Thirtyone:eight was commissioned by the Independent Commissioner for Independent Reviews to examine the case of TT, which involved allegations that they experienced abuse at the hands of two clergy youth officers/advisers, which included rape, sexual, and spiritual abuse.
The Diocese of Oxford became involved in the case in 2020, as part of the National Safeguarding Team Investigation in 2019-22 into Case TT.
The report establishes a detailed account of events and makes findings on:
- Whether the processes used by the National Safeguarding Team were just to all involved, timely, and done in line with best practice in the wider safeguarding environment.
- Whether the investigation in this case was thorough and properly conducted, including whether the National Safeguarding Team responded appropriately in the case of a deceased alleged perpetrator.
- Whether sufficient accountability has been demonstrated and consistent survivor support maintained.
- Highlight examples of good safeguarding practice and the factors that contributed to this.
The report also recommends improvements in policy, procedures, and practice and recommendations that arise from this case to enable the Church of England to embed a proactive, preventative, safe culture. The Church of England statement can be read on their website.
Statement from the Diocese of Oxford
The Rt Revd Gavin Collins, Acting Bishop of Oxford said:
“I welcome the independent review of TT’s case and the recommendations it contains. I am deeply grateful to TT, for the courage it has taken to share their experiences. I recognise the profound and lasting impact that abuse can have, and acknowledge the additional pain caused by the Church's failure to respond appropriately and provide the support that should have been offered when the abuse was first disclosed. TT has fought for this outcome; to make the Church better at responding to reported abuse, and to prevent others from suffering the same treatment and response.
“Our thoughts and prayers remain with TT and with everyone affected by this case. We remain committed to learning from this review and continuing the work of making the Church a safer place for everyone.”
Andrew Bickley, Independent Chair for the Oxford Diocesan Safeguarding Panel, said:
“Over the last decade, the Diocese of Oxford has strengthened its safeguarding policies, practice and culture. While there has been improvement, we are committed to learning from the findings of this review and continuing to do better. At our next Safeguarding Panel meeting we will review the recommendations and will plan to implement any changes needed in response to the recommended actions.
"Creating a safer Church through effective safeguarding is central to our mission. It is both a moral responsibility and an essential response to the failures of the Church. We work hard to make sure that those who come forward with concerns are listened to, treated with compassion, and supported well. We are also grateful to the Oxford Survivor Group, whose insight and challenge continue to shape how we listen to, respond to and support victims and survivors.”
Response from Oxford Survivor Group
We welcome the publication of this review and the careful attention it gives to the experiences of a survivor whose courage in coming forward provides much needed learning for the wider Church. We recognise the significance of the recommendations made and believe these need to be implemented fully, consistently and without delay. As survivors who advise the Diocese of Oxford on responding well to victims and survivors, this review further prompts deeper conversations. If the Church is to become a genuinely safer place, learning cannot end with improvements to policy and procedure. It must extend to culture, relationships and the way power is understood and exercised within our Christian communities.
Safeguarding goes hand in hand with a healthy culture
Policies, reporting pathways and training are essential, but they are not sufficient. Too often, historic failings have been explained and excused by the absence of procedures that did not exist at the time of the abuse. This review reminds us that compassion, integrity, respect and justice have never depended upon written policy. Safeguarding begins with how people are treated. Healthy Christian communities are characterised by openness, accountability, humility, the willingness to ask difficult questions and place human dignity above institutional reputation.
The Church carries a moral responsibility
Vulnerability is not limited to particular categories of people. We will all be vulnerable at different points in our lives. The question is not simply whether someone meets a safeguarding threshold, but how the Church responds to the person standing in-front of them, who has taken the courageous step of entrusting them with their deeply personal story and lived experience.
Many survivors come to church looking for safety, belonging and hope. When harm occurs within that context or when disclosures are met with disbelief, defensiveness or institutional self-protection the consequences are profound. It is deeply shocking that we have heard this so many times before. We know the long-term impact extends beyond psychological injury to the loss of trust, community and faith. We support the broader discussions about safeguarding in the church, that go beyond compliance and reflects the calling to embody the love of Christ.
Survivors need to be believed, heard and involved
This review demonstrates how easily institutional processes can remove agency from those they are intended to protect. Decisions are often made about survivors rather than with them. Information is shared, investigations progress, and outcomes are determined without survivors being meaningfully part of the process. Trauma-informed practice involves more than ticking boxes. It requires kindness, collaboration, transparency, choice and shared decision-making.
Effective safeguarding must, of course, manage risk. But survivors are often seeking something more: acknowledgement, accountability, healing and justice. The Church has an opportunity here to develop responses that move beyond procedural investigation towards genuinely restorative approaches. The recommendations within this review provide an important foundation to this. We believe that success can only be measured by whether survivors who come forward experience the Church differently in the future – whether they are believed, held with compassion, treated with dignity, and encounter communities that reflect the love and justice they came seeking.
Our hope is that this review helps inform courageous and lasting change where safeguarding is understood not simply as preventing abuse and managing risk but as a shared responsibility to build communities where every person is safe, valued and able to belong.