Child protection in religious organisations and settings investigation report
Contents
Annex 2: Glossary
Abuse Never Becomes Us UK
A charity set up to provide holistic support, resources
and advocacy on behalf of Tamil people affected by
childhood sexual abuse.
All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Safeguarding in
Faith Settings
All-Party Parliamentary Groups (APPGs) are informal,
cross-party interest groups of MPs and peers interested
in a particular issue. The APPG on Safeguarding in Faith
Settings was established in September 2018. The aims of
the group are to increase awareness of issues relating
to safeguarding within faith settings, and to provide an
opportunity for the faith community to inform
safeguarding discourse, share best practice, and work
together to create safer places.
Antisemitism
Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred towards Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed towards Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, towards Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.[1]
Asian Women's Resource Centre
A voluntary sector grassroots organisation providing
services for all women in need, from all ethnicities and
backgrounds, who are or have been experiencing domestic
abuse.
Ayatollah
Islamic scholar, appointed Leader of a Shi′a Muslim
community.
Bahá’í
A monotheistic religion founded in the 19th century as a
development of Babism (a messianic sect of Shi′a Islam).
Bahá’í Community of the UK
The English branch of the Bahá’í community, providing
guidance and oversight to Bahá’í living in the UK and
organising communal worship and other community
activities.
BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir
A centre housing a Hindu temple, exhibitions about
Hinduism, a cultural centre, restaurant, IT centre and a
school. More commonly known as Neasden Temple.
Baptist Union of Great Britain
An umbrella body for Baptist Churches with approximately
1,945 churches affiliated to it.
Baptists
Members of a Protestant Christian denomination
advocating baptism of believers by total immersion.
Worship services are normally led by Baptist Ministers
(who undergo theological training).
Beth Din
A Jewish court of law, typically composed of three
rabbinic judges, responsible for adjudicating on matters
of Jewish religious law and the settlement of civil
disputes between Jewish individuals. Rabbis chosen for
this role will have particular skills in understanding
Jewish religious laws, known as the Halacha.
Board of Deputies of British Jews
An umbrella body of a wide range of Jewish traditions,
including community and religious Jewish organisations,
to reflect voices of the British Jewish community.
Provides advocacy, engagement and support services.
Bradford Council for Mosques
A non-profit organisation working on developing the
relationships between mosques, the Muslim community in
Bradford and society at large.
The central office and administrative hub for the UK and
Eire branch of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, or a branch
office operated by the corporations and organisations
associated with the Jehovah’s Witnesses. Staffed by
elders (who are all volunteers) who provide various
services, including advice to other elders about all
aspects of the running of their congregation.
Buddhism
A religion based on the teachings of the Buddha
(‘Awakened One’/‘Enlightened One’).
Chabad Lubavitch UK
Jewish organisation which provides religious and
outreach activities for all Jewish people. It is a
grouping of Charedi Judaism which came from Eastern
Europe and the Ukraine in the 18th century.
Charedi community/Chadarim (Judaism)
Followers of Orthodox Judaism who strictly adhere to
Jewish law (Halacha) and traditions. There are several
different traditions of Charedi Judaism.
Charities Act 2011
The most recent Act of Parliament governing how
charities can operate in England and Wales.
Charity Commission
A public body which regulates and registers charities in
England and Wales. Responsible for maintaining an
accurate and up-to-date register of charities. It also
provides some oversight of those who are registered to
administer charities (known as trustees). It can take
steps to dismiss individuals from being trustees of
charities if they act contrary to their duties.
Chief Rabbi of United Hebrew Congregations of the
Commonwealth
Lead Rabbi of the United Synagogue, which represents the
Orthodox community of the United Kingdom, and various
other Orthodox communities located in the Commonwealth.
The current incumbent is Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis.
Child
A person under the age of 18.
Child protection (see Safeguarding)
Activity to protect children who are suffering or are
likely to suffer significant harm.
Child sexual abuse
Forcing or enticing a child or young person to take part
in sexual activities. The activities may involve
physical contact and non-contact activities, such as
involving children in looking at, or in the production
of, sexual images, watching sexual activities,
encouraging children to behave in sexually inappropriate
ways, or grooming a child in preparation for abuse,
including via the internet. Child sexual abuse includes
child sexual exploitation.
Child sexual exploitation
A form of child sexual abuse. It involves exploitative
situations, contexts and relationships, such as where a
child receives something as a result of them performing
sexual activities and/or another or others performing
sexual activities on them. Child sexual exploitation can
occur through the use of technology without the child’s
immediate recognition; for example, being persuaded to
post sexual images on the internet/mobile phones without
immediate payment or gain.
