Safeguarding in Churches and Circuits

Meeting the requirements of the safeguarding policy in your church and circuit can be a bit daunting, so we have put together some resources to help. These will be helpful for Church and Circuit safeguarding officers, but also people in other roles like ministers and stewards. 

Church- specific resources:

Model Church Safeguarding Policy-September 2025

A model policy produced my connexion for you to adapt to your context. If you make significant changes, please send an Rachel Bourne or Carolyn Godfrey a copy for us to look over. Please get in touch if you are a project or NPNP, and would like help adapting the policy to your context. Policy to be signed off by the church council every years, and on display in the church. 

Model Church Safeguarding Officer Role Description

A Model role description produced my connexion, to be fitted to your local context. If you are making changes to it, please send an Rachel Bourne or Carolyn Godfrey a copy for us to look over.

Church Policy check list-Jan 2026

A checklist for churches to go through to make sure that they are fulfilling all of the requirements of the safeguarding policy. Can be used as the annual Church Safeguarding Officer's report to church council. 

Circuit-specific resources

Model Circuit Safeguarding Policy-September 2025

A model policy produced my connexion for you to adapt to your context. If you make significant changes, please send an Rachel Bourne or Carolyn Godfrey a copy for us to look over.  Policy to be signed off by the  Circuit Leadership team every year, and on display on a Circuit notice board.

Model Circuit Safeguarding Officer Role Description

A Model role description produced my connexion, to be fitted to your local context. If you are making changes to it, please send an Rachel Bourne or Carolyn Godfrey a copy for us to look over.

Circuit Policy check list-Jan 2026

A checklist for Circuits to go through to make sure that they are fulfilling all of the requirements of the safeguarding policy.

Circuit Safeguarding Officer Report 2026

A templet for the annual safeguarding report that Circuit Safeguarding Officers are required to make to the Circuit Leadership team.

Circuit Steward's Safeguarding Report 2026 

A templet for the annual safeguarding report that a Circuit steward is required to make to the Circuit Leadership team.

Circuit Superintendent's Safeguarding Report 2026

A templet for the annual safeguarding report that a Circuit superintendent is required to make to the Circuit Leadership team.

Poster for Safeguarding Notice Boards 

Good Conduct Poster

A post outlining expected behaviour in church contexts. Some people don't know they've crossed a line because no-one told them where the line was!

Safeguarding Policy Statement Poster

A poster outlining the safeguarding commitments of the Methodist Church 

Volunteer Role Boundaries Checklist Poster

A poster summarising appropriate boundaries for volunteers. Can also be used as a leaflet to give to all volunteers. 

Domestic Abuse Poster 

A poster outlining the Methodist Church's stance against domestic abuse and featuring helplines you can ring.  Put these up on your notice board and anywhere else appropriate

Domestic Abuse helpline stickers 

Stickers with domestic abuse helpline numbers on. Put these up anywhere- they go well on the back of toilet cubicle doors!

Information and Digital 

Retention schedules for Methodist Churches, Circuits, Districts and Connexionally Owned Properties

A document outlining how long different bits of information should be kept, including safeguarding information. 

Digital Safeguarding Guide 

A guide to what safeguarding information to put on your church website.