Ampleforth Abbey Trust: Lessons in managing safeguarding communications 

Ensuring that students are safe and well cared for is paramount for any educational institution.  

Last week, the Charity Commission published the findings of an inquiry into two linked charities, Ampleforth Abbey Trust and St Laurence Education Trust following allegations of sexual abuse at Ampleforth published in the Times. The findings show that poor communication, lack of expertise, and ineffective management between charities and safeguarding committees led to risks for beneficiaries and harm to the charities’ reputations. 

The inquiry provides lessons for trustees in safeguarding but also lessons in managing safeguarding communications. Whether you are a school, charity or faith organisation, here are some best practice strategies to strengthen your safeguarding communications.  

Be timely

The trustees of both charities failed to meet school standards by not managing the risks, keeping poor safeguarding records and failing to follow-up on concerns.  

When safeguarding concerns arise, it is important to know what you need to communicate, at what point, and to whom. There are reputational and legal dangers in over-communicating just as much as under-communicating, particularly in the early stages of a safeguarding case. The main focus should always be on any victims, but secondary stakeholders such as parents and staff not directly affected may at some point need to hear from you. The key is to have a proper understanding of the legal framework in terms of the safeguarding matter itself, individuals’ rights to confidentiality and the media’s ability to report it.  

Clarity in messaging 

The mention of a historical culture of secrecy highlights the risks associated with unclear or ambiguous communications. 

When communicating with stakeholders, make sure your messages are unequivocal and clear. Ambiguity can lead to misunderstandings and exacerbate concerns within the community and the broader public.  Ensure all staff are informed on the protocols for handling incoming enquiries and communicate clearly to stakeholders how they can report a safeguarding concern.  

Avoid the temptation to ‘sugar coat’ such communications by trying to minimise the significance of what has happened.  

Prioritise victims 

The inquiry acknowledged the impact on individuals affected by past failures, emphasising the importance of compassionate communication. 

In such circumstances, communicating with the victim and – if appropriate – their relatives, takes precedence over communicating with the media. The impact on the victim is likely to be much worse if they do not feel as though they are the priority. Responding to victims requires putting yourself in their shoes to understand what they need to hear.  

Managing reputation 

The inquiry addressed the reputational damage caused by safeguarding failures.  

To limit the damage to a reputation, organisations need a robust crisis communication plan to manage the reputational risks and prepare to respond to safeguarding incidents. There is a legal angle that will also need to be considered, so drawing up templates for parents, staff and the media will enable you to react in a timely manner. Transparent communication about remedial actions and improvements will help rebuild trust and reputation over time.  Scenario-based training can help too.  

Whether you are a school, charity, or faith organisation, you will need to manage the risks and anticipate safeguarding concerns. All communications should aim to put the victim first.  Ask yourself: what does good communication look like from their point of view?  

If you are concerned about safeguarding communications, or wanting to proactively plan for these scenarios, get in touch with our specialist team at [email protected] or call 020 7692 5675.