Listening, Hearing and Healing by Lisa Anderson, Diocesan Safeguarding Officer

Lisa Anderson is the Diocesan Safeguarding Officer. Here she talks about the diocese’s new safeguarding campaign, ‘Listening Well, Feeling Heard’, which puts victims and survivors at the centre of our safeguarding practice.

At its heart, safeguarding is about people. It is about taking the time to listen with compassion and making sure that those who have experienced harm know that they matter.

The Church of England’s Responding Well to Victims and Survivors of Abuse guidance reminds us that listening is about much more than following a process. It is about recognising the courage it takes for someone to speak about painful experiences and responding in a way that helps them feel safe, respected, and valued.

For many survivors, telling someone what has happened can be one of the hardest things they ever do. Some may have carried their experiences for many years before feeling able to talk about them. In those moments, the response they receive can make a real difference. A kind, thoughtful response can help someone feel supported and understood, while a dismissive response can leave them feeling unheard and alone.

But listening is only part of the picture. People can be listened to without truly feeling heard. Feeling heard means knowing that your experiences have been acknowledged, that your voice matters, and that what you have shared will be taken seriously and acted upon appropriately. It is about being treated with dignity and respect and being involved in decisions that affect you.

When abuse happens within a church context, the impact can be particularly painful. It can affect not only wellbeing, but also a person’s sense of belonging and trust. That is why it is so important that we all respond with patience, empathy and understanding.

Good listening does not mean having all the answers. Often, it simply means being willing to sit alongside someone, to listen without judgement, and to let them tell their story in their own time.

This is the thinking behind our ‘Listening Well, Feeling Heard’ campaign, which invites parish craft and activity groups to contribute a panel to our safeguarding quilt.

As you stitch, sew, or create, we invite you to reflect on the simple idea that listening can change lives. When people know they will be heard, they are more likely to feel safe enough to speak, and this is the first step in healing.

Each panel will become part of a shared quilt that represents our commitment to creating churches where every voice is valued, where compassion comes first, and where everyone plays a part in building a safer Church for all.

RESOURCES: find out more about the Listening Well, Feeling Heard campaign here, find the instructions for participating in the community quilt project here, and watch the camapign launch video here.

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