Guest Blog

On the 29th April 2026, the Crime and Policing Act 2026 received Royal Assent. Sections 85 to 94 introduce a statutory duty to report child sexual abuse. This is one of the recommendations of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, which published its final report in October 2022...

"The Church of England has appointed Her Honour Heather Baucher as the Appeal Authority for the Redress Church of England scheme for survivors of Church related abuse. The Appeal Authority is the independent judicial role responsible for determining appeals made under the Scheme.” Let’s examine this independence a little.

I’m sharing this important piece from House of Survivors because it reiterates something safeguarding institutions still too often fail to grasp: abuse does not expire because it is labelled “historic”. The Royal College of Psychiatrists’ position statement recognises the potentially lifelong impact of non-recent child sexual abuse. House of Survivors goes further, highlighting the secondary trauma that can be caused by defensive, adversarial institutional responses.

Fr Robert Thompson, Vicar of St Mary's with All Souls', Kilburn, and St James's and the Sherriff Centre, West Hampstead, and a member of General Synod, explores why the Church's next safeguarding challenge is not compliance, but culture. A thoughtful reflection on accountability, trust, and creating churches where people feel safe to speak.

In this guest blog, Fr Robert Thompson, Vicar of St Mary's with All Souls', Kilburn, and St James's and the Sherriff Centre, West Hampstead, reflects on the deeper cultural and institutional challenges that continue to shape safeguarding in the Church.