Safeguarding Training

FOUNDATION TRAINING

A basic knowledge of safeguarding in the Methodist Church is essential for ensuring our Churches are a safe place for everyone. The Foundation training offers this basic knowledge and provides you with tools to help understand safeguarding needs and where to find support. This course should be completed every 3 years.

From the Sheffield District Website:-

'The Creating Safer Space Foundation Module will help you:

• appreciate how safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and fundamental to the culture of a flourishing Church
• have a better understanding of good safeguarding practice within the Methodist Church, and understand its unique position    in creating a safe space for all
• promote awareness and extend an inclusive welcome to those who have experienced abuse
• recognise, respond, record and refer relevant concerns about the safety and welfare of a child or adult, and recognise blocks    to good practice
• learn from evidence from the Methodist Past Cases Review (2015-17) and note the current national context, eg the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA)

The training's overall aim is to increase safeguarding awareness, so the Church can exercise its duty of care to all: its members, office-holders and anyone who comes through its doors. We create a safer Church by developing your understanding of, and confidence in, our safeguarding processes and your individual place within these processes.'

FOUNDATION TRAINING DATES – Face to Face

Friday 11th September 2026 – 2.00 pm at Cantley Methodist Church

Friday 16th October 2026 – 2.00 pm at Cantley Methodist Church

Please contact the Doncaster Methodist Circuit Office to book your place.

FOUNDATION TRAINING – Online – NEW   -   Please see the below – from Alison Hill – Regional Safeguarding Co-ordinator

Completing Creating Safer Space  Foundation Module 2024 online

Please follow the link to the Foundation Module 2024 materials on MCBX:

https://discover.mcb.theologyx.com/course/creating-safer-spaces-foundation-module/
The Foundation Module is now available as online-only training. It is anticipated that it will take between 2 and 3 hours to complete the course. It is not recommended for those completing the course for the first time, as some items may trigger difficult memories.

The training's overall aim is to increase safeguarding awareness, so that the Church can exercise its duty of care to all: its  members, office-holders and anyone who is part of the church community. We create a safer Church by developing your understanding of, and confidence in, our safeguarding processes and your individual place within these processes.

The training will serve as a refresher course for those who have already attended the Foundation Module in-person or via Zoom. Please make sure that you can access pastoral support, by contacting your minister or someone else who you trust, if it is needed during the course.

There is a participant handbook that accompanies the course. This is available to download, and you will be encouraged to do so as part of the course. If you would prefer a hard copy, please ask and a copy will be provided. 

This approach is new, and as such you might experience a few technical issues. The most frustrating is that you can’t always
progress onto the next page as the system thinks a task has not been completed. Please take time to double check you have done everything you have been asked to do, which may involve going back several pages. We apologise for this issue and hope things will improve as time goes on. If you have tried everything and still can’t progress, please contact your Circuit Safeguarding Officer – they might not have the answers, but they know who to turn to for help.

When you have completed the course, you will be able to download your certificate. Please send a copy of this to your Circuit Safeguarding Officer for their records.

ADVANCED TRAINING

Safeguarding training is mandatory for those in the roles identified in the following link:
Advanced Module Required Attendance

This includes all ministers, local preachers & worship leaders, lay workers with children and vulnerable adults, District Policy Committee members and circuit safeguarding co-ordinators.

There are two options for this module: Face to face or on-line.
More details of each can be found below. It is organised by the Regional Safeguarding Officer. Any questions about this should be addressed in the first instance to Katrin, the District administrator – katrin@sheffieldmethodist.org

The Foundation Module must be completed before attending the Advanced Module for the first time.

Face to Face

These sessions last about 5 hours. Some preparation beforehand is required.
The Foundation Module must be completed before attending the Advanced Module for the first time.
Please note that registrations close 20 days before the event date to allow enough time to receive and complete the preparation material before attending the core session.
There needs to be a minimum of 15 people registered for the session to take place.

Dates and venues 2026/27

Monday 12th April 2027 – Killamarsh Methodist Church, Sheffield

Saturday 24th April 2027 – Hoyland and Birdwell Methodist Church, Barnsley

Tuesday 11th May 2027 – Castleton Methodist Church, The Peak

Saturday 12th June 2027 – Broom Methodist Church, Rotherham

Tuesday 22nd June 2027 – Stephen Hill Methodist Church, Sheffield

Wednesday 14th July 2027 – Bolsover Methodist Church, Derbyshire North East

Tuesday 20th July 2027 – Cantley Methodist Church, Doncaster

Use this link to register for your preferred date and time: for Face to Face sessions Register Here

If you are unsure whether you are required to complete this course, please contact your church or Doncaster Methodist Circuit Safeguarding Team (details on the Safeguarding Info page).
The Foundation Module must be completed before attending the Advanced Module for the first time.

Online Training

The course is split into three parts:

Self-Study/e-learning – E-learning (units 1-5a) – approximately 4 to 7 hours which can be completed in smaller sections. Alongside the e-learning, participants complete a Workbook which they then take to the Gathered session.

Gathered Session – (Unit 5b) – a 2 hour facilitated session to consolidate learning from Advanced Module (online) e-learning held on Zoom.

Handbook- to support learning during Advanced Module and for further study and resources.
The Online Gathered sessions are being held jointly with other districts. This gives a larger group of dates you can choose from. Booking for each date close 30 days beforehand to allow time to post out the materials required for the e-learning and to enrol you on the module. N.B. the e-learning MUST be completed before attending a Gathered Session.

The Zoom link to join the gathered session is emailed out about 2 days beforehand.

There needs to be a minimum of 8 people registered for the gathered session to take place.  This training is shared between four Districts, but you can attend any session.

Dates of the Advance Module Online Gathered sessions 2026/27

Day                    Date                 Time      Host District

Thursday         17-Sep-26     2pm       Darlington & Newcastle

Monday           12-Oct-26      10am    Yorkshire North East

Wednesday    14-Oct-26      7pm       Yorkshire North East

Wednesday    28-Oct-26      10am    Yorkshire North East

Wednesday   02-Dec-26     10am    Sheffield

Wednesday   02-Dec-26     7pm       Sheffield

Tuesday          10-Nov-26     10am    Darlington & Newcastle

Wednesday    18-Nov-26    7pm       Scotland

Thursday         25-Feb-27     7pm       Sheffield

Saturday          27-Feb-27     10am    Sheffield

Thursday         08-Apr-27      2pm       Darlington & Newcastle

Tuesday           04-May-27    10am    Yorkshire North East

Wednesday    05-May-27    7pm       Darlington & Newcastle

Wednesday    12-May-27    7pm       Yorkshire North East

Thursday         20-May-27    7pm       Yorkshire North East

Use this link to register for your preferred date and time:

Register Here

Please inform the Circuit Safeguarding Officer or Circuit Office once you have received your certificate and training is complete.

If you have any questions or are struggling with booking, please contact the District Administrator, Katrin Hackett, by emailing:admin@sheffieldmethodist.org or calling 0114 270 9990 / 07552 131455