Safeguarding

Safeguarding Overview

At Peterborough Cathedral, safeguarding is at the heart of everything we do. We are fully committed to creating a safe, respectful, and nurturing environment for all, especially for children, young people, and vulnerable adults. We take our safeguarding responsibilities extremely seriously, following national Church guidelines and best practice to ensure that everyone who worships, works, volunteers, or visits here is protected and supported. Our priority is simple: to make the Cathedral a place where all can feel safe, valued, and cared for.

Safeguarding Sermon

We undertake to:

• Promote a safe environment for all.
• Follow “Safer Recruitment” processes and checks for all staff or volunteers with any responsibility related to children and vulnerable adults within the Cathedral and Precincts.
• Respond promptly to every safeguarding concern or allegation.
• Care pastorally for victims/survivors of abuse and other affected people.
• Care pastorally for those who are the subject of concerns or allegations of abuse.
• Respond to those that may pose a present risk to others.

Cathedral Safeguarding Team

Alongside the Cathedral Safeguarding Officer, Chapter’s lead on Safeguarding is Revd Canon Tim Alban Jones.

Their responsibilities include ensuring that everyone who has significant contact with children or vulnerable adults is properly checked and monitored. If specific concerns arise they work closely with the police and social services through the Diocesan Safeguarding Advisor.

Our Cathedral Safeguarding Team meets every 8 weeks to review our action plan arising from the most recent Safeguarding Audit. This plan can be made available on request. Please see ‘Safeguarding Documents’ menu above for full audit reports, responses and Safeguarding policies.

INEQE Safeguarding Audit 2025

In August 2023, INEQE Safeguarding Group was appointed by the Archbishops’ Council to carry out the next round of independent external audits of Church of England dioceses and cathedrals. The purpose of these audits is to make sure dioceses, cathedrals and palaces are doing all they can to create environments where everyone feels safe, valued and respected. Peterborough Cathedral and Diocese were audited in June 2025 and a copy of the full report, alongside the Dean’s and Bishop’s response to findings and recommendations can be found in the menu above.

The Dean of Peterborough, Chris Dalliston, said:

‘We are grateful for these recommendations which the Cathedral Chapter and I will carefully consider. We acknowledge the need for an independent voice and more robust external scrutiny and are committed to listening to victims and survivors. We are unwavering in our focus on ensuring the Cathedral is a safe, welcoming space for all and we commit to continuing to move towards a best practice approach whilst embedding a culture of safeguarding in everything we do.’