Safe Spaces England and Wales (SSEW) is a charitable company responsible for the governance and oversight of the Safe Spaces service.
SSEW has contracted First Light to deliver the Safe Spaces service under a three-year contract running from January 2023 to January 2026. This has now been extended for an additional year until 2027.
Why SSEW was established
SSEW was formed by the Archbishops’ Council of the Church of England and the Catholic Church in England and Wales.
The Board of Safe Spaces England and Wales
SSEW is governed by an independent Board.
The role of Chair or Deputy Chair is always offered to the independent lived‑experience trustees to ensure greater independence.
The Directors:
-
provide strategic direction and oversight
-
are legally responsible for the activities of SSEW
-
hold decision-making responsibility for the charitable company
The Board does not deliver the Safe Spaces service or have contact with individual clients.
The Safe Spaces Advisory Committee (SSAC)
The SSEW Directors are supported by the Safe Spaces Advisory Committee (SSAC).
The SSAC brings together key stakeholders to provide operational advice relating to the day-to-day activities of SSEW.
Directors may take this advice into account when making decisions.
The SSAC includes:
-
Non-Executive Directors / Experts by Experience (Professionals from sectors such as Education, Adult Social Care, Local Government, Church of England Ministry, and the NHS, who also bring valuable lived experience.)
-
Safeguarding professionals
-
Legal advisers
-
Financial advisers
-
Communications advisers
SSEW Directors
The current Directors of Safe Spaces England and Wales are:
-
Dr Jamie Harrison
Member of the Archbishops’ Council and Chair of the House of Laity, Church of England -
Rt Rev Paul Mason
Bishop of the Forces, Catholic Church in England and Wales -
Paul McCallum
Chief Operating Officer, Archdiocese of Southwark, Catholic Church in England and Wales -
Rt Rev Julie Conalty
Bishop of Birkenhead, Church of England -
Craig Russo
Independent mental health and wellbeing expert
Funding
The Safe Spaces service is funded by:
-
The Archbishops’ Council (Church of England)
-
The Catholic Church in England and Wales
SSEW also receives additional funding from the Archbishops’ Council and the Catholic Church in England and Wales to cover the core running costs of the charitable company.
Oversight and evaluation of the Safe Spaces service
Representatives from:
-
The Church of England Archbishops Council
-
The Catholic Safeguarding Advisory Service (CSAS)
sit on the Safe Spaces Advisory Committee.
These representatives meet regularly with First Light, on behalf of the SSEW Directors, as part of the contract monitoring process.
The SSEW Directors meet regularly with the SSAC to review service data and reports relating to the Safe Spaces service.
SSEW has appointed Rocket Science as the independent evaluator of the Safe Spaces service. Rocket Science provides regular updates to the Board, and evaluation findings will be published.