The parish of St Mary’s Church at Whitkirk is committed to the safeguarding of children, young people and adults. We follow the House of Bishops guidance and policies and have our own Parish Safeguarding Officer. The Diocese of Leeds’s safeguarding pages contain vital links and information including contacts for the Diocesan Safeguarding Advisor, who advise our Safeguarding Officer.

You can contact our Parish Safeguarding Officer by emailing [email protected].

If you need to talk to someone, you can always call any of the following numbers free of charge 24 hours a day:

  • If someone is at immediate risk of harm, always dial 999.
  • The NSPCC Church Abuse Helpline, for both children and adults, to report any abuse within the Church: 0800 80 20 20
  • The Samaritans Helpline, if you are struggling and need to talk to someone: 116 123
  • Childline, if you are a child or young person and are worried about anything: 0800 1111
  • The National Domestic Violence Helpline, if you are experiencing or are worried about domestic violence: 0808 2000 247

You can reach the Diocese of Leeds’s safeguarding team by calling 0113 353 0257 (9.00 am to 5.00 pm) or by emailing [email protected].

You can also contact the Church of England’s National Safeguarding Team by emailing [email protected], and read more about safeguarding in the Church of England on their website.


Our safeguarding policy

You can read our full safeguarding policy and appendices online.