Gillian Jones - Safeguarding Lead 

I grew up in a loving family who did not go to church themselves but were quite happy for me to attend Sunday School with my friends each week. It was while attending Holden Park Gospel Hall that I became a Christian, just before my tenth birthday. I was baptised shortly afterwards and later became a Sunday School teacher myself. I enjoyed being part of a young people’s group involving weekly Bible study, social events and Christian holidays. It was through this group that I met my husband Alistair and we married in 1986. We have three adult children, (2 sons and a daughter) and 5 grandchildren with another on the way. 
 
Before having children, I worked as a stockbroker’s clerk and later on supported my husband in his fish-mongering business, supposedly as secretary but able to fillet fish, drive the delivery van or serve customers as staffing needs dictated.
 
When our children started school, I worked for the NCMA as an accredited KCC safeguarding trainer, Childminding tutor and development worker. As our children entered their teens we moved to Tunbridge Wells Baptist Church, where I became a Brownie Guider. In 2011, we moved from Kent to Teesside when my husband became an accredited Baptist minister at Billingham Baptist Church. The enforced change in my own career led me to undertake a part-time degree in Early Years and Childcare while working as an HLTA at a primary school in Hartlepool. I continued in a similar role when we moved to Broughton Baptist Church in Northamptonshire.
 
I have worked extensively with children and young people, both in my working life and in church and other voluntary roles. In addition to working in school and training childcare professionals, I have helped with youth groups, holiday camps and uniformed organisations, both in leadership and support roles. I have also served as a church secretary and as designated person for safeguarding, all of which gives me an insight into the importance of safeguarding and some of the challenges that can occur.
 
Throughout my life, I have experienced so much of the Lord’s faithfulness in equipping me for the roles which I have undertaken and I trust that he will continue to do so as I step into this exciting new role as safeguarding lead.