How safe is your church?
Ten honest questions. Your answers stay on your device. Requirements vary by state, so this is a starting point, not an audit or legal advice.
Have you named a designated safeguarding lead and a trained deputy, in writing?
Have all staff and volunteers completed child-abuse and mandated-reporter training that meets your state's requirements in the last 12 months?
Does a written procedure tell every adult who to tell, when, and how to report to child protective services or law enforcement?
Are background checks and references completed before anyone starts working with young people?
Do you have written rules on one-to-one contact, transport, overnight trips and communication, including online and by phone, between adults and young people?
Do your board and senior leaders receive regular safeguarding training and review safeguarding reports every quarter?
Do you have a safe check-in and check-out system for children, and a rule that no adult is alone with a child?
Would your staff and volunteers feel confident raising a concern about another adult, including a leader?
Do you track staff turnover, sickness absence or burnout, and act on what you find?
Do staff and volunteers receive resilience and emotional support, such as stress-management training, supervision or debriefing?
We’ll email you a one-page plan based on your answers, with your first three steps.
Thank you. Your action plan is on its way within two working days. Check your junk folder if you can’t see it.
For churches and ministries
Children’s ministry, youth groups, nursery, camps and mission trips are where churches do some of their best work, and where they carry the most risk. Many churches rely on volunteers who have never been shown what to do if something feels wrong. We help you put that right, gently and practically.
Protect children
Clear policies, safer recruitment and practices that make it hard for anyone to cause harm.
Equip volunteers
Confident volunteers who know the signs, how to respond and who to tell.
Reassure leaders
Evidence for your board and insurer that your church takes child protection seriously.
The Safe Church Pathway
Our six-session child protection programme for church staff and volunteers. Live online, 60 to 75 minutes each, run weekly or as two half-days. Built for small and mid-sized churches.
Why it matters
Protection as part of our calling: what Scripture says about caring for the vulnerable, and the reality of abuse in church settings.
Recognising abuse and grooming
Signs of abuse and neglect, how grooming works, and how abusers target children, families and whole congregations.
Responding well
Hearing a disclosure, what to say and not say, recording, and reporting to child protective services or law enforcement under your state’s rules.
Safer recruitment
Screening, background checks, references, interviews, the six-month rule and a code of conduct every volunteer signs.
Safe ministry in practice
The two-adult rule, restrooms, check-in and check-out, transport, trips and overnights, youth group, and safe texting and social media.
Leading a safe church
The safeguarding lead, board oversight, policies, what insurers ask for, caring for survivors, and supporting the volunteers who carry concerns.
Supports, and does not replace, the mandated reporter training your state requires. Certificates are certificates of attendance.
Volunteer Training
- 2-hour live session on Zoom for up to 40 staff and volunteers
- Recognising, responding and reporting
- Certificates of attendance
- Slides and a one-page volunteer guide
Safe Church Pathway MOST POPULAR
- All six sessions, live online
- Pastors’ and elders’ briefing (90 minutes)
- Review of your child protection policy
- Certificates for everyone who completes it
- 90-day follow-up call
Church Safeguarding Health Check
- Review of your policies, screening and practice
- Red-amber-green report and 90-day action plan
- One-page summary for your board
Prices in US dollars. Paying online books your place; we’ll email you within two working days to arrange dates. Prefer an invoice? Make an enquiry.
Schools and youth organisations
Start with a review, then build. Fixed fees so you know the cost before we begin.
Safeguarding Health Check START HERE
A full review of your safeguarding policies, procedures and practice. You receive a written report with red-amber-green findings, a 90-day action plan and a one-page board summary.
Attendance and Belonging Review
For schools. A child who stops coming is often a child at risk. We look at your absence patterns, how quickly you respond and how connected students feel, then give you a clear plan to get young people back in class and engaged.
Safeguarding Training
Practical, scenario-based training in two strands. It covers recognising concerns, responding to disclosures and reporting. It supports, and does not replace, the mandated-reporter training your state requires.
Staff and volunteers
From $1,800 per day, or $995 per half-day
Whole-team sessions for teachers, youth workers, clergy and volunteers.
Senior leaders and boards
From $1,250 per half-day
For principals, safeguarding leads, trustees and board members: governance, oversight, decision-making and what inspectors and insurers ask.
Annual Advisory Retainer
A trusted expert on call: case consultation, policy updates and quarterly check-ins so nothing slips.
Staff Resilience Workshop
Calming, focus and recovery skills for the people who carry difficult concerns. Prevents burnout and keeps good staff.
How we work
1. Assess
We review documents, observe practice and listen to staff and young people's voices.
2. Strengthen
You get clear priorities, ready-to-use tools and training that sticks.
3. Sustain
Quarterly check-ins and staff support keep standards high long after we leave.
Who we serve
Three sectors, done well.
Meet Phina
Founder, Safely Thrive
I'm Phina, a UK-qualified social worker and teacher with more than a decade of experience in safeguarding, senior school leadership and attendance improvement. I still practise as a Designated Safeguarding Lead, and I serve as a school trustee. I help organisations keep young people safe and in school, and help the adults who protect them stay well.
Qualifications
- ◆MA Social Work
- ◆BA (Hons) Education and Theology
- ◆PGCE Teacher Training (UK)
- ◆Certified Life Coach
Recognition
- ★Award-winning leader, recognised for compassionate and inclusive leadership
- ★Recognised for social work practice and home–school partnership
Teaching judged Outstanding by Ofsted, the UK schools inspectorate.
Founding Church offer: 50% off
We’re welcoming our first 10 founding churches. Use code SHEPHERD50 when you pay online to save 50% on any church package. In return, we ask for honest feedback and, with your approval, a short testimonial.
Questions pastors ask
Does your training replace our state’s mandated reporter training?
No. Our training supports it. Each state sets its own mandated reporter rules, so we help your church understand and follow them alongside the training your state requires.
Is this right for a small church?
Yes. The Safe Church Pathway is designed for small and mid-sized churches, including those with fewer than 300 people on a Sunday. Sessions are live online, so volunteers can join from home.
What is the Safe Church Pathway?
A six-session child protection programme for church staff and volunteers, plus a briefing for pastors and elders, a policy review and a 90-day follow-up. It covers recognising abuse and grooming, responding to disclosures, safer recruitment, safe ministry practice and leadership.
Do volunteers get a certificate?
Yes. Everyone who attends receives a Safely Thrive certificate of attendance, which you can keep on file for your insurer and board.
Will you work directly with children?
No. We train and support adults and review systems.
Does this make us compliant with our state’s laws?
No. We help you strengthen practice and prepare for scrutiny from insurers and boards. Requirements vary by state, so we work alongside your counsel and approved providers.
Why a UK-informed approach?
UK churches and schools have long-established standards for safeguarding leads, safer recruitment and supervision. We adapt the best of it to US churches.
Make an enquiry
Tell us a little about your organisation and what you need. We reply within two working days, usually with a short call to understand your setting before we quote.
Thank you
Your enquiry has been sent. We will reply within two working days.
Prefer email? Write to hello@safelythrive.com