What is an all-party parliamentary group?
All Party Parliamentary Groups (APPGs) are informal, cross-party interest groups of MPs and Peers interested in a particular issue. They exist to help other MPs from all parties become better informed about a particular policy area. APPGs do not have any power to make laws and are not funded by Parliament. There is a great number and variety of APPGs, covering many areas such as health, education, transport, defence, faith, finance, the media and sports.
What is the APPG on Safeguarding in Faith Communities?
The APPG on Safeguarding in Faith Communities was established in July 2021 (See our formal registration here). The aims of the group, are to increase awareness of issues relating to safeguarding within faith settings and to provide an opportunity for faith communities to inform safeguarding discourse, share best practice and work together to create safer places.
Meetings
The APPG meets regularly in Westminster, London as part of its work. Details of previous and upcoming meetings are below. For further information about the work fo the APPG or if you're interested in attending, contact the secretariat by emailing [email protected]. Please be aware that places are limited.
Call for evidence
The APPG welcomes submissions to its latest inquiry into the effectiveness of the current definition of regulated activity with children for faith communities in England and Wales. Submissions may include research, data, policy analysis, case studies, examples of practice, or lived experience that help illuminate both the strengths and challenges relevant to the inquiry’s focus.
Join the inquiry14 April 2026
This meeting included:
- Formal AGM
- Presentation from the DBS - an overview for faith communities and Q and A - Cathy Taylor
- Launch of the Inquiry by the APPG into the effectiveness of the current definition of regulated activity for children in faith communities in England and Wales- Peter Wright
- Update on the delegation to the Vatican - Sam Carling MP and Bishop Joanne Grenfell
- Update on Crime and Policing Bill (House of Lords) progress – Mandatory Reporting - Sam Carling MP
25 March 2025
This meeting included:
- A Panel discussion on 'What are the key opportunities in relation to the implementation of the IICSA recommendations?'
1 July 2025
This meeting included:
- Address from Minister for Safeguarding, Jess Phillips MP.
- An update on the Crime and Policing Bill – Sam Carling MP.
- An update from the House of Lords – Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson
11 November 2025
This meeting included:
- Presentation and discussion led by David Holdsworth, CEO Charity Commission and Colette Bennett, Charity Commission
23 March 2023
17 July 2023
13 November 2023
AGM, Mandatory Reporting and Sex Offender Name Change. Jonathan West from Mandate Now presented on mandatory reporting, as well as Della Wright & Emily Konstantas from Safeguarding Alliance, who discussed sex offender name change.
12 July 2022
The APPG met in person at the Houses of Parliament to explore engagement between faith communities and statutory agencies. Speakers were Colin Bloom, Faith Engagement Advisor, and Professor Gordon Lynch, University of Kent.
8 November 2022
16 July 2021
The inaugural meeting of the group, which was held online, included introductions, an outline of the group's purpose, and the election of officers for the group.
2 November 2021
The APPG met to consider its first area of focus. Co-Chairs Janet Daby MP and Bishop Viv Faull invited attendees to input into which subject area should be explored by the APPG, with contributions from Professor Gordon Lynch, University of Kent and Justin Humphreys, CEO & Head of Safeguarding Development at Thirtyone:eight. It was agreed that the first inquiry will be on the engagement between faith communities and statutory partners in relation to safeguarding work.
Latest:
Elected officers
-
Ruth Jones MP (LAB) Co-Chair
- The Rt. Rev Joanne Grenfell (Lords Spiritual) Co-Chair
-
Sam Carling MP (LAB)
- Lord Keith Stewart of Dirleton KC (CON)
Secretariat provided by the independent safeguarding charity Thirtyone:eight
Members
- Polly Billington MP (Lab)
- Lord Clive Brooke of Alverthorpe (Lab)
- The Lord Bishop of Manchester, David Walker (Lords Spiritual)
- Baroness Shelia Hollins (Crossbench)
- The Lord Bishop of Newcastle, Helen-Ann Hartley (Lords Spiritual)
- Afzal Khan MP (Lab)
- Gurinder Josan MP (Lab)
- John Glen MP (Con)
- Preet Kaur Gill MP (Lab)
- Sarah Champion MP (Lab)
- Rachael Maskell MP (Lab)
- Marsha de Cordova MP (Lab)
- Rosie Duffield MP (Ind)
- Tim Farron MP (Lib Dem)
- Lord James Weir (Democratic Unionist Party)
- Rebecca Smith MP (Con)
- Luke Myer MP (Lab)
- Baroness Kath Pinnock (Lib Dem)
- Monica Harding MP (Lib Dem)
- Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson (Crossbench)
- Lord Donald Curry of Kirkharle (Crossbench)
- Lord Michael Farmer (Con)
- Lord Richard Harries of Pentregarth (Crossbench)
- Lord Monroe Palmer of Childs Hill (Lib Dem)
- Cat Smith MP (Lab)
- The Lord Bishop of Gloucester, Rachel Treweek (Lords Spiritual)
- Baroness Nuala O’Loan (Crossbench)
- Jess Asato MP (Lab)
- The Lord Bishop of St Edmundsbury & Ipswich, Joanne Grenfell (co-chair designate)
This is not an official website of Parliament. It has not been approved by either House or its committees. All Party Parliamentary Groups are informal groups of Parliamentarians with a common interest in particular issues. The views expressed in meeting notes are those of the group or of individual members of the group