West Safeguarding Policy Signed 2025
To see full Policy please click on the link above.
Safeguarding Designated Person
The Kirk Session has appointed the following Designated Person for West Church Ballymena:
Mr. Aaron Foster
And Mrs. Alison Ramsey (Deputy Designated Person)
Jennifer McLernon (Adult Safeguarding Champion)
The Designated Person will give advice and support to Organisations and the Kirk Session on matters concerning the welfare of children and young people.
The Kirk Session will keep Organisations’ leaders updated with the name of the Designated Person.
Any matter brought to the attention of the Designated Person will be treated in strict confidence.
Information will be divulged only where there is a Legitimate need to know.
Contact the safeguarding review team
You can contact the team confidentially by
Email: SAT@presbyterianireland.org
or
Tel: +44 (0)28 9041 7308 (Mon to Fri 9am – 4.30pm)
Emergency and out of hours contacts
If you are concerned about immediate risk to any child or adult contact your emergency services:
- 999 Police Service NI
- 112 An Garda Síochána
Victim Support NI
If you have been affected by this statement from the Presbyterian Church in Ireland and require additional support from an independent agency, we would encourage you to reach out to Victim Support NI.
You can contact them from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday on the phone number below.
Alternatively, you can email either their Belfast or Foyle offices.
- Belfast phone number: +44 (0)28 9013 0405
- Belfast office email: belfast@victimsupportni.org.uk
- Foyle office email: foyle@victimsupportni.org.uk
For those living in the Republic of Ireland:
Contact the Crime Victims Helpline on Freephone 116 006
or visit their website: www.crimevictimshelpline.ie
You can avail of further support from the Domestic and Sexual Abuse Helpline in Northern Ireland.
Call them on 0808 802 1414 or email them at help@dsahelpline.org
Social Services
If you require social services advice and support out of hours in regards to a potential safeguarding concern for any child or adult contact:
- 0800 197 9995 Northern Ireland
- 0818 776 315 Republic of Ireland
