Safeguarding Improvement Board
Safeguarding children and vulnerable adults at Blackburn Cathedral is of singular importance.
Introduction
The purpose of the Safeguarding Improvement Board is to work with the Cathedral Chapter and executive, providing challenge and support to achieve the aims of the Cathedral's improvement journey.
The Board is chaired by Barbara Peacock, an independent safeguarding professional, with experience in leading organisations through change, particularly in order to improve safeguarding culture and operations.
Improvement Board Membership
Membership of the Board will be drawn from a professional community of interest including:
The Cathedral's Interim Dean and Senior Non Executive Member of Chapter, The Church of England National Safeguarding Team, Diocesan Board of Finance, Bishop's Office, statutory bodies, local authorities, the charity sector, members of Chapter and representatives of the congregation.
The Board's composition may alter as required and agreed by the Chair. The Board will be supported by the Cathedral COO.
Introducing the Safeguarding Improvement Board Chair
Barbara Peacock is a social worker and senior strategic leader of children and adult services for different authorities.
She has worked on improvement across children and adult services and has chaired boards for six years.
She has worked in the voluntary sector, private sector and the NHS. She was also on the Jay Wilkinson reference group for the Church of England.
Latest Meeting
The second Board meeting took place on 22nd October 2025 and the three key messages from the meeting are:
- 1. We have confirmed our commitment as a Board to be intentional in our trauma informed leadership as we embark on this improvement journey.
- 2. We are committed to listening, hearing and engaging with the Cathedral community; congregation, victims / survivors, volunteers and staff to shape the future. We are thinking hard about how we can do this most effectively.
- 3. We have written our Terms of Reference (available to view below) and work has begun on the Safeguarding Improvement Plan which will be published when signed off by the board.
Terms of Reference
