Bradford churches will be given guidance on how to respond to allegations of child abuse at a training seminar.

Anyone who works with the district’s children can attend the event at the Lighthouse Group, in Hope Park, on Saturday, including people who work in a church such as youth and children’s workers, Sunday School helpers and church leaders.

The seminar, entitled Facing the Unthinkable, will offer advice on spotting the signs and symptoms of different forms of abuse.

It has been organised by independent Christian charity, the Churches Child Protection Advisory Service (CCPAS), which says every church is required to have a child protection plan in place.

Jenny Price, safeguarding advisor for the Church of England’s Bradford and Wakefield Dioceses, said it is vital churches have comprehensive protection strategies.

She said: “Each diocese has a safeguarding advisor and I’m experienced in dealing with child protection at schools for 25 years. It’s a really vital role because churches are places that people in need of support go and talk about their problems. We see it as part of our missionary work to provide access in a safe environment.

“Clearly churches need to work in line with government guidance and run Criminal Record Bureau checks. My job is to encourage them to find ways of keeping child protection on their agendas. I hold training events with groups of parishes and go out to see people who work with children and talk them through what they need to know.”

David Pearson, executive director of CCPAS, who will present the Bradford seminar alongside counsellor Pauline Pearson, is aiming to re-enforce child protection as a priority.

He said: “The purpose of the Facing the Unthinkable seminar is to help make the Church a safe place for children. Every church in Bradford 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.”

Preventative measures, such as how to develop a safe environment for children in churches, will be covered in the session which runs from 9am to 1.30pm.

The cost is £19.50 or group bookings for five people £75. For more details, or to book a place, contact Karen Ledger on 0845 120 4550 or visit ccpas.co.uk.