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Charity Commission Sets 18-Month Deadline for Church of England Safeguarding Reforms

The Archbishops’ Council is now on a Regulatory Action Plan requiring earlier independent structures under close monitoring.

Overview

  • Independent safeguarding arrangements endorsed by General Synod must be implemented within 18 months, a year sooner than the previous timetable.
  • Trustees are required to introduce interim non‑legislative protections where legislative change would be too slow to mitigate identified risks.
  • The regulator found insufficient urgency, a fragmented approach, and a policy gap in how allegations from adults not assessed as vulnerable are treated.
  • No evidence of trustee mismanagement or misconduct was found, but the Commission will monitor progress and may escalate action if delivery falters.
  • The Archbishops’ Council pledged to act quickly, plans an interim independent scrutiny body, and has appointed Dame Christine Ryan to lead structural work.