JESUITS IN BRITAIN
TRUSTEES’ MEETING SATURDAY 26 SEPTEMBER 2026.
Summary Report: Trustees’ Safeguarding Committee Tuesday 28 July 2026. (NB the meeting scheduled for 2 June 2026 was be cancelled as a number of members had late and unavoidable alternative commitments)
1. Introduction
This summary report covers the meeting of the Committee held on 28 July 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 14 April 2026 and the action log reviewed with future actions recorded.
2. Work with Victim/Survivors and Safety Management Plans
Mrs Nadra Gadeed reported on her ongoing engagement with five victim/survivors. All the complaints are historical and the perpetrators are deceased.
One victim/survivor had a meeting with Fr Provincial and expressed appreciation for that direct encounter. The committee received assurance that therapeutic support was being provided to victims/survivors and approved an extension of this support beyond the agreed period in one case.
The Committee’s remit does not extend to compensation matters, which are handled through the Province’s insurers. However, the Committee noted concerns raised by victims/survivors about delays in processing compensation claims. To improve their experience, the Committee requested that Mrs Julie Ashby Ellis meet with the Province Treasurer and lead insurance partner to review and update current communications with victim/survivors’ expectations, ensuring that expectations about the process and timescales are clearly explained.
The Committee approved a proposal submitted by Mrs Nadra Gadeed in consultation with a number of victim/survivors to establish peer support arrangements. These will be supported by an experienced facilitator with appropriate qualifications in trauma-informed practice. It was agreed that Mrs Julie Ashby Ellis and Mrs Nadra Gadeed would engage with their counterparts in other religious congregations that currently operate, or have previously operated, schools to explore their potential involvement in supporting this initiative. The committee expressed its gratitude to the victims/survivors who have contributed to the development of the proposal.
3. Various Updates
Mrs Julie Ashby-Ellis updated on the delivery of professional boundaries training to all Jesuits in the province. The training has been completed, with just a few exceptions that are being followed up. The Committee also received data on participation in 20 training sessions held over the past six months, covering a range of topics related to safeguarding.
Mrs Julie Ashby-Ellis reported on a conference convened by the Diocese of Nottingham, which explored in depth the application of restorative justice methodologies to support victim survivors, drawing on extensive experience of this approach in Australia. As a result, the Committee agreed to explore in greater depth how to introduce this approach into our safeguarding work, noting the link to the peer support initiative discussed earlier.
The Committee noted and commended the ongoing work to ensure that all DBS/PVG checks for Province personnel remain up to date and that the appropriate processes are completed for personnel from other provinces residing in Britain before they undertake any active ministry here.
The Committee noted that actions arising from the CSSA Baseline Audit Report were being completed within the set deadlines. In response to a key recommendation on record keeping and reporting, it was noted that further training on the use of the CPOMS electronic record system was being progressed in August.
4. Matters pertaining to publishing TSC summaries to Trustees in the safeguarding area of the Province website
Mr James Reilly and Mrs Fiona Batemen reported to the Committee on their meeting with the Province’s legal advisors, which was also attended by Mr Tom Acland, Province Finance Director. The meeting reviewed the current understanding of relationships with key partners, particularly Jesuit schools, taking into account their different constitutions. It was proposed that the Province work with the schools to review and update existing statements to provide greater clarity on their mutual understandings and undertakings, particularly regarding safeguarding processes.
The meeting also examined reporting obligations, the implications of the CSSA standards for transparency, and the application of GDPR regulations. These matters will need to be reflected in the updated, agreed statements.
The Committee supported the recommendation that the Province leadership convene a meeting with the relevant delegates and leads to develop a cooperative approach with the schools and other key partners to progress this work.
The Committee’s next meeting will be on Tuesday, 13 October 2026.
