A Safeguarding Season which supports survivors of abuse is set to expand across the Diocese of Carlisle in coming weeks.

Last year, Carlisle Cathedral ran a special season based around a need for the Church to lament, to listen and learn from survivors of abuse.

It included a LOUDfence installation in the Cathedral’s grounds which people were invited to tie ribbons to, in support of those who had experienced abuse.

This year the Safeguarding Season has grown with St Andrew’s Penrith, Holy Trinity Kendal, and St Mary‘s in Maryport set to mark it with special services and prayer spaces. A LOUDfence is also being planned at Peter’s Kirkbampton.

The Rev Canon Dr Benjamin Carter, Canon Warden at the Cathedral, has led a working group of Cathedral chapter members, diocesan officers and representatives of survivors which has offered help to the churches across Cumbria.

He said: “We are delighted that more churches and worshipping communities will be reaching out to survivors, victims and all those affected by abuse during this season. We were humbled by how people chose to engage with last year’s Safeguarding Season and our prayer is that this will continue in 2022.

“Of course, it is also essential that we all recognise this is an issue which affects people 365 days a year and as a Church we are committed to supporting them at all times. The aim of the Safeguarding Season is to help us further underline that commitment.

“We pray that through the various services, prayer stations and installations that we have planned at the Cathedral and elsewhere, survivors will understand the deep sadness which is felt for past actions, coupled with an outpouring of love for those who were so badly affected by their experiences.”

At the Cathedral the Season will launch this Sunday (16 October) at a service in which the Bishop of Penrith will preach. There will also be weekly Communion services with a safeguarding focus and a chapel will be set aside for prayer and reflection. From Monday 31 October a LOUDfence will again be installed, running through to Thursday 3 November, All Survivors’ Day.

Meanwhile the Canon Warden will preach at a Safeguarding Sunday service at Kendal Parish Church which will also host a prayer space and run a LOUDfence installation. Likewise weekly Eucharist services with a safeguarding focus will be held in St Mary’s Maryport and a prayer space will be available. Prayer ribbons from the churches will later be tied to the Cathedral’s LOUDfence.

The plans for the 2022 Safeguarding Season were reflected within the Diocese of Carlisle’s recently published Past Cases Review 2 Executive Summary Report. It identified the Season as one of the ways in which to engage with survivors, ensuring their voices are heard and they are supported. The PCR2 saw hundreds of diocesan files independently examined as part of a national Church of England review into safeguarding.

Antonia Sobocki organized the UK’s first LOUDfence event at St Peter’s, Kirkbampton, in 2020, and is a member of the Safeguarding Season working party. In recent weeks she has been working with dioceses in Birmingham, Plymouth and Brisbane in Australia around the creation of further LOUDfence installations.

Antonia said: “It’s amazing to think that this has all grown from the work that has taken place in support of the survivors of abuse here in Cumbria. People across the country and, indeed, the world have taken note of what has been going on here and want to know more. I’m so proud that this has all come about from a LOUDfence in Cumbria. Rochester Cathedral, Plymouth Cathedral and both St Philip’s and St Chad's Cathedrals in Birmingham will be holding LOUDfences in the near future using Carlisle Cathedral as their guide.

“I’m delighted that the Safeguarding Season will expand across the county this year. It is also important to say that this is not an anti-church initiative. It is pro-church. It is about how we can all work together to pursue the kind, compassionate and caring church that we all want to see. This is about a message of hope.”

Anyone affected by issues raised above is encouraged to contact the Safe Spaces helpline on 0300 303 1056 or visit www.safespacesenglandandwales.org.uk.

Alternatively, you may wish to contact the Diocese of Carlisle’s Safeguarding Adviser Joanna Van Lachterop on 07458 016884 or at safeguarding.adviser@carlislediocese.org.uk.

ENDS

For further information contact Dave Roberts, Diocesan Head of Communications, on 07469 153658 or atcommunications@carlislediocese.org.uk.