Safeguarding Children & Vulnerable Adults

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Published: Monday, 02 October 2017 10:00

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).

Towers must follow the Church of England Safeguarding Training Framework which means

•  All ringers, even if the tower has no young ringers, must complete the online Basic Awareness course and renew this every 3 years.
• All tower captains and trainers, even if the tower has no young ringers, must in addition complete the online Foundation course and renew this every 3 years. In this case there is no need to renew the Basic course.

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 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. “A DBS check dating from January 2022 should be renewed every 3 years (or 5 years if before January 2022). If you join the Updates scheme within 30 days of a DBS check, there is no need to renew the DBS check and other organisations can access your records (with permission) to avoid multiple checks.

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 to 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 Resources for Ringers and Ringing Societies)

Learning to Ring

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Published: Monday, 02 October 2017 10:00

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

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Published: Monday, 02 October 2017 10:00

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 email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 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 or email address on the relevant Tower page.

Sussex Young Ringers

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Published: Monday, 02 October 2017 10:00

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

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Published: Monday, 02 October 2017 10:00

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.

Charity Overview

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Published: Monday, 02 October 2017 10:00

The Sussex County Association of Change Ringers is a registered charity (number 268588). The registered address is 1 Southdown Terrace, Steyning, BN44 3YJ.

The Charity has three funds:

• General funds – to support the day-to-day running of the Association;
• Bell Restoration Fund (BRF) – to provide financial assistance for the restoration, maintenance and improvement of existing church bells, towers and belfries;
• Sussex Young Ringers’ Fund – to support SCACR young ringers (under 25) in group activities and to develop their personal skills.
• Development Fund – to support any project that meets the Aims of the Association and encourages or develops change ringing or handbell ringing in Sussex, and which does not fall within the guidelines of the BRF or SYRF.

Making a Donation

In order to continue supporting bell restoration projects in particular, but also the Young Ringers and other Association activities, the SCACR relies on donations, including legacies.

Donations - if you are a UK taxpayer, you can increase your gift by 25% at no cost to you by sending a Gift Aid Form with your donation.
Legacies – of course family and friends come first when you’re making a Will, but perhaps you can also spare a gift to the SCACR. This will help the Association to continue our activities to support and promote change ringing in Sussex.

Donate Now

If you are interested in leaving a legacy, please contact the Treasurer (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

Gift Aid Form

Financial Policy

The SCACR financial policy details the roles and duties of the Finance Committee  Officers (Master, General Secretary, Treasurer, BRF Secretary and District Secretaries). The policy also describes the three specfic funds, including their purpose and restrictions. It also includes the financial reporting requirements, together with our banking & investment policy.

The expenses policy covers travel, administration and events organisation costs and describes how these may be claimed from the Association. The expenses form should be completed and submitted to the treasurer.

If you have any questions about the financial and expenses policies, please contact the Treasurer (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

Bell Restoration Fund

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Published: Monday, 02 October 2017 10:00

The Bell Restoration Fund (BRF) is with the Association, which is a registered charity (268588). The BRF provides financial assistance for the restoration, maintenance and improvement of existing church bells, towers and belfries. The fund also supports preservation of bells from redundant churches. All the fund's activities are within the Diocese of Chichester in Sussex. 

The fund is administered by the BRF Committee, which comprises the Association Master, General Secretary, BRF Secretary, Treasurer, Trustees and four other appointed members of the Association. The committee coordinates fund-raising for the BRF. Applications for a grant for financial or other assistance must be made to the BRF Secretary (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) using the Application form. To make a donation to the BRF, please see the main Charity Overview page.

The BRF report and accounts are published in the Annual Report (at the AGM) each May for the previous calendar year. A copy of the Bell Restoration Fund Bye-laws can be found below:

Bell Restoration Fund Bye-Laws

BRF Application form (PDF) [Word version]

Bell Maintenance Course Notes

Grants for Tower Simulators

Funds for are available for helping towers in Sussex install simulator and training equipment such as dumb-bells. The money comes from a legacy left to the Association by Brian Burrough (who learned to ring at Itchingfield in the 1950s and latterly rang at St Leonards), who died in 2006. It was his wish that the legacy be used for the advancement of ringing in Sussex. It is hoped that by offering some financial support, a wide mix of towers across the county might consider installing equipment. An application form is available below. Please contact a member of your local committee for guidance. 

Simulator & Dumb-bell Grant Application Form

About the Association

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Published: Monday, 02 October 2017 10:00

The Sussex County Association of Change Ringers (SCACR) was formed in 1885 and currently has about 1000 members and 136 towers. The SCACR is a registered charity, and is affiliated to the Central Council of Church Bell Ringers.

The Association is arranged into four Districts (North, South, East and West). Each District has an elected group of volunteer officers (Committee) who organise activities and events in their District.

The overall running of the Association is managed by the General Committe (elected volunteer officers). There are also four teams of volunteers who help with particular aspects:

• Communication and Events
• Training and Recruitment
• Bell Maintenance and Restoration
• Administration, Records and Library

You can find out more about the Committees and Teams, including contact details.

Association Aims

• promoting the ringing of church bells to call people to worship
• encouraging the recruitment and training of all ringers and advancing the art of change ringing
• supporting the proper care and use of church bells and belfries
• providing support to projects to restore, maintain or improve existing bells and the towers and belfries housing them, and seeking the preservation of bells from redundant churches for the purpose of ringing in churches

Become a member

SCACR Rules

If you are interested in making a donation or leaving a legacy, please contact the Treasurer (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).