About Us
The RLSS began operation in February 2022. Since then around 215 Religious Life Groups have become members of RLSS totalling just over 4,000 Religious. There is only believed to be around 5,000 Religious residing in the UK so the vast majority have joined with RLSS. This gives the RLSS a unique position and perspective.
Our Purpose
We believe we can create a safer
Church by putting victims at the centre
of safeguarding and developing an
empathy-driven culture.
We believe we can create a safer
Church by supporting Religious so that
they can feel more confident,
knowledgeable and supported in the
area of safeguarding by providing
training, support, advice and casework
designed for Religious Life.
We believe we can create a safer
Church by embracing the One Church
approach to safeguarding and working
hard to ensure every person who
interacts with the service receives the
highest professional response.
Our Values
1. Empathy is the cornerstone of
the RLSS culture. Having this
empathy-driven culture helps us
build an understanding of each
person’s individual experience,
work together more cohesively,
and ultimately, deliver a better
safeguarding service to all.
2. We will seek, hear and value the
voices of victims and survivors.
3. We are committed in heart and
mind to addressing safeguarding
concerns promptly and
comprehensively.
4. We believe transparency is
fundamental to safeguarding
and therefore we will be
transparent in all of our work,
especially when we can’t share
something and the reasons why.
5. We will be professional and
respectful to all who come into
contact with our service.
Our Mission
To be a safer Church by providing a skilled and robust safeguarding service to Religious.
Our Vision
We will create a safer Church by learning from those who have been hurt and always working to best practice in safeguarding.
Our History
2019
Independent Review Began
This review was later called the Elliott Report due to the author Ian Elliott. The Report was started in October 2019 and finished in October 2020
2020
Review and IICSA findings
In September and October the final reports from IICSA and Ian Elliott were given to the Church
2020
Recommendations Accepted
In November 2020 the Bishops accepted the recommendations
2021
Consultation with Religious Started
From Jan 2021 – June 2021 a consultation with Religious Life Groups to design the service that they needed in order to feel they were able to safeguard effectively.
2021
RLSS Created
In June 2021 RLSS was created. The Board was recruited over the summer and they had their first meeting in September 2021. Staff were recruited from November – January 2021.
2022
RLSS Began Operating
The RLSS began offering safeguarding service on 2nd February 2022 and now has around 215 member organisations.