Children Act 1989
An Act of Parliament which allocated duties to local
authorities, courts, parents and other agencies in the
United Kingdom to ensure children are protected and
their welfare is promoted.
Children Act 2004
An Act of Parliament which imposed duties on statutory
bodies to safeguard and promote the welfare of children
and cooperate with each other, and to set up local
safeguarding children boards. It also created the
Children’s Commissioner of England and Wales.
Children and Social Work Act 2017
An Act of Parliament which created local safeguarding
children partnerships, which enshrined joint and equal
responsibility to the clinical commissioning groups,
police authorities and local authorities to oversee
these partnerships, which are to supervise safeguarding
arrangements in the geographic areas which they serve.
Children’s Commissioner for England/Children’s
Commissioner for Wales
A statutory office, independent from the government.
Responsible for the promotion and protection of
children, and for giving children the opportunity to
have their voices heard.
The Children’s Commissioner for
Wales has the power to deal with complaints made by
individual children.
Both Commissioners can investigate
and report on general concerns relating to children.
Children’s Services
Officials and members of a local authority charged with
responsibility for providing services in respect of
social care and education, as set out under statute and
guidance. Includes powers to investigate allegations
that children have been harmed and provides the local
authority designated officer (LADO), who coordinates and
advises on allegations of abuse made against adults
working with children.
Christianity
An Abrahamic Trinitarian religion based on the person
and teachings of Jesus Christ.
Church
A building used for public Christian worship, and the
name of a group engaging in collective worship in
Christianity.
Church of England and Anglican Church
The Church of England, part of the Anglican Communion,
is the established church within England (with the Queen
as its Supreme Governor).
The Anglican Church is a
worldwide communion of churches which have similar
theological understandings and choose to have the
Archbishop of Canterbury as their ‘first amongst
equals’.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Religion founded by Joseph Smith in the United States in
1830. The term ‘Mormon’, often used to refer to members
of this Church, comes from the Book of Mormon, the holy
book of the religion.
Church of Scientology
A spiritual movement and religious system which grew out
of the ideas and practices advocated by Lafayette Ronald
Hubbard (1911–1986) through graded courses of study and
training.
Churches Together in Britain and Ireland
An umbrella body of a number of Christian organisations
which works on ecumenical (interdenominational) issues.
It works closely with Action for Churches Together in
Scotland, CYTUN (Churches Together in Wales), Churches
Together in England and the Irish Council of Churches.
Circuit (Methodism)
A group of Methodist churches served by a team of
ministers. A minister will have pastoral charge of one
or more churches, but will preach and lead worship in
different local churches in the circuit. The circuit is
led by the superintendent minister who presides over
both lay and ordained ministers and provides oversight
of the area.
Circuit overseer (Jehovah’s Witnesses)
An elder of the Jehovah’s Witnesses who has spiritual
responsibility for and provides guidance to a group of
about 20 congregations. The circuit overseer is
responsible for appointing elders and ministerial
servants to individual congregations.
Clergy
Those who are ordained for religious duties, especially
in the Christian Church. Ordination means to be set
apart from lay people, ie to be consecrated, by way of
religious ceremony, which then enables them to perform
some religious rites not open to be performed (in some
Christian denominations) by lay people.
The term is also
applied to non-Christian religious leaders who are
ordained in England and Wales as ‘shorthand’ for a
religious leader.
Clinical commissioning group
The body which organises and commissions the provision
of national health services (both community, hospital
and general practice) in a particular geographic area.
Congregation
A group of people of any faith assembled for religious
worship. In some faith traditions, it is used for a
group which forms a religious community.
The Council of African and Afro-Caribbean Churches
A grouping of Evangelical churches serving the African
and Afro-Caribbean communities in the United Kingdom.
Dayan (plural: Dayanim) (Judaism)
A religious judge in a rabbinic court (Beth Din).
Denomination
An autonomous branch of Protestant Christianity.
Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport
Government department, led by a Secretary of State, with
policy and fiscal responsibility for the Charity
Commission. Also produces policy about volunteers,
including advice on safeguarding for voluntary and
charitable groups. Has responsibility for policy on
charities in England and Wales.
Department for Education
Government department, led by a Secretary of State, with
policy responsibility for all education provided by the
state from nursery to university within England. Also
has policy and responsibility for social care relating
to children and young people, youth work and youth
workers, and a role in the provision of guidance for
voluntary bodies about out-of-school settings in
England.
Designated safeguarding lead (DSL)
Person responsible at both a strategic level within an
organisation and on a day-to-day basis for dealing with
child protection concerns. The role of the designated
safeguarding lead was specified in the Children Act 2004
to ensure that every organisation had a ‘named person’
for protecting children and young people.Working Together to Safeguard Children, the
statutory guidance issued by the Department for
Education, suggests that all voluntary organisations
should appoint someone to this role.
