Digital Safeguarding

Our church wants every person to be safe online as well as in our buildings.

This page brings together key guidance and trusted resources to help us use digital tools, social media and online communication safely.

‍Digital Safeguarding and Social Media

Digital safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. Even in church settings where we meet face‑to‑face, people’s online lives affect their wellbeing: scams, abusive messages, exploitation and upsetting content can all cause changes in behaviour, mood or confidence that you may notice in worship, groups or pastoral conversations.

If you see a change in someone’s demeanour, if they become withdrawn, anxious, unusually generous with money, or if they tell you directly that something upsetting has happened online, please take it seriously.

 You do not need to be certain before you raise a concern — if you suspect someone is being harmed or exploited online, speak to your Church or Circuit Safeguarding Officer, or the Regional Officer for Safeguarding. Reporting concerns promptly helps us keep people safe and ensures the right support is put in place.

Our Methodist Framework & Resources

As a Methodist church, we have national Methodist guidance and resources on safeguarding and digital communication, and encourage local churches and circuits to adopt and follow this guidance.

Digital Safeguarding in practice

These resources show how digital safeguarding can work day‑to‑day in church life:

Creating Safe Faith Spaces Online – Digital Safeguarding in Practice (Methodist story)
A case study describing how a district developed a “Digital Safeguarding Best Practice” document and embedded it in church life.

Methodist Insurance – Using Digital Technology
A practical guide for churches on using websites, social media, livestreaming and other digital tools, with clear reminders about risk assessment, privacy and safeguarding.

Online safety for children and young people

Our work with children and young people draws on school‑sector thinking as well as church guidance. The Department for Education’s Keeping Children Safer in Education (KCSIE) guidance, widely used in schools, describes online risks in terms of the “4 Cs”: content, contact, conduct and commerce. These concepts are helpful for church youth work too.

Key Sources:

Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE)
Statutory guidance for schools and colleges in England; we use its 4 Cs model to help us think about online risks in youth and children’s ministry.

NSPCC Learning – The 4 Cs of Online Safety
Plain‑language explanation of content, contact, conduct and commerce risks, with examples that apply across home, school and church contexts.

We apply these principles alongside the Methodist Children and Youth Social Media & Communications Guidelines when planning any online or social‑media contact with under‑18s.

Online safety for adults and older people

Digital safeguarding is not only about children. Adults can be at risk of online fraud, coercion, harassment and tech‑enabled abuse, including:

  • romance fraud

  • courier and delivery scams

  • phishing emails and texts

  • remote‑access and banking scams

  • abuse where someone else controls a person’s phone, computer or online accounts.

For local work with an ageing congregation, we encourage:

  • raising awareness of common scams and frauds in church communications and groups;

  • using simple, clear language when explaining online risks;

  • signposting to trusted national scam‑awareness and elder‑abuse resources;

  • and being alert to signs that someone may be under pressure or control in how they use their money, devices or accounts.

Here are some more helpful links:

Age UK – How to stay safe online as an older person
Very accessible, practical, and aimed directly at older adults. It covers strong passwords, device security, safe websites, privacy settings, and what to do if you’ve been scammed.

Age UK – Avoiding scams
Good for church notices, newsletters, or a sermon-group handout because it explains common scam types and what to do next.

Get Safe Online
This is one of the most useful general public resources for fraud, identity theft, viruses, phishing, and online safety. It’s also recommended in Welsh safeguarding-board material for older people.

Action Fraud
Good for reporting scams and for explaining the fraud-reporting route in England and Wales.

Digital Evangelism

Considering experimenting with Digital Evangelism? The Connexional Team have a suite of resources that could be just where you need to begin: Experimenting with Digital Evangelism - The Methodist Church

Interview with Ali Johnson around Digital Evangelism  Interview with a digital evangelist - Ali Johnson — Stronger Network

Other useful links for advice around online safety

UK Safer Internet Centre
Advice and resources for children, parents, carers and professionals on staying safe online.

Childnet (UK Safer Internet partner)
Resources for children and young people, including videos and lesson-style materials that churches can adapt.

Get Safe Online
National advice site covering online fraud, phishing, passwords, devices and social media safety for the general public.

GOV.UK – Avoid and report internet scams and phishing
Official UK guidance on recognising scams and how to report suspicious emails, texts and websites.

Financial Conduct Authority – Protect yourself from scams
Information on investment, pension and banking scams, and how to check if a firm is genuine.

‍SCIE – Safeguarding adults 
Wider guidance on safeguarding adults at risk, including financial and psychological abuse, which can occur online.

Ann Craft Trust – An Introduction to Digital Safeguarding
Short overview of digital safeguarding, including examples of online risks and safer practice.