The Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle has received a “good practice” standard from the agency that oversees safeguarding in the Catholic Church in England and Wales.
In an audit report published on 26 February 2025, the Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency (CSSA) recognised that the “good practice” benchmark had been achieved across all eight of the recognised National Safeguarding Standards.
The report from the the CSSA – an agent of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales while also separate from it, having been established as a trading company with independence in its day-to-day operation, under the responsibility of a management board – also recognised major improvements in Church leadership, governance, ministry, culture and care provided to those people who have been harmed.
