Training

If you are a Role Holder in your church you will need to undertake safeguarding training.

What level of training you need very much depends on your role and an amended framework was adopted by General Assembly in July 2025. The full framework can be found ​here (PDF | 4mb). The accompanying flow charts to explain what level of training you will need can be found here: England (PDF | 1mb)

The Safeguarding Foundation course is available as an E-Learning package which can be taken at your own pace and in your own time. It is available on the URC Learning Hub.

The Subsequent Levels can be booked via the links below

Specialist/Supplementary Training

The URC runs bite-sized two hour Zoom sessions open to anyone across the denomination on a variety of topics to complement your current safeguarding knowledge, and these can be booked via Emma Pearce at the URC Church House Safeguarding team.

The list of sessions for 2026 is available here (PDF | 297kb)

Training Topics include

DDC Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) & Safer Recruitment training

For those involved in DBS verification for England and Wales our DBS Partner, Due Diligence Checking (DDC), runs Zoom courses in conjunction with the UCR on how to the use the DDC portal to conduct DBS check, and also how this fits into safer recruitment in the URC. The dates for 2025 are:

• Thursday 8 May 7.00-9.00pm
• Wednesday 10 September 1.00-3.00pm
• Thursday 20 November 7.00-9.00pm

Please contact Emma Pearce to book a session stating your name/church and role.