FAITH groups, community representatives and parents will be attending a special safeguarding conference on Saturday at the University of Bradford.

The conference has been organised by Bradford Council in partnership with faith organisations.

More than 350 delegates are booked to attend from Bradford’s diverse faith communities and supplementary schools.

The aim of the conference, entitled Safeguarding for Parents, Voluntary, Community and Faith Groups, is to start a conversation that helps people understand the importance of safeguarding and child protection so that they improve their safeguarding practice and protect children from any form of abuse.

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Faith communities, churches, mosques, temples, gurdwaras and synagogues all play a vital role in the lives of many children and young people in the district and have a big part to play in keeping people of all ages protected and safe.

The conference focuses on three elements:

• getting the foundations right so that organisation have good and well understood policies and procedures in place

• creating clear leadership and governance structures so that everyone connected to their communities knows who to go to for help

• ensuring staff and volunteers are trained and confident, so that they understand what to be aware of and how to respond to concerns or issues.

Marium Haque, Deputy Director of Education and Learning, said: “People who contribute to the life of faith-based communities and places of worship have an important role to play in keeping people safe.

"They often supplement children’s education and can play a vital role in responding compassionately when someone comes forward to disclose a concern.

"This conference is about working together to strengthen leadership, procedures, skills and practice to create safer communities of faith.”