The Charity Commission and safeguarding: Bristol Community Church Trust

The Charity Commission has published a report on its inquiry into Bristol Community Church Trust (registered charity number 1044496). The inquiry was opened in December 2011 after the Commission was informed that sexual abuse allegations had been made against the person then serving as the charity’s youth pastor and the initial responses from the charity had raised serious concerns about the adequacy of its safeguarding governance. The report notes that

“In May 2012, the youth pastor was convicted of 2 offences of sexually touching a child and one for voyeurism, receiving a 6-month sentence suspended for 2 years. He was also ordered to sign the sex offenders register for 7 years and attend a rehabilitation programme.” Continue reading