When Reform Stalls: Charity Commission Urges Church of England to Act Faster on Safeguarding
The Charity Commission has told the Archbishops’ Council of the Church of England that its safeguarding reforms must move much faster — warning that the proposed implementation timeline (up to 2028) is too slow given the risks and the lessons of recent years.
The regulator highlighted that some non-recent allegations from adults were not treated as safeguarding concerns, simply because those adults were not considered “vulnerable” under old definitions.
The Commission was clear: this approach does not meet current safeguarding expectations and must change.
For faith organisations, this is a reminder that safeguarding isn’t a technical process — it’s a culture.
And cultures don’t improve by themselves. They improve when leaders are clear, connected, and committed to doing the work now, not later.
At Emmaus Safe, we help faith communities and charities turn expectations into everyday practice — with the Safe Hub’s tools, templates, reporting pathways, onboarding, and real-world insight built to support consistency across teams and contexts.
Reform delayed is trust delayed.
And trust is built through action, not intention.