Over 1,700 parish users responded to our survey during the summer, and the overwhelming consensus was that they wanted the dashboard to be changed only once a year.
The good news is that the changes for 2026 only affect three dashboard lights.
See below for further details.
Training for Key Roles - Churchwardens
On 13 November, the National Safeguarding Team issued fhe following clarification regarding Domestic Abuse training for churchwardens:
"Section 4 of the Safeguarding Learning and Development Framework states that Domestic Abuse training is required for anyone serving as an officer of the bishop.
Although churchwardens are officers of the bishop (see item 4 of Canon E1), there is a wide variation in the roles that churchwardens play across our parishes.
Dioceses already have discretion regarding which churchwardens must undertake Safeguarding Leadership Training, and only these churchwardens are required to undertake Domestic Abuse training.
Domestic Abuse training is also recommended (but not mandatory) for all other churchwardens. This is because all churchwardens are members of the PCC."
Dioceses are taking different approaches regarding which churchwardens need to undertake Safeguarding Leadership Training, and the same approach will also apply to Domestic Abuse training.
Displayed Information - Parish Website
The Parish Safeguarding Handbook contained a requirement that safeguarding arrangements are clearly visible on the front page of a parish website.
Although the Handbook has now been withdrawn, it is likely that the same requirement will be added to a future Safeguarding Code of Practice.
Therefore, no change has been made to this dashboard light, but a note has been added to the information sheet.
Safeguarding Procedures - Use of Social Media
The Parish Safeguarding Handbook had a whole section on the Use of Social Media.
Although the Handbook has now been withdrawn, Section 4 of Safer Environment and Activities (2019) remains in force. This contains two pages of guidance for church officers that use social media.
This dashboard light has been updated to make reference to the Section 4 guidance (rather than the Parish Safeguarding Handbook).