Safeguarding with young people who question, leave, or change faith

Doors open at 09:15.

Time for networking: 09:15 to 10:00.

is convening a one-day conference about support and safeguarding with and for young people who are questioning, leaving or changing faith.

We are grateful to our partners at the (AoCPP) for their expert support in promoting the conference.

The day will bring together young researchers, youth workers, teachers, safeguarding leads, faith and community leaders, and specialist organisations to better understand the experiences of help and harm during faith transitions, and to explore what joined-up support can look like across settings.

Participating contributors include:

• Young community researchers from Birmingham Volunteering for Health and from the Youth Advisory Board, at St Basils youth homelessness charity.
• Yehudis Fletcher, PhD researcher at Durham University and author of Chutzpah, speaking from research and lived experience of leaving a high-control religious community.
• Dr Naomi Thompson, Reader in Youth and Community Work, Goldsmiths, University of London, sociologist of youth and inclusion, with a particular interest in faith and other intersecting identities.
• Dr Lucy Potter, ESRC Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of York, whose research looks at non-religious asylum-seeking and apostasy.
• Kathleen Hallisey, solicitor at Scott-Moncrieff & Associates and trustee of Thirtyone:eight, specialising in abuse claims brought by survivors of abuse in religious and other institutional settings.
• Dr Rachael Owens, Associate Professor, Global Centre for Contextual Safeguarding, Durham University.
• Canon Dr Andrew Smith, Director of Interfaith Relations, Church of England, Birmingham.
• Donna Craine, Support and Advocacy Services Manager, Faith to Faithless Humanists UK: survivor-led service for people leaving high-control religion.
• Dr Luke Billingham, youth worker and researcher, Hackney Quest and Open University.
• More contributors to be confirmed soon...

What to expect

• Youth-led learning: emerging findings from Birmingham young community researchers, supported by Volunteering for Health and Birmingham's NHS trusts, on what young people notice, need, and want adults to do.
• Contributions from the Youth Advisory Board at St Basil's, who are helping shape the day.
• A carefully held learning space with principles for safety and respect in the room.
• A pace set by young people: 20 minute talks, 60 minute sessions, and short breaks between them.
• A glossary of language to support dialogue across faiths and no faith, including sensitive language around faith transitions.
• Relevant, evidence-informed and practical knowledge from the Global Centre for Contextual Safeguarding research team.
• Connections to Transitional Safeguarding around continuing to support children and young people from their teens to mid-twenties.
• Interactive table discussions to turn insight into practice.

Want to be involved before and beyond attending?

It wouldn't be a Resonant Collaboration event without ways to get involved!

Over the coming months, we're inviting young partners and professionals who would like to:

• Share your insight (anonymously, when preferred): patterns, issues, and what good help and support looks like around faith transitions, supporting LGBTQ+ young people, and working together with families, communities and faith organisations.
• Suggest priorities, questions and voices that you would like to see in the room.
• Lead a conversation on the day. Proposals close Monday 31 August 2026.
• Host or join conversations to test ideas.
• Help us think about turning learning into practice: what would help you to offer meaningful information and support with young people in your setting?
• Join our advisory group.
• Pay it forward when you book, so your ticket covers a place for a volunteer youth worker who could not otherwise come.

Event venue & nearby stays

Fazeley Studios, 191 Fazeley Street, Deritend, United Kingdom

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