The Safe To Grow section of our site is currently under construction. Please check back soon. In the meantime, if you need any information on child protection or Safe To Grow, please contact the EMBA office.

Howard Smedley is currently an Independent Child Protection Consultant working both Nationally and Internationally working with an extensive variety of agencies to help them safeguard children. Prior to this Howard worked for about 30 years at various local authorities social services departments as a social worker, social work manager, higher manager before hearing God’s call to work independently and more for God’s agenda than the local authority agenda. Until recently Howard was also lay pastor at Bagthorpe BC in Nottingham but is now concentrating on developing his role and responsibilities for safeguarding children.

>> STG Basic Training Days
For all who work with children and young people within our churches.

Saturday 13th September at Hinckley BC, Leics

Please contact us for details

>> STG Advocates’ Training Day
For the Children’s Advocate(s) in your church and any members of your church diaconate / leadership team who wish to accompany them.

This training day is for any new Children’s Advocates and those Advocates who have not attended a previous training.

Saturday 8th November at Melbourne BC, Derby

10.00 – 4.00pm, with tea and coffee served from 9.30am

There is no charge for the day as it is provided by the Association as part of our ongoing commitment to support churches. However we would ask that churches book places for those attending so that we can ensure we have sufficient resources for everyone on the day.