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)
An executive non-departmental body, sponsored by the
Home Office, which helps employers make safer
recruitment decisions by processing DBS checks. Also
makes decisions about whether people should be placed on
the barred list, preventing them from engaging in
regulated activity. Replaced the Criminal Records Bureau
and the Independent Safeguarding Authority.
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks
Checks of an individual’s criminal record, intelligence
about them not amounting to a crime, and whether or not
they have been barred from working with children or
vulnerable adults. Carried out by the DBS on behalf of
an employer or organisation. There are different levels
of checks depending on the role applied for.
Disfellowshipping (Jehovah’s Witnesses)
Disciplinary process undertaken within the Jehovah’s
Witnesses. If a judicial committee (a body of elders of
the Congregation to which the particular individual
belongs) decides that a baptised Witness has committed a
serious sin and is unrepentant, the person is
disfellowshipped.
Druid Network
A charity which provides information and a network for
those who wish to practice Druidry as a modern, living
religion.
Druidry
A spiritual and religious movement which promotes Pagan
religion. A Pagan, for this report, means someone who
worships the earth or nature.
East London Mosque
The largest mosque in the United Kingdom, incorporating
the London Muslim Centre and the Maryam Centre.
Ecclesiastical
Relating to the Christian church or its clergy.
Ecumenical
An umbrella body of a number of Christian churches to
promote unity and the common good.
Can also be used to
mean a number of different faith groups working
together.
Edward Cadbury Centre for the Public Understanding of
Religion
Research centre based at the University of Birmingham,
established in 2014 to provide and enhance public
understanding of religion on a regional, national and
international level through strategic interdisciplinary
research. Its research explores the significance of
religious belief and practice for public and
professional life, working with faith communities and
public policy-makers.
Elder
In the Jehovah’s Witnesses, a senior, male member
who has religious leadership responsibilities,
including presiding over religious services, leading
Bible study and attending to the spiritual needs of
a congregation or congregations.
In Protestant
churches and sects, a lay person who may undertake
administrative or religious tasks, including leading
religious worship.
Religious or community leaders
in some Christian traditions.
European Convention on Human Rights
A convention of the Council of Europe to protect human
rights, political and fundamental freedoms in Europe,
created in 1951.
Evangelical
Something of, or according to, the teaching of
the gospels and religion in Christianity.
A member of the evangelical tradition within the
Christian church. Evangelicals can be found in nearly every Protestant Christian
denomination but particularly within the Reformed, Baptist, Methodist, Pentecostal and
Charismatic churches.
The Evangelical Alliance
The oldest and largest evangelical unity movement in the
UK. Represents individuals and organisations from the
evangelical tradition.
Ex-JW Advocates Opposing Crimes Against Children
An advocacy group of former members of the Jehovah’s
Witnesses; made up of survivors of childhood sexual
abuse within the Jehovah’s Witnesses, former elders of
the Jehovah’s Witnesses with deep knowledge of practices
adopted by bodies of elders at congregations across the
UK, and former member advocates who assist survivors
across the UK.
Faith Associates
Consultancy set up in 2004 to meet the needs of ethnic
minority, faith-based communities. Provides research,
training, advice and guidance to support and influence
the challenges faced by these communities.
Faiths Forum for London
An umbrella body of a number of major faiths (Bahá’í,
Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Jewish, Muslim,
Zoroastrian) to promote ecumenical understanding and
joint working and to promote relationships between faith
groups and wider society.
Faith literacy
The ability to understand and engage effectively with
religious and spiritual beliefs and understand how those
may affect the actions, beliefs and values of
individuals and groups.
Faith Workers’ Branch of Unite the Union
A branch of Unite the Union, open to all employees and
office holders of any faith organisation, that campaigns
on behalf of faith workers and runs a large network of
Union representatives who have been trained to support
members through difficult times.
Fatwa
Advisory opinion issued by an Islamic legal scholar as
to a particular point of interpretation of Islamic law.
The Federation of Synagogues
An umbrella body of synagogues, representing the
Orthodox Jewish tradition.
The General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian
Churches
An umbrella body for Unitarian, Free Christians and
other liberal religious congregations in the UK and
Ireland. Unitarians are an open faith community
celebrating diverse beliefs.
Granthi
A lay person within the Sikh tradition who acts as a
custodian and ceremonial reader of the Sri Guru Granth
Sahib, the Holy Book in Sikhism.
Green Lane Masjid and Community Centre
A mosque and community centre based in Birmingham linked
to the Ahl-i-Hadith Salafi movement. One of the largest
mosques in England.
