have either been abused or are being abused now, there is help and support available.

If you have been affected by abuse, however long ago, we want to help. On this page you will find:

Who in the Diocese you can contact
Signposts to external organisations offering support
Links to victim/survivor-led websites
Raising a complaint or concern about our safeguarding practice

Who to contact in the Diocese

The Rochester Diocesan Safeguarding Team is committed to supporting victims and survivors of abuse. Please contact us so that we can help you.

Greg Barry- Lead Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser
07585 952174
email: greg.barry@rochester.anglican.org
Caroline Smith - Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser
07768 036590
email: caroline.smith@rochester.anglican.org
Anthony Glockling - Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser
07825 315748
email: anthony.glockling@rochester.anglican.org

We know we need to listen to victims and survivors of abuse and we are grateful to all those who have engaged with us to ensure we are always improving the support we offer.

If there is something you think that is missing from this page, a service we should be signposting to, or something we could do to better support victims and survivors, please contact us on one of the details above - thank you.

In this short video, Dr Liza Thompson, the Independent Chair of the Diocesan Safeguarding Advisory Panel, explains more about how victims and survivors can help us shape and improve our response. (Captions available)

Signposts to external organisations offering support

The following is a list of some of the key organisations you can approach for support:

Safe Spaces

Safe Space - A free and independent support service, providing a confidential, personal and safe space for anyone who has been abused through their relationship with either the Church of England, the Catholic Church of England and Wales or the Church in Wales.

Tel: 0300 303 1056
www.safespacesenglandandwales.org.uk

MACSAS - Minister & Clergy Sexual Abuse Survivors

Provides support to both women and men who have been sexually abused, as children or adults, by ministers, clergy or others under the guise of the Church.

Tel: 08088 010340
www.macsas.org.uk

Rape Crisis

A national organisation offering support and counselling for those affected by rape and sexual abuse.

Helpline 0808 802 9999
www.rapecrisis.org.uk

NAPAC - National Association for People Abused in Childhood

Provides support to adults who have been abused in any way as children.

Tel: 0808 801 0331
www.napac.org.uk

NSPCC

Child Protection Helpline - phone if you are worried about a child.

Tel: 0808 800 5000 (lines are free and open 24 hours)
www.nspcc.org.uk

Childline

Phone if you are a child or young person, and are worried about anything.

Tel: 0800 1111 (lines are free and open 24 hours)
www.childline.org.uk

National Domestic Violence Helpline

Phone if you are experiencing domestic abuse.

Tel: 0808 2000 247 (lines free and open 24 hours)
www.nationaldomesticviolencehelpline.org.uk

Samaritans Helpline

Phone if you feel you are struggling to cope and need someone to talk to.

Tel: 08457 90 90 90 (open 24 hours)
www.samaritans.org

The Survivors Trust

A national umbrella agency for 130 specialist organisations in the UK that offer support to people who have experienced sexual violence, sexual assault or sexual abuse. It has a free, confidential helpline.

Tel: 0808 801 0818
The Survivors Trust

Download a full list of support organisations and services

Links to victim/survivor-led websites

Here are details of some websites and blogs which have been established by victims and survivors of abuse.

Independent Safeguarding Advisory Board (ISB) - The ISB has been founded and supported by the Archbishops Council. Its role is to hold the Church to account, publicly if need be, for any failings which are preventing good safeguarding practice from happening. They are also available to be contacted by victims and survivors who may wish to share their experience or make a complaint about the response they have received from the Church.
House of Survivors - This is an information-based site for Survivors of Church of England-based abuse and Safeguarding employees within the Church of England. Please be aware that a disclaimer on this site warns that it contains some distressing content. Please exercise self-care. Should you need support, please visit one of the services listed on the website or use the Quick Exit button available on the site itself.
Survivors Voices - Survivors Voices is a survivor-led organisation that harnesses the expertise of people affected by abuse in order to transform society’s response to trauma and abuse. They state that they are ‘experts by experience’, survivors of all types of abuse, experienced as a child or as an adult, 'turning our pain into the power to create something good.'
Surviving Church - A blog aiming to offer support to those who have been through negative church experiences of various kinds. Edited by Stephen Parsons, it seeks to offer commentary, insight, as well as challenge, to church leaders for their past and present failures in protecting the abused.

Raising a complaint or concern about our safeguarding practice

As a Safeguarding Team, we endeavour to provide the highest level of professional service and support as possible.

However, if you are concerned about any safeguarding practice or service you have seen or received either from the team, a church, or another part of the Diocesan support structure, please do contact us.

If you do not feel comfortable raising it with the team directly, you can approach the Diocesan Safeguarding Advisory Panel, an independent panel chaired by Dr Liza Thompson - DSAPChair@rochester.anglican.org

For more information about the Panel please visit the Governance and Synods page or watch this short film, in which Dr Liza Thompson explains more about her role and what safeguarding means to her.