Creating a safer environment

Safeguarding Policy Statement for Divine Mercy Apostolate / Marian Helpers website.

Divine Mercy Apostolate has a full safeguarding policy in place, in accordance with the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales and the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Westminster guidelines.

The Marian Fathers and all their associates take great care in the matter of transparency and responsible treatment of each person.

HUMAN DIGNITY ALWAYS COMES FIRST FOR US!

Therefore, when we undertake the effort of proclaiming the Gospel in the context of Catholic anthropology, we pay special attention to integral FORMATION.

As confirmed in the Apostolic Letter of October 27, 2025, DRAWING NEW MAPS OF HOPE, Holy Father Leo:

“Christian formation embraces the entire person: spiritual, intellectual, emotional, social, physical. It does not pit manual and theoretical skills, science and humanism, technology and conscience against each other; rather, it demands that professionalism be imbued with ethics, and that ethics be not an abstract concept but a daily practice. Education does not measure its value only on the axis of efficiency: it measures it according to dignity, justice, the capacity to serve the common good.” /4.2/.

Therefore, by undertaking the work of the Divine Mercy Apostolate as part of the charismatic mission of the Marian Fathers, we ensure the integral formation of each member of the DMA and ensure their safety.

Referring to the crisis caused by child abuse, Leo XIV stated that the Church “must continue to confront this, because it has not been resolved. Time is still needed, because victims must be treated with great respect and with the awareness that those who have suffered very deep wounds due to abuse sometimes carry them throughout their lives.” Holistically, therefore, taking into account the entire teaching of the Church and its latest documents and regulations, we wish to provide everyone with a safe space for personal growth and spiritual life within the apostolic activities of the Divine Mercy Apostolate.

This implies a duty to value all people and therefore to support them and protect them from harm. In the Catholic Church this is demonstrated by the provision of carefully planned activities for all, supporting families under stress, caring for those hurt by abuse in the past, ministering to and managing those who have caused harm. It is because of these varied ministries that we need to provide a safe environment for all, which promotes and supports their wellbeing. This will include carefully selecting and appointing those who work with all people or vulnerable adults and responding robustly where concerns arise. A DBS check must have been completed and processed by the Diocese of Westminster before anyone can function in a role which has contact with children or vulnerable adults.

Who to contact?

If you have a concern, however small, about children or adults at risk, please contact one of our Safeguarding Representatives: Fr Lukasz, +44 (0)20 8998 0925, email: luke@divinemercy.org.uk

You can contact the Diocesan Safeguarding team on +44 (0)20 7798 9352 or by email: safeguarding@rcdow.org.uk. Other contact details are available here https://rcdow.org.uk/safeguarding/reporting-a-concern-about-a-child-or-adult-at-risk/

If there is imminent danger/risk, please phone the Police on 999.

Additional information

External National helplines:

• NSPCC: 0808 800 5000, free helpline. Call if you are worried about a child. Monday to Friday 8am – 10pm and at weekends 9am – 6pm.
• Childline (NSPCC): 0800 1111, the line is free and open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call if you are a child or young person and are worried about anything – no problem is too big or too small.
• National Domestic Violence Helpline: 0808 2000 247, free phone 24-hours. Call if you are experiencing domestic abuse.
• Samaritans: 116 123, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Call if you feel you are struggling to cope and need someone to talk to.
• Hourglass (Action on Elder Abuse): 0808 808 8141, free phone Monday to Friday 9-5pm. Free text 078 6005 2906. Support to an older person or anyone concerned about an older person who is at risk.
• The Survivors Trust: 0808 801 0818, free phone Monday to Thursday: 10am-12.30pm, 1.30pm-5.30pm & 6pm-8pm; Friday: 10am-12.30pm & 1.30pm-5.30pm; Saturday: 10am-1pm; Sunday: 5pm-8pm. Support and empower survivors of rape, sexual violence and childhood sexual abuse.
• NAPAC: 0808 801 0331 – freephone Monday to Thursday: 10am – 9pm; Friday: 10am – 6pm; Saturday and Sunday – Closed. Offers support to adult survivors of all types of childhood abuse, including physical, sexual, emotional abuse or neglect.