Safeguarding with young people who are questioning, leaving or changing faith

Young people who question, leave or change faith can face serious harms, such as family rejection, shunning, coercive control, conversion practices, homelessness and disruption to belonging.

National safeguarding guidance makes little mention of these harms.

This conference brings together youth workers, social workers, safeguarding leads, faith leaders, academics, community organisations, and young people themselves to address this gap and forge lasting connections for relational practice and collaborative change across sectors.

Young people are helping to shape this project, working alongside researchers and practitioners.

Speakers and contributors:

Young community researchers
Volunteering for Health +
St Basil's Youth Advisory Board

Dr Luke Billingham
Hackney Quest / Open University

Donna Craine
Faith to Faithless, Humanists UK

Dr Naomi Thompson
Goldsmiths, University of London

Dr Lucy Potter
University of York

Canon Dr Andrew Smith
Church of England, Birmingham

Yehudis Fletcher
Durham University / author of Chutzpah

Dr Rachael Owens
Global Centre for Contextual Safeguarding (GCCS), Durham

More to be announced soon

If you would like to contribute by booking a stall to share information about your services, or by sharing your research, writing, or resources on this topic, then please get in touch.

resonantcollaboration.co.uk/contact

Who should come:

Youth workers | Social workers | Commissioners | Safeguarding leads | Faith leaders | Researchers | Health professionals | Voluntary and community organisations | Housing workers | Young people | Policy makers

BOOK YOUR PLACE

Event details

Where

Fazeley Studios, 191 Fazeley St, Birmingham, B5 5SE

When

Start: 21^st October, 2026 at 9:15am

End: 21^st October, 2026 at 4:00pm

Add to calendar

Latest

New Google Translate function on the BVSC website

The BVSC website now has a Google Translate function at the top left which drops down to offer a range of different languages for translation across all written content on the website.
Women’s & Girls Sports Festival

Sport 4 Life UK is inviting women and girls from across Birmingham to take part in a free Women’s & Girls Sports Festival this July, designed to break down barriers to participation and create more opportunities for women and girls to get active.
Safeguarding with young people who are questioning, leaving or changing faith

This one-day conference brings together youth workers, social workers, safeguarding leads, faith leaders, academics, community organisations, and young people themselves to address this gap and forge lasting connections for relational practice and collaborative change across sectors.
Keeping Cool - BrumEnergy

A period of extreme hot weather is expected, and a Red Heat-Health Alert has been issued. This means temperatures are high enough to pose a risk to everyone’s health – not just those who are usually more vulnerable. Homes in the UK are designed to keep heat in during winter, which means they can quickly become too hot in summer. Taking a few simple steps can help you stay cool, safe and well at home.

Engage for Funding: Unlocking the Potential of Donor Advised Funds

Make sure you tune in to Engage for Funding Forum on Monday 29th June 1-2pm where we explore how Donor Advised Funds (DAFs) are transforming charitable giving — and what this means for fundraisers.
Equity, Inclusion and Representation

Building genuinely inclusive governance in diverse communities is one of the most demanding aspects of long-term place-based work. This session explores what that looked like in Big Local areas that took it seriously, drawing on the experiences of people who were directly involved. Speakers from Pimlico Million in London. Framing from Lucy Thurley (Local Trust) sets the wider context, with facilitated breakout discussion giving participants space to connect the learning to their own practice.
Visit: Turning Ambition into Reality with Grace Mary to Lion Farm Big Local in Sandwell

Grace Mary to Lion Farm Big Local in Sandwell is one of the West Midlands' strongest examples of what long-term community investment can build. The GM2LF legacy body is now a charity in its own right, with a hub that serves five neighbourhoods through youth work, social enterprise, and community support, and this visit is a chance to see that work up close.
Somalinimo Week 2026

Somalinimo Week 2026 will take place from 26 June to 4 July 2026 in Birmingham, celebrating Somali identity, creativity, and community. The event will feature a variety of activities, including cultural performances, business events, and discussions on Somali heritage. It aims to highlight the community's journey and showcase the richness of Somali culture.
BDSC x BRIG Presents National Awareness Day: Mobilise

BDSC and BRIG presents National Awareness Day: Mobilise. The UK’s first and only National Black & Diverse Safeguarding Professionals Awareness Day marks a historic step in elevating workforce equity, recognition and belonging across safeguarding professions. Join speakers, practitioners, leaders and allies as we have courageous conversations for anti-racist workplace cultures.
Social Housing Roundtable

Join the Social Housing Roundtable which takes place online every Tuesday 11am-12pm exploring different themes and topics. It includes various participants including housing advocates, industry professionals and more to foster networking and exchange ideas among professionals.
FREE Caribbean-Inspired Cooking Class – Birmingham

Join us for a free Caribbean-inspired cooking class where you'll learn practical, budget-friendly recipes and cooking techniques that can be recreated at home. Suitable for beginners, these hands-on sessions will explore Jamaican-inspired dishes, flavour-building techniques and affordable meal ideas designed to help make food budgets go further. Funded by The National Lottery Community Fund.
MECC Trust Digital Café

Need help getting online? These sessions are suitable for older adults, beginners, and anyone who would like support with digital technology. No booking is required – simply drop in for help and advice.
Seated exercise in Erdington with Purposeful Active Living

If you've felt unsteady, lost confidence, or worried about falling - you're not alone. Join a seated exercise class in Erdington, run by Purposeful Active Living (PAL).
Social Value – Business and Third Sector Networking Event

BVSC and Colmore BID invite all businesses with an existing or upcoming presence in Birmingham to join us for this collaborative networking event. If you are a business or non-profit organisation that would like to attend then please contact us to book your place.

Crisis and Resilience Fund

Help for Birmingham households experiencing financial hardship is being developed as part of Birmingham’s Crisis and Resilience Fund (previously known as Household Support Fund/ Hardship Grant Community Fund) programme.
Become a volunteer

Volunteering involves spending time, unpaid, doing something that is of benefit to others or the environment. Find out how you can get involved in volunteering in Birmingham.
The Weather Model

This model uses the weather as a metaphor for different elements of reflective practice.
What we do

BVSC aims to support a vibrant and resilient sector which in turn ensures that people from across the city feel included and engaged and have access to appropriate support from people who understand the issues and challenges they face.
Join BVSC

There are several ways that you can engage with BVSC to stay informed, grow your organisation and connect with others.
Neighbourhood Network Schemes in Birmingham

The aim of Neighbourhood Network Schemes (known as NNS) in Birmingham is to help older adults in Birmingham to lead healthy, happy and independent lives in their own homes and communities.
Funding

Find out how BVSC can help you with fundraising
Compliments, Comments and Complaints Process

At BVSC we strive to provide our customers with the best service possible. We know that some of the best ideas come from people outside of our organisation and we therefore welcome feedback at every level to help us continuously improve what we do. This means that we want to hear from you when things go well, and when things could have gone better.
Quality Standards
Promote your organisation