HARROGATE BAPTIST CHURCH
Policy statement on children, young people and the church
This statement was agreed at the church meeting held on Tuesday 22nd
July 1997
It will be read annually at the church meeting held in the month of
September where progress in carrying it out will be monitored.
Young people are an important part of Harrogate
Baptist Church. We will respect their wishes and feelings as we endeavour to
lead them spiritually and instruct them in practical ways to become mature
members of our community.
As members of this church, we commit ourselves
to the nurturing, protection and safekeeping of all, especially children and
young people.
It is the responsibility of each one of us to
prevent the physical, sexual and emotional abuse of children and young people,
and to report any abuse discovered or suspected.
We recognise that our work with children and
young people is the responsibility of the whole church.
We undertake to exercise proper care in the selection
and appointment of those working with children and young people, whether
paid or volunteer.
The church is committed to supporting,
resourcing and training of those who work with children and young people, and to
providing supervision.
The church is committed to following the Home
Office Code of Practice Safe from Harm and
adopts the guidelines and procedures published by the Baptist Union of Great
Britain in its publication Safe to Grow.
(revised edition 2004)
Each worker with children and young people must
know the recommendations, and undertake to observe them. Each shall be given a
copy of the church's agreed procedures and Good Practice guidelines.
As part of our commitment to children and young
people, the church has appointed Allison Cormack and Christine Morgan to be their
Advocates. There role will be regularly explained to the children, and their
names, and
phone numbers publicly displayed.
Statement revised September 2006