The Survivor Advisory Panel was formed in 2015 to support the work of the National Catholic Safeguarding Commission (NCSC) of the Catholic Church in England and Wales.
The role of the Survivor Advisory Panel (SAP) was “to ensure the NCSC receive appropriate and timely information and advice from the survivor perspective that will help inform the work of the NCSC and subsequently the safeguarding policies and practices within the Catholic Church of England and Wales”. This informed the work of the Commission regarding safeguarding policies, procedures and practices within the Catholic Church of England and Wales.
This work, as it grew, also involved giving presentations to various bodies in the Universal Church, such as:
- The Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors in Rome
- The Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales in Valladolid
- Clergy in the Diocese of Brentwood
- Clergy and Safeguarding Representatives in the Diocese of Plymouth
- At Days of Formation for the Religious of England & Wales
- To Benedictine Abbeys of Ampleforth and Buckfast
Where we are now
The original and decommissioned members of SAP who had experience of providing training have decided to share their experience and expertise and offer it for the service of the Church and wider society through survivor-led training. This objective resonates with recent pronouncements from Pope Francis and with work emerging elsewhere in the world, such as in Brazil, the Philippines, Zambia and the USA, where the SAP model has been adopted and similar training is being considered.
The membership and experience within Survivor Training – Beyond Words Company, is varied and wide ranging. There are survivors of clergy and family abuse; retired police officers – experienced in working with victims and survivors; a probation officer working with perpetrators of abuse; a headteacher; retired teachers and a retired solicitor.
Our Board and Advisory Group include survivors of abuse, as well those experienced in the social work, police, education and mental health sectors. It is supported by two Roman Catholic Bishops.
The training delivered by our experts aims to support those providing safeguarding in the faith, education and wider communities, to improve their response to survivors of abuse; so as to better protect the children, young people and vulnerable adults in those communities.
