Safeguarding Team to launch the first chaplaincy for abuse survivors in England and Wales

The Diocese of Plymouth Safeguarding Team is developing the first chaplaincy for survivors of sexual, spiritual, emotional, and institutional abuse in the Catholic Church in England and Wales. The project will support individuals regardless of whether the abuse occurred within or outside a Church setting.

The chaplaincy will offer a space for people to explore how trauma affects their faith and relationship with God alongside a person of their choosing. A steering group made up of survivors is guiding the development of the ministry through their own experiences and ideas.

Martin Christmas-Nelson, the head of safeguarding for the diocese, said the project grew from conversations held in the diocese's online and in-person survivor forums. He noted that the safeguarding team acts as stewards of the project rather than governors. The diocese is drawing inspiration from similar chaplaincy and accompaniment efforts in Ireland to create a ministry based on listening and accountability.