Accessing congregational safeguarding training

Local safeguarding training is arranged at presbytery level by the Safeguarding Presbytery Contact in partnership with the local Safeguarding Trainer.

The Safeguarding Presbytery Contact is responsible for keeping in regular contact with Safeguarding Coordinators in that presbytery and for establishing what safeguarding training needs exist in the presbytery and where.

Safeguarding Coordinators should contact their Safeguarding Presbytery Contact to advise of their congregation's training needs (for example, the number of volunteers and trustees needing training).

Once Safeguarding Coordinators have advised their Safeguarding Presbytery Contact about their congregation's training needs, the Safeguarding Presbytery Contact will collate the demand along with those of others and arrange training courses in consultation with the Presbytery's Safeguarding Trainer.

Once arranged, the Safeguarding Presbytery contact should advise all local Safeguarding Coordinators of upcoming dates and the Safeguarding Service who will update the training calendar online.

You can find out who your local Safeguarding Presbytery Contact is by visiting the Safeguarding Training page or emailing the safeguarding service.

Applicants should apply for places on a course through their own Safeguarding Coordinator in the first instance. Where that is not practicable, they may apply directly to the Safeguarding Presbytery Contact identified on the course calendar.

Newly appointed Safeguarding Coordinators should also contact their Safeguarding Presbytery Contact to alert of their need for initial training. They can also check the training calendar online for upcoming training dates in nearby presbyteries.

If there is no local trainer available, the Safeguarding Training Officer will organise cover.

With the advent of online training, it is possible to apply to attend training courses run by presbyteries other than your own, should there be an urgent need for training at a time when none is scheduled locally. Safeguarding Coordinators should reach out to the Presbytery Contact listed under the relevant course(s) on the training calendar to enquire whether there are available places.