The faith forum is open to all sectors to attend, to provide a platform for networking and enable solution-focused conversations to strengthen the faith sector’s response to safeguarding.

There are also opportunities to hear from our guest speakers, inputs from network members and a space for learning through interactive discussions and sharing of good practice, but also promoting new areas of work.

We know the faith sector is increasingly being recognised as a key safeguarding partner agency and we want to continue and promote this, as we recognise the influence that faith has on communities.

Faith communities play a significant role in the lives of children and young people across the UK, yet the safeguarding frameworks they operate within are not always clear, easy to apply, or fully take into account the nature of these settings. In this session we’ll explore whether the current legal definition of “regulated activity” with children is working as intended in faith settings, and why that question matters for safeguarding practice, accountability, and public confidence.

Drawing on the launch of a new inquiry by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Safeguarding in Faith Communities, we’ll examine areas of uncertainty created by informal, volunteer‑led and trust‑based roles, and how these intersect with wider policy debates such as mandatory reporting. Participants are invited to engage, challenge assumptions, and contribute perspectives from faith, safeguarding, and policy contexts as part of a timely and practical discussion.

Speaker blog:

Peter Wright Head of Strategic Communications at Thirtyone:eight will be joining us at our Faith Forum to speak and discuss the launch of the new inquiry by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Safeguarding in Faith Communities.