David Jackson appointed to CCI Council    1st September 2010

CCI are pleased to announce that David Jackson of Child Evangelism Fellowship in Northern Ireland joined the Council in September. David is married with two children. He came to faith in Christ at the age of six.  He’s worked with CEF for 22 years and is now their Child Protection Co-ordinator.  He runs a number of children’s camps for children in Belfast. He is an accredited Child Protection Trainer for the Belfast Health Trust and sits on the Trusts Steering Group for their ‘Keeping Safe Programme’.  He is currently on the Faith stakeholder group for the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups legislation in Northern Ireland. His hobbies include jigsaws, reading, walking and watching cricket!

David will be representing CCI’s 50 Organisational and Festival members on the Council. The Council is chaired by Christine Murison of Scripture Union Scotland.

CCI News Update 

CCI is delighted to welcome Cerri Adkins to the role of Office Administrator and if you ring us now you will get her cheery voice on the end of the phone!  Cerri was born in Liverpool where she met her husband of five years, Dale. They have two daughters; Jovie 3 and Farah 7 months and have lived in Leeds for the last three years serving as part of Hope City Church. They now feel that God has called them to a church in Milton Keynes. Cerri enjoys an active life, balancing work and family and also feels strongly about the importance of the local church within God’s kingdom. She has a background in conference administration with her previous church and worked part time for the police force. She has a keen interest in languages and keeping fit. Cerri will be heading up the work on processing venue finding enquiries and CRB as well as dealing with a myriad of other office matters.

She will be available most mornings at the CCI office.

CCI News update   21 June 2010

On 15th June the Home Secretary announced a halting of some aspects of the vetting and barring scheme that was due to be phased in starting on 26th July for England, Wales and N.Ireland. In Scotland the Scottish Government is proceeding as planned to implement the PVG Scheme which has been the subject of extensive consultation and engagement with people who work with children and protected adults in Scotland. The PVG Scheme will be phased in over a four year period to ensure that the administrative burden on groups and organisations that work with vulnerable groups is minimised. It is expected to commence at the end of 2010 and an exact commencement date has still to be announced by Scottish Ministers.

For those engaged with the vetting and barring scheme some aspects will continue unchanged:

1. Use the new forms and stop using the old ones from the dates previously announced.
2. The current (CRB) costs and charges remain unchanged for the time being.
3. The ISA will make decisions on the barring of certain individuals and keep the databases up to date.
4. You must still refer information to ISA if you have moved or removed an individual because they have harmed or there is a risk of harm to a member of a vulnerable group. The process is outlined on the ISA website.
5. It will remain a criminal offence for barred individuals to apply to work with children or vulnerable adults.
6. Continue to do CRB checks (and renewals of these) in the normal way.

A further announcement is expected in the next few months but CCI will be writing to the Home Secretary to express our ‘in principle’ support for the scheme but continue to lobby for changes that will reduce time and costs to members. For the vast majority of members the need for data on people in the specific area of their suitability to work with children and adults remains more important than their wider criminal record. We will lobby on behalf of members to retain that side of vetting and barring but at the same time reduce the CRB burden. If members wish to express their own views this can either be done through CCI or directly on the consultation area of the DCSF website.

If any further details are required please contact the CCI office and we will endeavour to assist.