Gurdwara
A Sikh place of worship, literally ‘the Guru’s Door’.
Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Southall
The largest gurdwara organisation outside of India,
based in Southall, West London. Provides communal
worship, a community centre and a range of religious,
cultural and educational facilities.
Guru Nanak Gurdwara, Smethwick
A large gurdwara in Smethwick, West Midlands. Provides
communal worship, a community centre and educational,
cultural and social activities.
Halacha/Halakhah
Jewish religious laws.
Harmful sexual behaviour
Sexual activity between two children or young people of
the same or similar age which is harmful or
developmentally inappropriate.
Hasidism
A mystical Jewish movement from the 18th century founded
in Poland. A form of Charedi Judaism whose adherents
observe strict religious laws about all aspects of their
life.
Haven – The Survivors Network
A charity providing support to children and adults who
have been subject to sexual and domestic abuse.
Hindu Council UK
A faith organisation representing various Hindu
communities and Hindus from different parts of the world
settled in the UK. Its main purpose is to give UK Hindus
an effective voice on government policy, and to
undertake interfaith work.
The Hindu Forum of Britain
The largest umbrella body for British Hindus, with more
than 420 member organisations from around the country.
It acts as a conduit to policymakers and government,
supports projects and community activities for Hindu
communities, and undertakes interfaith activity.
Hinduism
The third largest world religion. Originated in India
and based on the Vedic texts. Encompasses a diverse
system of thought marked by a range of philosophies,
cosmological systems, shared textual sources, mythology
and rituals.
Home Office
Government department that is responsible for policing
and crime. In this context, the body which sponsors the
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and leads
government policy on recruitment checks and barring
services. Also produced a cross-departmental strategy
for tackling sexual abuse.
House mosque
Place of communal prayers in Islam in someone’s house.
Many mosques began in the UK by people gathering
together in their homes to pray.
Human Rights Act 1998
An Act of Parliament which enshrined the European
Convention on Human Rights into British law so that
individuals could bring claims alleging breach of those
rights in UK courts.
Imam
In the Sunni Muslim tradition:
A person who leads
prayers in the mosque and often gives a sermon
during prayers on a Friday. Most often someone who
is appointed by the congregation to do so and who
has undertaken theological study. They can also
provide religious guidance and act as leaders of the
Muslim community.
A recognised religious scholar or authority in
Islamic law.
A central figure in an Islamic movement.
In the Shi′a Muslim tradition:
Someone who participates fully in the acts of God
alone, and is a leader of the community.
There
were ‘Twelve Imams’ considered to be appointed by
God (all of whom lived between the 7th and 9th
centuries).
Independent school
A school that is not maintained by a local authority or
is not a non-maintained special school, and at which
full-time education is provided:
for five or more pupils of compulsory school age;
or
for at least one pupil of that age who is either
looked after by a local authority (as defined under section 22 of the
Children Act 1989); or
has an education, health and care plan (EHCP) as defined in the Children and
Families Act 2014.
Inter Faith Network for the UK
A charity to promote interfaith understanding and work
between communities.
Interfaith Council for Wales
A Welsh Government initiative to promote interfaith
activities.
The Interlink Foundation
Membership organisation that provides services to Jewish
organisations, including advice and guidance on child
protection. Member organisations are predominantly from
the Charedi community in England and Wales.
Islam
The religion of Muslims, a monotheistic faith regarded
as revealed through Muhammad as the Prophet of Allah.
Islamic Cultural Centre and London Central Mosque
The Islamic Cultural Centre provides education, cultural
and social services to the Islamic community of the
London Central Mosque and London.
Islamophobia
Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism which targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.[2]
Jain Network
Non-profit organisation that aims to bring awareness of
Jainism to the Western world. It provides facilities,
resources and services to Jains and the wider community.
Jainism
A non-theistic religion founded in India.
Jehovah’s Witnesses
Non-trinitarian Christian denomination with millenarian
beliefs founded in 1870 in the United States. Jehovah’s
Witnesses are directed by the Governing Body of
Jehovah’s Witnesses, a group of elders in the USA that
establishes doctrines based on the Bible.
Jesus Fellowship Church
An evangelical Protestant sect formerly known as the
Jesus Army, now closed. At its peak in the early 2000s,
the Jesus Army had about 2,500 members.
Jesus Fellowship Survivors Association
A group for people who were abused during their time in
the Jesus Army/Jesus Fellowship Church.
Jewish Leadership Council
An umbrella body coordinating Jewish charitable
organisations and initiatives.
Judaism
The monotheistic religion of the Jewish people, which
has a number of traditions.
