WHY NOT HOLD A SAFEGUARDING SUNDAY SERVICE THIS YEAR? This year SAFEGUARDING SUNDAY is on 16th November 2025 which coincides with safeguarding week in Wales.
2025 flyer here
It's a great opportunity to raise awareness about safeguarding in your local church in a positive and friendly manner.
You can dedicate all or just part of your service to safeguarding or choose another date!
SAFEGUARDING SUNDAY is a great way to show that safeguarding is an outworking of our faith in a just and loving God, raise awareness of safeguarding, and enable churches to share some of the good work that they are doing to care for and protect people.
2025 will be the fourth year that the Union of Welsh Independents, Baptist Union of Wales, Presbyterian Church of Wales and the Interdenominational Safeguarding Panel have encouraged churches to include Safeguarding Sunday into their annual church calendar.
Safeguarding Sunday is an initiative started by Thirtyone:eight, a Christian safeguarding charity that works and inspires others to 'speak out on behalf of the voiceless, as it says in Proverbs 31:8 from where their name comes.
In 2022 and 2023 the Panel produced a bilingual service and a bespoke film of its own. We are thrilled that Thirtyone:eight, has produced more resources every year including Welsh language materials.
Last year across the UK, over 5,000 churches took part in Safeguarding Sunday. This year, with your help, we can help raise awareness and make our churches safer places for all.
To take part you can register for free at https://safeguardingsunday.org. You will receive a free online guide and resources which makes running a whole service, or part of a service, easy. It includes prayers, sermon notes, activity ideas, children’s resources and loads more.
For more information?Read the frequently asked question here
or visit the Interdenominational Safeguarding Panel Website https://panel.cymru/en/safeguarding-sunday.
Here are just some of the benefits of holding a Safeguarding Sunday service... as noted by thirty one eight
- better positive awareness of safeguarding among church members increased numbers of people feeling able to talk about their abuse for the first time .
- additional people volunteering for safeguarding and children's and youth work roles .
- more people completing safeguarding training and criminal record checks
- more safeguarding leads feeling supported in their role by the church
So why not organise a safeguarding service this year?
The panels previous SAFEGUARDING SUNDAY RESOURCES:
We're not be producing our own resources this year, as there is a wealth of resources available through Thirtyone:eight including children's resources and also some excellent Welsh language resources However you can still access our previous materials
SAFEGUARDING SUNDAY SERVICE 2023 word doc SAFEGUARDING SUNDAY SERVICE 2023 pdf. prepared by Ifan Alun Puw , Llanuwchllyn
SAFEGUARDING SUNDAY PRAYER - Here is our 2023 Safeguarding Sunday film (A link to the film and a transcript of the prayer is also included in the service notes above) Many thanks to Robin Samuel for writing this prayer and Rhodri Darcy for producing it.
And of course a big thank you to all who took part - especially the Panel's volunteer trainers!
See also our our short 31/2 minute safeguarding film from 2022 here
Please dont hesitate to get in touch if you have any queries or for more information.
"We appreciated the opportunity to use the film prepared by the Panel for Safeguarding Sunday . It was a very convenient way to emphasise the importance of safeguarding within the church, and the fact that it was in film form raised the profile of safeguarding in a more effective way than would have possible coming verbally from a church leader."
We would love to know if you are planning to take part in any Safeguarding Sunday activities.
Please drop us a line to let us know:
How to get involved:
Register with thirtyoneeight.org to register for free and download great resources, including lots of all age activies and ideas and also some great Welsh language resources.
Justin Humphreys, Joint Chief Executive at Thirtyone:eight, said:
“While we can’t and shouldn’t ignore abuse that has happened within the Church, of which there has been plenty of media coverage, Safeguarding Sunday is a chance to shine a light on what so many churches are doing to make places of worship safer. We mustn’t forget that protecting vulnerable people is at the heart of the Christian message of justice and hope. I want to thank everyone who is doing this vital ongoing work and taking part in this year’s campaign to raise awareness of the importance of safeguarding in their church and community.”