INEQE Independent Safeguarding Audit of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich Diocesan Board of Finance and St Edmundsbury Cathedral

St Edmundsbury Cathedral welcomes the publication of an independent safeguarding audit by the INEQE Safeguarding group. The audit recognises that the Cathedral has built a strong safeguarding foundation and a has a ‘commitment to cultivating a positive and well-embedded safeguarding culture’, whilst also identifying clear areas for development to ensure safeguarding remains resilient. A Safeguarding Action Plan will be formulated to ensure the recommendations inform our actions and have impact.

The audit is part of a national Church of England programme being carried out across all dioceses over five years, commissioned by the Archbishops’ Council in partnership with the National Safeguarding Team. The report forms part of a review of the St Edmundsbury and Ipswich Diocesan Board of Finance and can be read in full here.

INEQE identifies that the Cathedral has created a ‘welcoming, inclusive, and secure environment underpinned by proactive governance, reflective leadership, and active community engagement.’ Notable strengths include a strong approach to risk management from Chapter and Cathedral Safeguarding Committee, vigilant staff and robust safer recruitment processes. Our immersive educational programme, chorister programme and the ‘Yard Project’ are commended for their firmly embedded culture of safety. We are proud to hear that a majority of our workforce and worshipping community feel safe at the Cathedral and have observed tangible improvements in safeguarding arrangements.

We are deeply aware that work still needs to be done and are grateful for the thirty recommendations made. We acknowledge that severe capacity restraint is identified as the most critical risk in the report and are pleased that the appointment of a dedicated Cathedral Safeguarding Officer since the audit, as recommended by INEQE, will strengthen our capacity. We are committed to better serving and listening to victims and survivors, engaging more effectively with our congregants and strengthening our partnerships with the broader community.

Our Safeguarding Action Plan will outline our work towards each recommendation and we will provide updates on our progress. We know that transparency and accountability will be central in this work to embed learning and make meaningful safeguarding improvements.

The Cathedral would like to thank all of those who gave their time to engage with the audit process, whether through surveys, focus groups or interviews.

The report concludes:

‘Ultimately, there is no doubt that St Edmundsbury Cathedral has built a strong foundation.

The dedication of its staff, the vigilance of its leadership, and a genuine commitment to the wellbeing of its community have resulted in a safeguarding culture that is both compassionate and highly effective. The vulnerabilities identified during this review do not reflect a lack of resolve, but rather the growing pains of an ambitious cathedral striving for best practice.’

The Very Revd Joe Hawes Joe Hawes, Dean of St Edmundsbury, said, “I welcome the independent audit by INEQE and I am pleased that it recognises the strong foundations for safeguarding within our Cathedral community. The findings acknowledge the commitment and dedication of the Cathedral leadership, Chapter, governance bodies and Safeguarding Team, who have worked hard to create an environment that is ‘welcoming, inclusive and secure’.

We are committed to building on this positive foundation and will continue to work together to implement the report’s recommendations, further strengthening our safeguarding culture and practice.”

The Right Revd Graeme Knowles, Acting Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich at the time of the audit said,: “I would like to thank the independent audit by INEQE for their attentive, robust and fair engagement throughout the process, and I am truly grateful to everyone throughout who engaged so openly and constructively with the audit”.

The Right Revd Dr Joanne Woolway Grenfell, Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich, who joined the diocese in January said, “I welcome the audit’s findings and am encouraged by the progress that has been made in our safeguarding work, particularly in providing support for victims and survivors. Ensuring that those who have been harmed are heard, respected and supported must remain a priority.”

If you have been affected by this report and would like confidential, independent support, please contact Safe Spaces on 0300 303 1056 or SafeSpaces@firstlight.org.uk. Safe Spaces is a free and independent support service providing a confidential, personal and safe space for anyone who has been abused through their relationship with the Church of England, Catholic Church of England and Wales or the church in Wales.

Further information about Safeguarding at St Edmundsbury Cathedral can be found on our Safeguarding page. Our Cathedral Safeguarding Officer is Tanya Dawson and you can contact her on tanyadawson@stedscathedral.org or 01284 633 440.