An ecclesiastical judicial committee, which usually
comprises three elders of the congregation or circuit.
Formed if a member of the Jehovah’s Witnesses is accused
of sinful behaviours. Determines if the individual has
acted in breach of Jehovah’s witness law and practice,
and if the committee determines that the accused is not
‘scripturally repentant’, they will be disfellowshipped
(ie expelled).
Karma Nirvana
Charity supporting victims of honour-based abuse and
forced marriage.
Kingdom Hall
A house of worship used by Jehovah’s Witnesses for their
religious services.
Kol v'Oz/VoiCSA
An Israel-based international organisation working to
stop child sexual abuse in the global Jewish community.
Its work covers three broad areas: advocacy, awareness
and empowerment.
Lashon Hara
A derogatory or damaging statement against an individual
who is also Jewish (Hebrew: ‘Evil tongue’), differing
from defamation in that it refers to truthful speech
rather than false.
Liberal Judaism
A branch of reform Judaism founded in the 19th century
and seeking to practise Judaism through modern practices
and customs.
Local authority designated officer (LADO)
An officer in each local authority children’s social
care service to whom allegations or concerns about the
protection of children are reported where they involve
allegations made against adults working with children.
Local safeguarding children partnership (LSCP)
Joint arrangements to be put in place under the Children
and Social Work Act 2017 to organise and oversee
safeguarding in a geographic area between the clinical
commissioning group, the police authority and the local
authority.
Madrasah / madrassah / madrasa / madrassa
Arabic term for any institution of education,particularly primary or secondary, and for places of Islamic instruction.
Manchester Beth Din
The largest Jewish court of law in the North West of
England. Also known as Badatz Manchester.
Masorti Judaism
A Jewish movement seeking to integrate conservative
Judaism with modern ideas of science and scholarship.
Mesirah
The action by which one Jew reports the conduct of
another Jew to a non-rabbinic authority in a manner and
under circumstances forbidden by rabbinic law.
Methodism
A group of related denominations of Protestant
Christianity inspired by the teachings of the Wesley
brothers and George Whitefield.
Methodist Church in Britain
The umbrella body representing most strands of Methodism
in Great Britain and the mother church to Methodists
worldwide. Has approximately 173,000 members in Great
Britain and is the fourth largest Christian group in
Britain.
Methodist Insurance Company
Insurer of the Methodist Church and associated
organisations, including the churches and the governing
body known as the Methodist Conference.
Migdal Emunah
A charity providing a support service for victims of
sexual abuse and their families across all denominations
of the Jewish community.
Mikveh
A bath used for the purpose of ritual immersion in
Judaism to achieve ritual purity.
Minister and Clergy Sexual Abuse Survivors (MACSAS)
A support group for women and men from Christian
backgrounds who have been sexually abused by ministers
or clergy, as children or as adults.
Ministerial servant (Jehovah’s Witnesses)
A ministerial servant is someone chosen by a regional
elder (who has significant experience of being an elder)
to assist the elders to run the congregation.
Ministerial servants assist the elders, and are
appointed because of their standing within the
congregation and their ethics, integrity and leadership
skills.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
Government department which has a policy role in
liaising with faith organisations and provides policy
guidance on developing community cohesion. Has
commissioned reports and issued guidance about
countering extremism within the community in England.
Ministry of Justice
Government department which has responsibility for
drafting legislation about criminal, family and civil
justice, the court system and prisons.
Moiser
A Jewish term for someone who informs on another Jew to
secular authorities. Centuries of persecution and
unfairness mean that there is Jewish learning and
tradition that a Jew should not be reported to secular
authorities for fear of those authorities’ response to
the Jewish community.
Monotheistic
A religion which has one godhead.
Mosque
A Muslim place of congregational prayers and worship.
The Mosques and Imams National Advisory Board (MINAB)
An advisory body for good governance in mosques and for
improving the performance of imams and Islamic teachers
through a process of self-regulation based on agreed
standards. Works with all the major Muslim traditions
and schools of thought.
Mufti
An Islamic legal scholar.
Muslim Council of Britain
The UK’s largest national Muslim umbrella body, with
over 500 members, including mosques, schools, charitable
associations and professional networks.
Muslim Council of Wales
An umbrella body and affiliate of the Muslim Council of
Britain, set up to serve the needs of the Muslim
community across Wales.
Muslim Women’s Network UK
The only national Muslim women’s organisation in
Britain. A small national charity working to improve
social justice and equality for Muslim women and girls.
It provides advice, counselling, education, support and
training.
National Council of Hindu Temples
Hindu umbrella body linking over 200 Hindu temples and
faith organisations and working with them for the
benefit of the Hindu community across the UK.
