The Diocese of Bath and Wells is fully committed to the Church of England’s ‘Responding Well to Victims and Survivors of Abuse’ policy. We are committed to actively engaging with any victims or survivors who disclose to us and working with them effectively and with due care and consideration.
- Download our Local Survivor Strategy - currently being updated, please come back soon or contact the Safeguarding team for a copy.
- Find out more about the Church of England’s Redress Scheme
You may also find the following organisations helpful:
- Safe Spaces – a free and independent support service for anyone abused by someone in the church or as a result of their relationship with the church.
- The Survivors Trust – runs a fee, national helpline
- Safeline – works to help prevent sexual violence and supports anyone affected by it. They offer counselling and therapy, a male survivor helpline, prevention and early intervention and more.
Domestic abuse support
The Safeguarding team provides advice and support to anyone experiencing or concerned about domestic abuse, for themselves or for others. The team works in partnership with specialist agencies, including the police, local authorities to support victims and survivors of domestic abuse.
Training on domestic abuse support is available to those in leadership, safeguarding and pastoral positions in the parishes. Support is also available to all parishes who wish to implement a domestic abuse police in their setting.
- Download our Domestic Abuse policy – currently being updated, please come back soon or contact the Safeguarding team for a copy.
‘Our calling is to join with God in bringing wholeness to a broken world of which domestic violence is such a feature. We are to be those who heal the broken hearted and who bind up wounds. This policy encourages us to get on with that work.’
Bishop Michael
The following charities can provide valuable help to those experiencing, or who have experienced, domestic abuse:
- Refuge – provides support for women and children experiencing domestic violence. They also offer a national 24/7 helpline, freephone 0808 2000 247.
- Women’s Aid – offer support to women and children
- PEGS (Parental Education Growth and Support) - offers support to parents and professionals around child on adult abuse.
- Galop - works with and for LGBT+ victims and survivors of abuse and violence in the UK.
- Mankind Initiative – offers support for male victims of domestic abuse male victims)