Social World Podcast: Independent Christian safeguarding charity 31.8

He has had a career in youth and social work and social welfare spanning over 30 years. During this time, he has worked in statutory and third sector settings to senior/executive level.

31.8 offers a wide variety of services https://thirtyoneeight.org/our-services/ .

Justin currently chairs the Christian Forum for Safeguarding; a collaborative forum for the national safeguarding leads from many of the mainstream Christian denominations and networks across the UK. He is also the founder (alongside Sarah Champion MP) and principal advisor to the All Party Parliamentary Group on Safeguarding in Faith Settings and through thirtyone:eight provides the secretariat. Justin is also a member of the expert advisory group on the prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment in the international aid and development sector at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (formerly Department for International Development).

He has undertaken numerous peer-reviewed, academic research projects focusing on different aspects of safeguarding in Christian contexts and is co-author of the SPCK publication ‘Escaping the maze of spiritual abuse: Creating healthy Christian cultures’. Justin holds a Master’s degree in Child Protection and Strategic Management (Edinburgh Napier), a Postgraduate Certificate in Strategic Management (Derby) and a Bachelor’s degree with honours in Social Work Studies (Central England).

The charity produces many publications https://thirtyoneeight.org/news-and-events/publications/

Justin lives in the South West of England and has been married for 28 years with three adult children.

We talk over a wide range of issues and matters that have consumned religious institutions over the decades and look at the image of churches and safeguarding as well as what’s being done to address the challenges.