Skip to Content

Safeguarding coordinators and verifiers

Home » Resources » Running a Quaker meeting » Information for office holders » Safeguarding and meeting safety » Safeguarding coordinators and verifiers

Safeguarding coordinators

Each area meeting should appoint one or more people as a safeguarding coordinator, and a deputy. They have three main functions

  • to act as an advocate for children and for vulnerable adults.
  • to act independently in reporting concerns of abuse to the statutory authorities.
  • to oversee the implementation of the safeguarding policies for children and vulnerable adults and ensuring that they are regularly reviewed.

Different meetings may adopt different titles for this role. Coordinators do not need to be members of the Society of Friends.

Policies adopted by meetings should include the names of the individuals appointed.

The Churches’ Child Protection Advisory Service (CCPAS) issues a helpful and informative leaflet about the role of the Safeguarding Coordinator which can be downloaded from the CCPAS website at www.ccpas.co.uk (offsite link - new window). Area meetings may decide that the person in this role should be the named contact person with CCPAS. All local meetings should understand how this role is being carried out within the area meeting.

Verifiers

All area and local meeting clerks, co-clerks and assistant clerks are listed as verifiers (for the period of their appointment), additional verifiers can be appointed by meetings, details of the minute of appointment should be sent to Michael Booth in Quaker Life.

The tasks undertaken by verifiers are similar in England and Wales and in Scotland.