Safeguarding Resource
Digital Safeguarding Toolkit for Churches
A free guide for anyone who messages on behalf of a UK church.
Taking Safeguarding Seriously
Why Online Safeguarding Matters
Churches already take safeguarding seriously. Many have a policy, a Designated Safeguarding Lead and people who want to get it right. What has changed is where church life happens. Youth groups, small groups, worship teams and volunteer rotas now run on messaging apps. Wherever your church talks, the care is the same.
Problems online rarely come from bad intent. Usually it’s well-meaning people using familiar tools without a moment to think. This toolkit does the thinking with you.
Our guide to online safeguarding for churches goes into more detail.
What’s Inside
- Everyday scenarios that show how a conversation can slip out of sight
- A do-and-don't code of conduct for messaging on your church's behalf
- How to manage messaging groups, social media and livestream chat
- What to look out for online, and what to do if someone comes to you with a concern
- Who is responsible for what, from church leadership to whoever runs the app your church uses
- Tools you can use straight away: two team checklists, a reporting flowchart and an incident report form
How to Use the Toolkit
Read it as a team, share it with staff, volunteers and youth leaders, or use it to run a training session. Work through the checklists honestly and adopt the code of conduct. Keep the incident report form somewhere everyone can find it, and review your safeguarding approach at least once a year.
The toolkit sits alongside your safeguarding policy and your DSL's guidance. It doesn’t replace them. You don't need safeguarding training to use it.
Made by Jovo, for thee Church
Jovo is a messaging app built for churches, and keeping conversations safe is the whole point of it. We made this toolkit because that shouldn't depend on the app you use or the training you've had. Whether or not you use Jovo, it's yours.