National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC)
Coordinating body for police forces in the UK to help
coordination of operations, and to ensure the
implementation of national standards and to develop
joint national approaches on aspects of policing.
National Resource Centre for Supplementary Education (NRCSE)
A national strategic and support organisation for community-led supplementary schools and the wider supplementary education sector across England.
NRCSE also provides a nationally recognised quality assurance scheme targeting providers of out-of-school education – the NRCSE Quality Mark.[3] This is designed to develop practical teaching skills and understanding of child protection. Nearly 500 schools have qualified for the Quality Mark.[4] In order to obtain it, schools must show that they can create an effective learning environment, and can select and support staff and volunteers.[5] This includes having to meet relevant child protection standards.
National Safeguarding Children’s Board (Wales)
National board responsible for coordination and
organisation of regional safeguarding boards which
oversee arrangements in respect of child protection in
geographic areas of Wales.
National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to
Children (NSPCC)
National charity devoted to the prevention of abuse in
childhood and the protection of children who have been
abused. Has provided resources, consultancy, training
and advice for religious organisations
National Working Group on Child Abuse Linked to Faith
and Belief
Coordinating grouping of voluntary bodies, charities,
policing and central and local government, alongside
academics to devise a joint response to children at risk
of abuse linked to faith and belief. Devised a national
action plan for various statutory and voluntary
agencies.
The Network of Buddhist Organisations
Network promoting fellowship and dialogue between UK
Buddhists, cooperation in matters of common interest and
work with Buddhist and like-minded organisations, such
as the European Buddhist Union and Inter Faith Network
for the UK.
Nonconformist
Term generally applied in England and Wales to all
Protestants who are not Anglicans, including those who
have seceded from Anglicanism (Methodists), and also to
independent groups such as the Quakers and the Salvation
Army.
Non-trinitarian
A form of Christianity which rejects the doctrine of the
Trinity, ie that God consists of three persons who are
co-eternal and united in one being or essence.
Ofsted
The Office for Standards in Education, Children’s
Services and Skills, a non-ministerial government
department which inspects a range of educational, social
care and child care institutions in England. Its
counterparts in Wales are Estyn (for education) and Care
Inspectorate Wales (for social care).
Operation Hydrant
A coordination hub to deliver the national policing
response to, and oversight and coordination of,
non-recent child sexual abuse investigations concerning
persons of public prominence, or in relation to those
offences which took place within institutional settings.
Ordain
To officially make someone a priest or other religious
leader, in a religious ceremony.
Orthodox Jewish communities
Communities complying with traditional Jewish beliefs
and practices. Adherents are committed to Torah law
(Halacha) and its derived laws and traditions.
Out-of-school settings/supplementary schooling
A setting for supplementary education which is not
regulated in a comparable way to full-time education
settings. Such settings are not required to register
with any authority, and are able to operate so long as
they comply with relevant legislation, including health
and safety law.
Pagan Federation
An umbrella body providing support to Pagan groups, and
information on Pagan beliefs to the media, official
bodies and the wider community.
Paganism
A polytheistic or pantheistic nature-worshipping
religion.
Paramountcy principle
The principle that when making decisions about children,
their interests are paramount. Section 1(1) of the
Children Act 1989.
Pentecostal churches
Christian movements across denominations emphasising
baptism in the Holy Spirit, evidenced by ‘speaking in
tongues’, prophecy, healing and exorcism.
Pir
A Sufi spiritual guide whose job is to instruct
disciples on the Sufi path through lessons and guidance.
Polytheistic
Worshipping a number of different godheads as part of
religious belief.
Qur’an
The Islamic sacred book, believed to be the word of God
as dictated to Muhammad by the archangel Gabriel.
Rabbi
A Jewish scholar or teacher.
A Jewish ordained religious leader.
An elder or person of influence within the Jewish
community who does not have any formal religious qualifications – a term of respect
for their seniority.
Rabbinate
The position or tenure of office of a Rabbi or
collective Rabbis.
Reform Judaism
National umbrella body of 41 autonomous synagogue
communities which seeks to practice Judaism in the light
of 21st-century principles and practices.
Regulated activity
Activities from which a person may be barred. These
activities include teaching, training, instructing,
caring for or supervising children if the person is
unsupervised, or providing advice or guidance on
physical, emotional or educational well-being, or
driving a vehicle only for children (and anyone
supervising or caring for them). Set out in schedule 4
to the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006.
It also
includes work for a limited range of specific places
with the opportunity for contact with children (such as
hospitals, schools, care homes), excluding work done by
supervised volunteers. This is only regulated activity
if done regularly, but some activities are always
regulated regardless of frequency: personal care (ie
toileting, bathing a child) or health care.
