Our Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes works very closely with our Diocesan Safeguarding Office and complies with all safeguarding policies of the Catholic Church and all our helpers must register as official helpers and then must complete the necessary paperwork that comes from our Safeguarding Office.
All adults – that is all those over 18 years of age – who wish to become a helper on the pilgrimage must complete a Pilgrimage Registration Form.
Once we receive this form, your information is passed on to our Safeguarding Office and they will check their database to see if you already have a current diocesan Disclosure and Barring Service check.
We will also write to two people you nominate as Referees to ask for a Character Reference for your role as a helper on the Pilgrimage.
If you have a current DBS, your role as a Pilgrimage helper will be added to your notes that the Diocesan Safeguarding Office keeps.
If you do not have a current DBS, you will be sent the necessary paperwork for completion which must be completed as soon as possible and returned to the office in Newcastle. If you have difficulty in completing your form, you can ask your Parish Safeguarding Rep for help or you can ring the Safeguarding Office.
Those who are less than 18 years of age cannot by law complete a DBS check, but we do ask them to complete a ‘Confidential Declaration’ and this should be returned to the Safeguarding Office straightaway.
As part of our safeguarding procedures, all parents of those under 18 years of age, are asked to sign a Consent Form for their son / daughter on the pilgrimage.
Anyone needing further information about this can contact the Diocesan Safeguarding Office and the Diocesan Safeguarding Officer Meriel Anderson on meriel.anderson@diocesehn.org.uk or Tel: 07472 068014
Main Office: Tel 0191 243 3305 Monday to Friday 8.30 am to 4.30 pm or Email safeguarding@diocesehn.org.uk
All members of the Youth Section – those under 18 and those over 18 – must sign Codes of Conduct and further information of this will be given at a special Youth and Parents Meeting, a couple of weeks before travel to Lourdes, but if anyone wants further information about this please do not hesitate to contact us.
IMPORTANT NEWS CONCERNING THE BATHS OF LOURDES
All Diocesan Pilgrimages and Parishes throughout dioceses in England and Wales have received the following information from the National Catholic Safeguarding Commission. Our pilgrimage organisers have also had extensive discussion with the Diocesan Safeguarding Office about the information discussed in the NCSC letters. Along with all Diocesan Pilgrimages to Lourdes, we will be following their guidance and advice for all future pilgrimages.
11.02.19 – Letter to Pilgrimage Directors re Lourdes
Pilgrimage letter to Bishops 08 05 2019
Please find a link to the Safeguarding page on the website of the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle.
Further information and useful contacts can be found here: Diocesan Safeguarding Page