CHURCH leaders are to be given advice on how to spot potential child abusers.
And they’ll be shown how to identify the tell-tale signs that a youngster is under threat during a special seminar in Dumfries this Sunday. Officials from the Churches Child Protection Advisory Service will run the Facing the Unthinkable course at the Baptist Church on Newall Terrace. According to their executive director David Pearson, those attending will be given valuable advice that could protect children involved with their churches. He said: “The purpose of the Facing the Unthinkable seminar is to help make the church a safe place for children. “Every church in Dumfries must have a child protection policy in place which does not then simply gather dust, but is put into practice and used consistently by all its workers and volunteers. This is to help make our churches safe for all who come through its doors.” The event is geared towards youth and children’s workers, Sunday School helpers and church leaders.
Mr Pearson who has more than 30 years experience in the area of child protection, together with Pauline Pearson, a counsellor who works with both children and adults who have experienced abuse, will present the course.