Someone
working in regulated activity is eligible for an
enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)
certificate with a check of the relevant barred list.
Relevant agencies
In England, local safeguarding children partnerships
have powers under regulations issued under the Children
and Social Work Act 2017 to place a duty on ‘relevant
agencies’ (including charities, schools and
representative organisations of religions for their
schools) to cooperate if asked to do so as part of the
local safeguarding arrangements.
Religious
Having a religious belief and/or practising those
beliefs.
Religious Society of Friends in Britain (Quakers)
A member of the Religious Society of Friends, a
Christian movement. Central to the Quakers’ belief is
the doctrine of the ‘Inner Light’, or sense of Christ’s
direct working in the soul. This has led them to reject
both formal ministry and all set forms of worship.
Religious studies
The study of religion or religions as an academic
discipline.
Reshet
An organisation set up by the Jewish Leadership Council
in order to support Jewish youth work throughout the UK.
Provides advice, training and guidance.
Roman Catholic Church
The second largest Christian denomination in England and
Wales, with approximately 3.8 million Catholic adults.
Safeguarding
A term used by statutory bodies and others involved in
child protection, coming from section 10 of the Children
Act 2004 and section 17 of the Children Act 1989,
meaning to both protect children but also to take active
steps to prevent them from coming to harm. See Part A
for further information.
Salvation Army
A worldwide evangelical Christian church and registered
charity. Particularly known for the practical support it
provides to the homeless and those subject to human
trafficking.
Scriptural
From or connected with the Bible or other holy book.
Section 11 Audit
Questionnaire or information request from a local
authority sent to schools, voluntary organisations and
religious groups to ask them about their safeguarding
arrangements and practices. Taken from s11 of the
Children Act 2004 which empowers various organisations
to ensure that their functions and any services provided
by them are discharged having regard to the need to
safeguard and promote the welfare of children.
Section 15 Regulatory Advice
Advice given by the Charity Commission, called s15 as
the Commission has power under s15 of the Charities Act
2011 to issue such advice on the charity’s compliance
with the law. The provision of such advice usually
involves the Charity Commission asking the organisation
to comply with an action plan to improve aspects of
their functioning.
Secular
Not connected with spiritual or religious matters.
Serious incident reporting
A requirement by charity trustees to report to the Charity Commission adverse events which result in or risk significant harm to a charity’s beneficiaries, staff, volunteers or others who come into contact with the charity through its work.[6] Reports should also be made if there has been harm to a charity’s work or reputation (child protection failures or complaints are seen as causing harm to the beneficiaries, staff or others, and to their reputation and work).
The Service Department/Service Desk (Jehovah’s
Witnesses)
The Service Department is a department within the Britain Branch Office, which is the national headquarters of the Jehovah’s Witnesses.[7] The Service Department provides guidance to congregation elders on implementing the child safeguarding policy of the Jehovah’s Witnesses.[8]
Sharia
Religious law forming part of Islamic tradition.
Sharia councils/tribunals
Bodies made up of Islamic legal scholars/imams which
make decisions about Islamic practices and/or make
decisions about aspects of daily life between Muslims.
Sharia marriage
Informal common name for a marriage conducted by an imam
under Islamic law but which is not recognised as a
marriage in English law.
Sheikh/Sheik/Sheyikh and other transliterations
Honorific title in Arabic language. Commonly used to
refer to a Muslim religious scholar.
Shema Koli
A confidential, anonymous helpline, counselling and
support service for people in the Jewish community
(primarily within the Charedi community) who have
experienced or been affected by abuse of any kind.
Shi′a
A member of the Shi′a branch of Islam. One of the two
main branches of Islam.
Shree Hindu Temple and Community Centre
Hindu temple and community centre providing community
and religious activities, education and training, arts,
culture and sport in Leicester.
Sikh Women's Action Network (SWAN)
Women-led organisation providing training and support on
issues of gender and domestic abuse in the West
Midlands.
Sikhism
A monotheistic religion founded in Punjab, India in the
15th century by Guru Nanak.
Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE)
Charity providing consultancy, guidance, advice and
support to organisations on issues related to social
care.
Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014
Act of the Welsh government which establishes the
requirement for a national independent safeguarding
board and regional safeguarding boards made up of
representatives from local authorities, local health
boards, the police and others.
Southall Black Sisters (SBS)
A not-for-profit secular organisation established in
1979 to meet the needs of Black (Asian and
African-Caribbean) women. It undertakes campaigning,
provides advice, support and education in respect of
gender-related violence, and works to develop women’s
rights in society.
Spent convictions
Criminal records which have reached the defined time as
set out in the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.
