ISB 11

The group’s name describes its unique status in the Church of England.

All members were all vulnerable people who were actively engaged with the Independent Safeguarding Board, a body established by the Church itself to scrutinise its safeguarding practice and provide an avenue for those harmed to raise complaints, as part of the Board's complaints and case review processes.

The ISB was abruptly disbanded by the Church of England in June 2023, with no regard for those survivors engaging with the ISB. There were no risk assessments or plan to address the needs of those with vulnerabilities who were engaged with its work.

The ISB itself was given less than one hour’s notice of the decision and the Church of England announced it to the media, notwithstanding written warnings, of the impact learning of the decision through the media would have on survivors of abuse.

Those warnings were ignored by the Secretary General of the Archbishops' Council. Among the 11 people directly affected, a number had suicidal ideations, some required emergency mental health intervention, and all experienced deep distress. 

After much advocacy by survivors and General Synod members an independent review into the closure of the ISB was conducted, shedding light on the reasons behind the decision to shut down the body. It became clear that the timing of the notice given to two of the three ISB members was carefully timed to prevent them being able to address the General Synod of the Church of England, where they intended to bring into the public eye the failure of senior officials within the church to adequately address the safeguarding crisis.

There is much publicity surrounding these events, including the way in which some courageous members of the General Synod found a procedural way to enable former members of the ISB to speak. Dame Jasvinder Sanghera also undertook an interview on BBC Hard Talk.

Shortly after the disbandment of the ISB, Dame Jasvinder Sanghera was approached by Professor David Glasgow, a Clinical and Forensic Psychologist, and this led to him being commissioned to assess the nature and extent of the harm caused to the ISB11 by the Church of England.

In his report of 10th January 2024 Professor Glasgow concluded that the treatment of the ISB11 amounted – in his professional opinion - to significant harm. 

Despite personal assurances, in writing, from the Archbishop of Canterbury, there has been no investigation, substantive response, or mitigation to the harm caused. The harm is being compounded by continued inaction by the Church of England.