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Safeguarding adults

The National Church has created Guidance for Safeguarding Children, Young People and Vulnerable Adults which can be found here, and a Fact Sheet about different types of abuse.

The Parish Safeguarding Handbook also has a section on the Abuse and Neglect of Adults, that can be found here.

You can find contact details for local authority and social services here.

These pages direct you to specific resources and support for adults.

Click on any of the following links to be directed to relevant information and resources:

Dementia Support | Mental Health Support | Support for Carers

Responding well to victims & survivors | Support for Survivors

Domestic Abuse

Click here for a list of local and national domestic abuse resources and helplines.

For information and resources from the Church of England about domestic abuse particularly related to the church, click here.

Thames Valley Domestic Abuse Services

Aylesbury Women’s Aid: 01296 437 777
Berkshire Women’s Aid: 0118 950 4003
Windsor Maidenhead – DASH: 01753 549 865
Milton Keynes – MK Act: 0344 375 4307
Oxfordshire / West Berkshire: 0800 731 0055
Slough - Hestia: 01753 477 352
Wycombe Women’s Aid: 01494 461 367

National Domestic Violence Helpline: 0808 2000 247 (lines free and open 24 hours). Phone if you are experiencing domestic abuse or are concerned for someone who is experiencing domestic abuse.

Elder Abuse & Support for Older People

Economic Elder Abuse is defined in the UK as: “A single or repeated act or lack of appropriate action, occurring within any relationship where there is an expectation of trust, which causes harm or distress to an older person”.

It is important that when we think of domestic abuse, we don’t forget that it can affect anyone of any age.

We are Hourglass are a support charity solely for abuse of older people. They have a 24/7 helpline 0808 808 8141

Age UK is the leading charity for older people. You can contact Age UK for help, information and advice on 0800 678 1602, 8am-7pm, 365 days a year.

The Silverline Helpline: A 24/7 free, confidential telephone service for older people run by Age UK: 0800 470 8090

Embracing Age is a Christian charity founded in 2014. They are working towards a world where older people are valued, connected and full of hope, and do this by
combatting loneliness, mobilising volunteers, equipping churches and speaking out.

Financial Abuse

We have many older people attending our churches. It is important that we are aware of the risks to them. We have had a number of situations where older people have been the target of financial abuse. These may be signs of financial abuse:
• The sudden appearance of previously absent relatives claiming their rights to an older person’s affairs or possessions.
• Someone moving into an older person’s house and living rent free, without agreement or under duress.
• The unexplained sudden transfer of assets to a family member or someone outside the family.
• Misuse of power of attorney, deputyship, appointeeship or other legal authority.
• Numerous unpaid bills, or overdue rent, when someone else is supposed to be paying the bills.
• Lack of amenities, such as TV, personal grooming items, appropriate clothing, that the older person should be able to afford.
• The unexplained disappearance of funds or valuable possessions such as art, silverware or jewellery.
• Deliberate isolation of an older person from friends and family, resulting in the caregiver alone having total control.

If you have concerns about an older person being financially abused, contact the Safeguarding team and find out more information about financial abuse.

It can be hard to have conversations with people when we are worried about their welfare. Age UK have put together some information and advice about what we can do when we are worried about someone.

Thames Valley Fraud Protection

Have you been a victim of fraud?

https://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/fa/fraud

https://www.victims-first.org.uk/crime-info/guidance-and-support/fraud/

Sexual Abuse

The NHS has a page of information and resources for help after rape and sexual assualt

Minister and Clergy Sexual Abuse Survivors (MACSAS) supports women and men who have been sexually abused, as children or adults, by ministers, clergy or others under the guise of the Church. They support both Survivors who have remained within their Christian communities and those who have left.

The Male Survivors Partnership aims to end sexual violence against men and boys. Their goals are to secure prevention, healing and justice for men and boys through research, advocacy and capacity building.

Local services:

Oxfordshire Sexual Abuse and Rape Crisis Centre (OSARCC)
Trust House Sexual Abuse Support Centre - their services cover the whole Thames Valley area and they are the only dedicated rape and sexual abuse support centre in Berkshire
SAASSBMK - Sexual Assault and Abuse Support Service Buckinghamshire & Milton Keynes

Dementia Support

The Alzheimer's Society provides information and support for people with dementia, and their relatives and carers. The Alzheimer's Society also have a Dementia Support Line - you can call on 0333 150 3456 or find out more on their website.

The disability charity, Livabilty, have teamed up with the Alzheimer’s Society to produce a practical guide for churches looking for advice on how to create more dementia-friendly environments.

Dementia Carer's Count works directly with carers and organisations across the UK to support families living with dementia.

Pathways through Dementia provides free, accurate legal and financial information to support people living with dementia.

Mental Health Support

The Church of England has a ready-made network of communities, buildings and pastoral contacts that can be utilised in helping to design and deliver appropriate and accessible services in collaboration with local communities. Find out more here.

Mental Health Crisis Teams

Berkshire NHS: If you need urgent help, but it's not an emergency, you can call the Mental Health Crisis Team on 0300 365 9999.

Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire NHS: Call 111 for the 24/7 Mental Health Helpline if you need urgent mental health support in Oxfordshire or Buckinghamshire. This service is available to people of all ages.

Samaritans Helpline: 08457 90 90 90 (open 24 hours). Phone if you feel you are struggling to cope and need someone to talk to.

A fuller list of organisations offering Survivor Support Services, including therapy and counselling resources, helplines and self-help resources, is available to download.

Free Mental Health Resource for Men

ANDYSMANCLUB are a men’s suicide prevention charity, offering free-to-attend peer-to-peer support groups across the United Kingdom and online. They want to end the stigma surrounding men’s mental health and help men through the power of conversation. #ITSOKAYTOTALK
Details about the charity and services they offer, along with resources are available through clicking the link above.

Support for Carers

In a report published in January 2023, the Archbishops’ Commission on Reimagining Care called for a National Care Covenant. This would set out the responsibilities of everyone involved in care and support: individuals, families, communities and local and national government. You can read the full report here, or the summary report here.

Embracing Age has a section on their website for Carers, which provides information and support as well as the Guiding Principles for Churches to Support Carers.

Find support, information and resources from:

Carers UK, a national members charity for carers
Carers Trust, a national charity for carers.
NHS Advice for Carers
Dementia Carer's Count works directly with carers and organisations across the UK to support families living with dementia.

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Page last updated: Monday 4th March 2024 3:31 PM