United Synagogue raises awareness around child protection to counter abuse
New approach will try to ensure trained officers exist at every level to spot signs of child abuse
The United Synagogue has updated its child protection policy to ensure that there are trained officers at every level of the organisation, urging all community members to learn how to spot signs of abuse.
Those who lead children’s activities – such as youth workers, youth rabbis and local community safeguarding coordinators – will be expected to under-go a half-day training session, together with ongoing support from an enhanced central child protection team, while an information video will be made available to everyone who has contact with kids.
Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis and the United Synagogue has prioritised child protection since taking over from Lord Sacks. In 2015 he said: “Child abuse is a serious crime which can destroy lives and we have an obligation to safeguard the children of our community.”
The United Synagogue is required by law to provide its staff and volunteers with the appropriate tools to support safeguarding, but a spokesman said: “The US has looked to go far beyond what is required for child protection.”
In a video designed to help people identify child abuse, London Beth Din lawyer and caseworker Joanne Greenway says neglect is among the first signs and symptoms.
“Having heard from individuals who have been affected by child abuse, we appreciate the magnitude of these incidents and know we must do everything we can to prevent incidents from occurring. Nobody should have to go through the pain and trauma they have experienced”, she says.
“For an organisation, to get Child Protection right is a huge undertaking, both of time and expense. But the key point for us is to raise awareness of, and sensitivity around, this important issue. I hope that will impact far beyond The US.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
