Safeguarding
Friends of St Mary's Mendlesham is committed to creating a safe, welcoming and respectful environment for everyone who attends our events, supports our work, volunteers with us, or visits St Mary's Church.
If someone is in immediate danger, call 999.
If the concern is not an emergency but you believe a crime may have been committed, contact the police on 101.
Our Safeguarding Commitment
Friends of St Mary's Mendlesham takes safeguarding seriously. We are committed to creating a safe and welcoming environment for everyone who attends our events, volunteers with us, or visits St Mary's Church. We expect all committee members, volunteers and event helpers to treat people with dignity and respect. We will take appropriate steps to promote safeguarding and to respond appropriately to any concerns raised. Our safeguarding approach is proportionate to the size and nature of our charity. We recognise that as a small volunteer-run organisation, our processes will develop over time.
Reporting a Concern
If you have a safeguarding concern about someone involved in our events or activities — whether a child, young person, vulnerable adult or volunteer — please contact our safeguarding contact. You do not need to be certain that something is wrong. If something does not feel right, it is better to raise it so it can be considered properly. All concerns will be treated seriously and handled with care and confidentiality.
Safeguarding contact details will be added here shortly. If someone is in immediate danger, call 999.
What Happens When a Concern Is Raised
When a safeguarding concern is raised, we will: * Listen carefully and take the concern seriously * Record what has been reported * Consider what immediate steps are needed to keep people safe * Involve the safeguarding contact or a senior committee member * Seek advice from relevant authorities or professional bodies where appropriate * Keep the person who raised the concern informed where possible If a concern relates to a child or vulnerable adult at risk of harm, we will contact the appropriate authorities without delay.
Events and Volunteers
At our events, we aim to create a safe and welcoming environment. This includes: * Ensuring volunteers understand their role and responsibilities * Considering safeguarding in event planning * Making sure there is a point of contact if a concern arises during an event * Treating personal information about guests, including dietary and accessibility needs, with care and confidentiality We expect volunteers to treat all guests, other volunteers and committee members with respect. If any volunteer has a concern about behaviour, safety or wellbeing at an event, they should speak to a committee member or the safeguarding contact.
