TRUSTEES’ MEETING SATURDAY 14 MARCH 2026.

Summary Report: Trustees’ Safeguarding Committee 17 February 2026

1.   Introduction

This summary report covers the meeting of the committee held on 17 February 2026. Those present were: Mrs Fiona Bateman, Mr Jim Gallagher, Mr. James Reilly (Chair), Fr Paul O’Reilly SJ, Fr David Smolira SJ, Fr Peter Gallagher SJ (Provincial). There were no members absent. In attendance were Mrs Nadra Gadeed and Mrs Julie Ashby-Ellis, and Ms Angie Palmer was present to produce minutes of the meeting.

Approval was given to minutes of the meeting on 6 December  2025 and the action log reviewed with future actions recorded.

2. Work with Victim/Survivors and Safety Management Plans

The committee reviewed the current work, during which Nadra Gadeed reported on her ongoing engagement with five victim/survivors. All the complaints are historical and the perpetrators are deceased.

The fifth complaint, also historical, has only recently been received. It identifies a number of individuals whose status has yet to be determined.

Three of these complaints are new to the safeguarding team and relate to Mount St Mary’s school (closed in July 2025). They have arisen from publicity relating to the school, both prior to and following its closure.

The committee commended the work undertaken to arrange support for one victim/survivor in South Africa and noted the individual’s appreciation of a recent meeting with Fr Provincial, during which they were able to share their experience and receive personal acknowledgement and assurances.

Nadra Gadeed will continue to explore a recent offer from a victim/survivor to assist peer support work, should this be established, drawing on their experience of developing and leading such work in other settings.

The committee received and approved the proposed standard communications to victim/survivors regarding applications for compensation. These aim to inform them of the process, expected timescales, and how they will be kept informed.

3. Various Updates

Mrs Julie Ashby-Ellis provided basic safeguarding training to lay staff at St Beuno’s Jesuit Spirituality Centre in Wales and to the team supporting online prayer guides. She also visited the safeguarding team in the Archdiocese of Liverpool to review their use of the CPOMS electronic reporting system. This was helpful and will assist in our response to recommendations from the CSSA Baseline Audit undertaken in September 2025, which requires improvements in the management and use of electronic record-keeping.

Mrs Ashby-Ellis also met her counterparts at Stonyhurst College and is exploring with them the possibility of holding a safeguarding conference in 2027, bringing together all Jesuit schools in Britain.

The committee noted and commended the ongoing to work to ensure that all DBS/PVG checks for Province personnel are kept up to date, and that appropriate processes are completed for personnel from other provinces residing in Britain before they undertake any active ministry here.

4.  Final CSSA Baseline Audit Report

In early December, the draft report of the CSSA baseline audit assessing the Province’s safeguarding practice against the eight national standards was received. The audit itself was conducted in the second week of September.

Responses to the draft were submitted, as reported to the Trustees’ December meeting. The final report was published by the CSSA in the first week of March, after the committee meeting, and will be published on the Province’s website. A copy of the report is provided to the Trustees’s Board for information.

Of the five ratings used by the CSSA, the report assigns the Province the second highest rating of “Standards Being Achieved”. Mrs Ashby-Ellis presented to the board an initial action plan to address the report’s recommendations. The committee will give full consideration to this action plan at its April meeting, with a view of incorporating these actions into the work programme of the safeguarding team and committee.

5. Matters pertaining to publishing TSC summaries to Trustees in the safeguarding area of the Province website

The Trustees’ Board considered the committee’s previous discussions on this matter at its December meeting. The Chair and the Delegate for Education attended the Board meeting for this item.

Following discussion, the Board agreed a number of actions to strengthen coordinated communication and response by Province personnel in similar circumstances. It also agreed to explore proposals for joint work with partner schools to clarify and strengthen relationships and mutual undertakings, drawing on experience from the Irish Province.

The Trustees’ Safeguarding Committee has been asked to produce a draft protocol on communication in circumstances of dispute or serious concern with partner works, for further consideration and consultation by the Trustees’ Board.

The committee’s next meeting will be on Tuesday, 14 April 2026.