About CAFt

Purpose of the Charity

To promote the physical, mental and spiritual welfare of families (especially families who have children with special needs – physical, mental or financial) and enhancement of religion on pilgrimage to the Marian Catholic Shrine in Lourdes by providing for and assisting financially, logistically and otherwise.

Including, but not limited to:

• Financial support to enable families to partake in pilgrimage
• Providing suitable family style and ability appropriate accommodation in Lourdes
• Assistance with travel arrangements including for those with physical difficulties
• A program of bespoke activities and resources for a group pilgrimage holiday
• A team of volunteer helpers to provide practical support
• Pastoral support for families

Safeguarding Statement

Lourdes Children and Families Trust (CAFt) is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. It expects all of its Trustees, helpers and adult pilgrims to share this commitment.

CAFt recognises its responsibility for safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults whilst providing quality pilgrimage holidays and events. All Children and Vulnerable Adults travel to Lourdes with their parents or carer’s. They retain Loci Parentis throughout the trip.

All of our Trustees and Helper’s retain up-to-date DBS enhanced clearance for CAFt activities and all adults travelling to Lourdes with the group sign confidential safeguarding self-declarations. There is always a nominated safeguarding officer for the charity and present in Lourdes who is independent from the Trustees and Helpers and is known to all of those partaking in the pilgrimage.

Trustees and helpers undertake to create a safe environment for children, young people and vulnerable adults to experience an opportunity of pilgrimage to Lourdes. CAFt will collectively manage risks and reduce the possibility of abuse by: having robust safer recruitment and selection procedures; implementing safer working practices; providing induction and ongoing training for all staff and volunteers; providing up to date safeguarding practices and procedures that reflect current safeguarding legislation and guidance in respect of safeguarding children and vulnerable adults; and developing and maintaining a culture of risk management.

CAFt will also promote effective and early identification of: safeguarding concerns in children and vulnerable adults; and those children and vulnerable adults who are in need of additional services.

CAFt will act promptly and properly to refer to the appropriate local statutory safeguarding agencies concerns that need acting upon to ensure that victims are supported and that abusers are held to account.

As a registered charity, CAFt is regulated by the Charity Commission. The Charity Commission has the statutory objective to ensure trustees comply with their legal obligations in managing charities and to increase public trust and confidence in charities.

CAFt is committed to providing support to all those involved with our work volunteering and working with children, young people and vulnerable adults and to provide a clear structure of safeguarding accountability.

CAFt will ensure that it has arrangements in place to fulfil its commitment to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults in the same way as statutory bodies and the public sector.