30 September 2026
In June 2025, the Parish Safeguarding Dashboard was launched across Chelmsford Diocese, providing parishes with a simple, user-friendly online tool to help keep track of safeguarding administration and stay up to date with local and national safeguarding requirements.
The Dashboard supports parishes in monitoring and recording key safeguarding activities, while also helping them assess their progress against the Church of England’s five National Safeguarding Standards.
The Parish Safeguarding Dashboard has been rolled out across most dioceses in the Church of England, and Chelmsford Diocese has achieved one of the fastest sign-up rates in the country.
Graeme Eyre, Parish Safeguarding Officer for St Thomas, Bradwell-on-Sea and St James, Dengie, has been using the Dashboard since July 2025 and has found it hugely beneficial.
Graeme explains:
“As the Parish Safeguarding Officer for two rural parishes, I have found the Parish Safeguarding Dashboard an incredibly useful tool for structuring and supporting our safeguarding work.
“Both parishes are at slightly different stages, but the Dashboard takes account of that. Registering was straightforward, and it was easy to give access to the Churchwarden and Vicar so that we could all see progress and work collaboratively.
“The Dashboard enabled me to quickly record the safeguarding measures we already had in place, while also providing a clear action plan for areas where further development was needed. One of the things I have found particularly valuable is the way it has helped focus discussions at PCC meetings. Safeguarding is always a standing agenda item, but the Dashboard has moved conversations beyond simply reporting that there is nothing new to discuss or reminding PCC members to complete their training.
“We have also used one of the “Promoting a Healthier Culture” worksheets available through the Dashboard to help shape wider discussions at a PCC away day. I would strongly encourage any parish that has not yet started using the Dashboard to do so. It helps shift safeguarding purely from just a check list to something that permeates the culture of the parish.”
Every parish in the Diocese of Chelmsford is required to use the Dashboard to track their progress in all areas of safeguarding. Encouragingly, 92% of our parishes are already actively using the system.
Parishes that have not yet registered, or those who would like support to get started, are encouraged to email the Diocesan Safeguarding Team on safeguarding@chelmsford.anglican.org.
This article is taken from the latest edition of WePray.