I stayed up until one minute past midnight this morning, eagerly awaiting the release of the Professor Jay report on the ‘Future of Safeguarding in the Church of England’. As the Survivor Advocate for the Church’s Independent Safeguarding Board, I was dedicated to advocating for those harmed by the Church until my removal in June 2023.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby made the clear point at the outset, that the key word in our job role was ‘independent’. Alongside my colleague Steve Reeves, we tirelessly fought for the voices of victims and survivors, clinging to our independence amidst mounting pressure from the Church to shut us down. Despite our efforts to amplify the voices of the marginalised, we ultimately resorted to submitting a Dispute Notice in a last-ditch attempt to be heard. This decision was not taken lightly, but it was crucial for preserving the independence of the only body capable of addressing complaints from those harmed by the Church.
As I reflect on today’s report, which highlights the removal of individuals based on moral judgments or simply because they were deemed a ‘nuisance’, I feel a sense of moral fortitude. We stood firm in our integrity, bearing witness to the truth and advocating for justice, even when our efforts seemed futile. Whilst our pleas were falling on deaf ears, the Church’s actions caused yet further distress to those harmed by them. I take pride in knowing that we played a role in shaping the recommendations outlined in the report.
The closure of the Independent Safeguarding Board was not due to a breakdown in relationships, but rather a result of our unwavering demand for urgent change and independence, to better serve the vulnerable within the Church. Despite being labelled as “too survivor focused” by a senior member of the National Safeguarding Team, I wear the badge of ‘Survivor Focused’ with pride.
Late Congressman John Lewis said, “Find a way to get in the way, to get in trouble…good trouble, necessary trouble”. If being a nuisance is necessary to advocate for the most vulnerable in our society, then I gladly embrace that title.
This report must be a watershed moment.
Jasvinder Sanghera CBE
