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Safeguarding Children & Vulnerable Adults

The Association takes safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults very seriously. We have a dedicated Safeguarding Officer, and a regularly updated Safeguarding Policy (policy and other essential documents available to download below).

The parent or guardian of each young ringer must complete the Permission to Ring form and provide this to the organiser of the practice (e.g. the tower captain, district secretary or practice coordinator). The CCCBR Good Practice Guide (Appendix C) should be displayed in all towers.

Anyone who regularly teaches, trains or supervises children must have a DBS check done by the parish safeguarding officer (usually a member of the PCC). Ringers in general supporting roles or who only undertake one-off teaching/deputising do not need DBS checks. The DBS check can be automatically updated or renewed every five years. The person responsible for safeguarding in each tower (who must be DBS-checked) must attend a Diocesan training update session every three years. 

So much of safeguarding is really just good practice: always obtain written parental consent to teach children and ensure that two adults are present (preferably one male and one female) when children are present. Towers are also advised to keep an attendance register, just so you can look back to see who was present at any ringing occasion.

The Central Council of Church Bell ringers have published several helpful documents, including a general Safeguarding Guidance document. We recommend that each tower keeps a copy of this in the ringing chamber.

If anyone has any worries, concerns or questions please contact the safeguarding officer: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. You can also speak to your parish safeguarding officer or the safeguarding team at the Diocese of Chichester. The Diocese provides guidance for likely situations: "What do I do if ...".

Safeguarding advice for young ringers online

In general bellringers are lovely people but very rarely things can go wrong. To help you stay safe when ringing online:

  • When you are going to a practice make sure there is someone you know and trust there.
  • If someone says something inappropriate use the “Report Behaviour” link on Ringing Room and tell an adult you trust (mum or dad, tower captain or another family member).
  • You can take screenshots to keep a record of conversations.
  • If you need more help or don’t know who to talk to, go to cccbr.org.uk/safeguarding.

Permission forms

Permission to Ring Form (PDF) (.docx)
Permission ro Ring at Association Events (PDF) (.docx)
Permission for an Additional Activity Form (PDF) (.docx)

Policy and Guidance

SCACR Safeguarding Policy
Tower Safeguarding Flowchart (PDF) (.docx)
CCCBR Safeguarding Guidance (includes Appendix A "Role description for a bell ringing leader [tower captain]" and Appendix C "Good practice guide for display in towers")

Learning to Ring

Interested in learning to ring? Bellringers in Sussex would welcome you as a new recruit! Read on to find out more about learning to ring, or see our "What is Bellringing?" page for more information.

Why Learn to Ring?

For many people ringing is a great hobby that allows them to meet friendly new people. It provides a lifelong learning experience and helps to maintain a traditional skill. As well as providing gentle physical exercise and a good excuse to get up from the telly and out of the house, it's also a great mental workout. Bellringers of all abilities are encouraged to visit other towers and are always welcome to join practice nights throughout the country. As such its an opportunity to visit some interesting places.

"One of the delights of ringing is the endless opportunity to learn new things."

 Beware! once you’ve got the bug, you’ll find it hard to give up:

"I learnt to ring over forty years ago and I still get the same buzz that I did when I first started."

Could I Become a Bellringer?

Ringing is well within the capabilities of most people. The initial learning usually takes several weeks, after which you can begin to ring with the rest of the band. Most ringers practise once or twice a week and ring before or after church on Sunday.

There is no fixed upper or lower age limit, although different towers will have their own lower age limit. You don't need to know anything about music to be a good bellringer, you really just need a sense of timing and sense of humour! Read our FAQs for more information.

"Being able to count is all the maths you’ll need and you can become a very good ringer without knowing anything about music."

First Steps

The first step is to find a local tower that can teach you. There is usually little or no cost; enthusiasm and committment to learn are all that is asked of you! You can use our Searchable Tower Database or the Tower Map to help you find a tower near you. Alternatively you can contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. telling us where you live (town or village name and your full postcode) to find a tower in your area.

 

Contact Us

If you would like to find out about learning to ring and the best local tower for you to visit, or just have a question about bellringing in Sussex or in general, please use the form below to get in touch and someone will get back to you as soon as possible.

Or, to contact a tower correspondent directly use the phone number on the relevant Tower page.

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Sussex Young Ringers

The Association arranges events specifically aimed at the under 25s to get together, have some fun, develop their skills and eat cake! Keep an eye on the events calendar for dates and, if you can, the SCACR Facebook group (i.e. the main group) and the Sussex Young Ringers' Facebook group.

Sussex Young Ringers have taken part in the Ringing World National Youth Competition since it started in 2011 and have now won the competition three times! The band featured on Blue Peter, have been written about in The Times and have always done Sussex proud – always representing the county with great skill and great pride!

In 2020, the young ringers were presented with their very own set of handbells, in memory of the late Peter Hurcombe, a former Master of the Association and a very proud grandfather of an eminent young ringer!

Our practices from July to May each year are open to everyone, all abilities and experiences: If you know someone who would like to be part of this exciting venture, get in touch.

The young ringers are supported by the Sussex Young Ringers Fund (The Reg Johnson and Harold Wood Memorial Fund).

The Sussex Young Ringers Fund

In 2015, the Reg Johnson Fund for young ringers was renamed "The Sussex Young Ringers Fund (the Reg Johnson and Harold Wood Memorial Fund)", following a substantial gift from the executors of Harold Wood's estate.

This fund is available to support Sussex Young Ringers under 25 years of age who have started to learn to ring. This includes tower or mini-ring or change-ringing on handbells.

The funds are available to support SCACR young ringers to develop their personal skills and for SCACR group activities. This may include developing ringing, organisational or team building skills, ringing and social events, striking competitions, forums, discussion groups, training courses and provision of books, software programmes, or other learning resources.

Applications for funding should be made in writing to the Association Secretary (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) who will seek approval or otherwise from the Association Trustees and the Association Treasurer. 

To make a donation to the Young Ringers fund, please see the main Charity Overview page. 

Find out more about the Sussex Young Ringers. The Young Ringers' events are listed in the calendar.

More Articles ...

  1. Charity Overview
  2. Sussex Churches Bell Restoration Fund
  3. About the Association
  4. District Newsletters

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Contact Us

This form is for general enquiries.
To contact a tower correspondent directly use the phone numbers in the Tower directory page.

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