Safeguarding at Downside Abbey

The Downside Abbey General Trust and the monastic community of St Gregory the Great (‘the Community’) is committed to the safety and welfare of all children, young people, and vulnerable adults, and will take all necessary steps to achieve this. We acknowledge that their welfare and safety is paramount, and we will not accept any form of maltreatment or abuse of any person by any person. 

Downside Abbey General Trust and the Community are guided by the Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency (CSSA), a professional standards body with regulatory powers with a commitment to working to a standards-based approach and transparency and accountability to upholding the standards. The policies established by the CSSA are adapted as part of the ‘One Church Approach’ to safeguarding. The Catholic Church of England and Wales provides a wide range of services for children and adults and members of the Church have an important role in safeguarding and supporting adults, children, and families.

The Downside Abbey Trustees and the Community have access to regular safeguarding training, monitored by CSSA, and ensure that all their staff have an awareness and understanding of the Safeguarding Policy and the safety of all vulnerable adults and children.

The Community of St Gregory the Great is no longer resident at Downside Abbey, having left in 2022 and are now based at Belmont Abbey, Hereford. The Community is a member of the Religious Life Safeguarding Service (RLSS) who can be contacted directly: 0151 5562311.

The Monastery Designated Safeguarding Leads are Lucy & Paul Zammit and can be contacted at belmontsafeguarding@gmail.com.

If there are any questions or concerns regarding the parish community in either the Abbey or St Benedict’s, please contact the Safeguarding Representative for the Parish of St Benedict’s, Hettie McDermott at mcdermotthj@outlook.com.

If there are any questions or concerns regarding the present school community, please contact a member of the Downside School safeguarding team safeguarding@downside.co.uk or call 01761 235100.

Reporting Abuse

If you are concerned about the welfare of a child or adult at risk, do not delay in contacting the police, using 999 if a child or adult is believed to be in immediate danger. 

It is the policy of the Catholic Church in England and Wales to report all allegations of abuse to statutory authorities, regardless of whether the abuse occurred recently or in the past, or whether the accused person is living or deceased. 

If you are in any role within the Catholic Church in England and Wales, you must refer allegations directly to the safeguarding office for your diocese or religious congregation, or directly to the Police. 

If you are a member of the public, please refer allegations directly to the Police and also to the safeguarding office in your diocese or religious organisation; (the relevant Diocesan safeguarding office can be located using the interactive map on the links page of the CSSA website – contact details will be shown when you click on the relevant area of the map). You can also contact CSSA by telephoning 0207 901 1920 or via email at admin@catholicsafeguarding.org.uk.

For further information please visit:

Statement from Downside Abbey in response to the IICSA Report Publication

Statement from the Catholic Council in response to the IICSA Report Publication