Safeguarding

Keeping children and young people safe is a sacred responsibility. This category offers practical advice and essential information on safeguarding — both in the home and in church or youth settings. Articles here are designed to help you stay informed, empowered, and proactive in protecting the children in your care.

How Christian parents can teach their children about personal safety
2025-07-04T08:20:00+01:00
As Christian parents, we long to raise children who are both kind-hearted and confident—children who grow in wisdom, knowing they are deeply loved by God and equipped to live safely in the world. Jesus welcomed children with open arms, treating them with dignity and respect (Matthew 19:14), and warned strongly against those who would harm them (Matthew 18:6). That same heart of care must guide how we teach our children about personal safety.
Safeguarding and intergenerational relationships: Helping Christian parents explore the tension
2025-05-14T08:25:00+01:00By Dawn Kay
You are running your first-ever Messy Church session. After months of planning, training the team, advertising the date, and talking to everyone you know about coming along to the launch, people start to arrive, and your church hall is now looking full. You are busy welcoming people and ensuring that your team has everything they need when you notice that your welcome desk team member is waving you over. You weave your way across the room to check that they are okay.
A Christian parent’s guide to mandatory reporting: What’s going on and why it matters
2025-04-23T08:25:00+01:00By Thirtyone:eight
Trigger Warning: This article contains information about child sexual abuse
Discipline – Getting it right, biblically, legally and practically
2025-01-16T14:15:00+00:00By Thirtyone:eight
When you think about discipline, what comes to mind? Perhaps it brings back memories of how you were treated as a child. Those memories could be positive or negative. As parents, we know discipline is key in helping children become well-balanced and responsible people, but the way you approach discipline can have a lasting impact on your child’s emotional and behavioural development.
A Parent’s Guide to Safe and Enjoyable Sleepovers
2024-10-10T11:42:00+01:00By Thirtyone:eight
Sleepovers are a cherished part of childhood—an opportunity for children to bond with friends, and enjoy the freedom of staying up far too late! For parents, sleepovers are a big moment, as the fun also comes with the responsibility of ensuring everyone is safe and looked after. With stories of peer-on-peer abuse in the media, it’s natural for parents to have concerns. So let’s look at how you can make for an enjoyable and safe sleepover.
A parent’s guide to safeguarding
2024-05-23T16:07:00+01:00By Jules Loveland – Thirtyone:eight
Most parents want to protect their children, ensuring they thrive in safe environments. For many families, this extends beyond their homes and into the various clubs and church communities where their children participate. Whilst these places may offer growth, friendship, or spiritual development, parents need to be aware that safeguarding ...
What to do if you see or suspect child abuse
2023-05-10T09:12:00+01:00By Emma Lawson
Each month, the safeguarding experts at Thirtyone:eight help us to keep those in our care safe, as well as our policies and procedures sound.
Private tuition - what are the risks?
2023-03-15T10:19:00+00:00By Emma Lawson
Each month, the safeguarding experts at Thirtyone:eight help us to keep those in our care safe, as well as our policies and procedures sound.
Making space for children to be heard
2023-02-23T12:50:00+00:00By Emma Lawson
Each month, the safeguarding experts at Thirtyone:eight help us to keep those in our care safe, as well as our policies and procedures sound.
Talking to children about safeguarding issues
2023-01-23T15:27:00+00:00By Emma Lawson
Children have the right to live free from the fear of harm and abuse. In settings and environments such as schools, which have had to learn the hard lessons of the past, this is already largely the case. But outside of school – in sports clubs, youth clubs and church ...