Safeguarding

It is our fundamental belief that safeguarding in a Christian context is a Gospel work - it is an expression of our love for God and for each other, and, in particular, of our obedience to the command to 'act justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God'. As Christians, we approach safeguarding with a determination to protect people from harm - especially when they are particularly vulnerable - and with a realistic view of what even apparently 'good' people might be capable of.

The Ascension Church is therefore committed to safeguarding children, young people, and adults. We follow the Church of England guidance and policies and have our own Parish Safeguarding Officer (PSO). The Diocese of Chichester’s safeguarding pages contain vital links and information, including contacts for the Diocesan Safeguarding Advisor (DSA), who advises our PSOs.

The Church of England safeguarding guidance and policy documents can be found via the following link: https://www.churchofengland.org/safeguarding/safeguarding-e-manual

The Diocese of Chichester’s safeguarding pages can be reached by clicking here.

If you are concerned that a child or adult has been harmed or may be at risk of harm, please contact the Diocesan Safeguarding Advisor. If you have immediate concerns about someone's safety, please contact the police and your local authority's Children or Adults Services. Phone numbers are below.

If you have any other safeguarding concerns or need to talk to someone, please contact our Parish Safeguarding Officer, Tina Coomber, on 07751 237 482 or see the numbers and links to the policies below for more information.

The Incumbent (Vicar)
Rev’d Martin Jones - 01444 415229
Email: [email protected]

Parish Safeguarding Officer
Tina Coomber - 07751 237 482
Email: [email protected]

Diocesan Safeguarding Advisor
Colin Perkins - 01273 425792 / 07500 771210

Urgent concerns

If you believe a child, young person or adult is in urgent danger - contact the police:
Tel: 999 or dial 101 to speak to the contact centre.

Safeguarding contacts outside of the church:

To report concerns about a child or young person
WSCC Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH).
Tel: 01403-229900
Email: [email protected]

To report concerns about an adult at risk, see:
West Sussex County Council raise a concern about an adult.