Spent convictions will not appear on a basic Disclosure
and Barring Service (DBS) criminal record check.
Spiritual or faith healers
A person who seeks to cure or heal by means other than
conventional medical treatment or other physical
methods, using religious or spiritual beliefs as the
basis for healing.
Statutory inquiry (Charity Commission)
A statutory inquiry enables the Charity Commission to
formally investigate matters of regulatory concern, for
example by compelling the production of documentation or
information from within a charity, and to use protective
powers for the benefit of the charity, its
beneficiaries, assets or reputation.
Strengthening Faith Institutions (SFI)
Non-governmental organisation made up of facilitators of
various faiths who provide ‘health checks’ and education
to religious groupings unaffiliated with major religious
umbrella bodies, typically in urban areas of England.
Sufism
A branch of Islam emphasising mysticism and an inward
search for God. It uses particular rituals, practices,
doctrines and institutions, such as dancing and singing,
which are uncommon or forbidden in other parts of
Islamic worship.
Sunday school
A class held on Sundays in the Christian tradition,
typically to teach children.
Sunnī
A member of one of the two main branches of Islam, the
branch which consists of the majority of Islam’s
adherents.
Synagogue/shul
The building where a Jewish assembly or congregation
meets for religious worship and instruction.
The S&P Sephardi Community
Sephardis are members or descendants of the Jews who
lived in Spain and Portugal until their mass expulsion
from those countries in the last decades of the 15th
century.
Temple
A building devoted to the worship of a god or gods.
Third sector
Shorthand for voluntary organisations, charities or
not-for-profit social enterprises.
Thirtyone:eight (formerly Churches’ Child Protection
Advisory Service (CCPAS))
An independent non-denominational Christian child
protection charity providing training and consultancy
about safeguarding practices.
Torah
The first part of the Jewish bible. Torah refers to the
five books of Moses.
Triratna Buddhist Order and Community
The Triratna Buddhist Order and Community was founded in
the UK and is now a worldwide movement of people who
engage with the Buddha’s teachings in the conditions of
the modern world.
Trustee
Person appointed to a charity who has financial and
operational responsibility for the running of the
charity and owes duties in law.
Umbrella body
An organisation which controls or organises the
activities of an association of institutions (in this
context, religious institutions) which work together
formally to coordinate activities or share resources and
information.
Union of Orthodox Hebrew Congregations (UOHC)
An umbrella body of Charedi Jewish communities in London
whose stated mission is to protect traditional Judaism.
United Reformed Church in the UK
Protestant reformed denomination of Christianity,
created from the merging of various nonconformist
denominations in the 1970s in the UK.
The United Synagogue
The largest synagogue movement in Europe. Comprises
local communities supported by a central office,
representing what it calls ‘mainstream, Orthodox
Judaism’.
Unregistered school
A school in England which is not registered with the
Secretary of State for Education. Schools only have to
be registered if they provide full-time education, ie
over 18 hours a week.
Unspent convictions
Records which have not yet reached the defined time as
set out in the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.
Unspent convictions will appear on a basic Disclosure
and Barring Service (DBS) criminal record check.
Vetting and Barring checks
A check carried out by the Disclosure and Barring
Service (DBS) of an individual’s criminal record.
Employers can ask to see a DBS certificate to ensure
that they are recruiting suitable people into their
organisation.
Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE)
Voluntary, charity, social enterprise organisations.
Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Britain
(Jehovah’s Witnesses)
A charity operated by the Jehovah’s Witnesses.
The Watchtower (Jehovah’s Witnesses)
Religious text published by the Jehovah’s Witnesses. The May 2019 edition “explained and expanded on” the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ worldwide child protection policy.[9] It is studied and read by congregation members during group study.
Working Together to Safeguard Children (Working
Together Under the Children Act 2004/Safe From
Harm)
Statutory guidance issued by the Department for
Education to statutory bodies about how to assess and
deal with safeguarding issues. Includes some limited
advice about the role of religious organisations.
World Ahlul-Bayt Islamic League
A registered charity and worldwide organisation of Ulama
(scholars) for the advancement of the Islamic Sh′ia
religion.
Yeshiva/yeshivot/heshivos
A Jewish educational institution (single sex) which
focusses on the study of religious texts, primarily the
Talmud and the Torah, and Jewish Law (Halacha). In the
context of this report, yeshiva refers primarily to
all-male educational institutions for boys and young
men, from 13 to early adulthood, organised and run by
members of the Charedi community to educate them in
religious law and religious studies alone.
Zoroastrianism
One of the world’s oldest known living religions,
developed about 3,500 years ago from ancient
Indo-Iranian religion.