If you've received an email titled "Please provide a reference for [name] from [church]", someone has listed you as a character referee while completing their safe ministry training and screening with their church. This article answers the questions referees ask us most often.

Churches and ministries use Safe Ministry Check to train and screen the people who serve with children and vulnerable people. As part of that screening, each volunteer or leader gives the details of two people who know them well. Safe Ministry Check then contacts those referees on the church's behalf.

You'll be asked to confirm a few short statements about the person, such as how long you've known them and whether you have any concerns about them serving. Your response goes to the church's safe ministry administrators, who use it to decide whether the person is cleared to serve. You don't need to write a reference or email anything to anyone.

Read the statements in the email carefully, then respond using the buttons or link in the email. Depending on the church's settings, clicking a button either records your response straight away, or opens a short online form for you to complete and submit. If you were sent a text message, the link opens the online form.

Before you click anything, check that the details are right. If something isn't, see the questions below.

Please get in touch with the person who listed you as a referee and let them know. They can log in to their profile and correct your details, which sends you a new reference request with the right name. Please use the new request rather than the old one.

For example, the request may say you're a leader at their church when you're not. This often happens when the person has listed you in the wrong referee spot. Please get in touch with the person who listed you. They can update their referee details in their profile, or check with their church about what they'd like you to do. Please don't choose a statement that isn't true.

Don't click any of the buttons or links in the email. The person who listed you has most likely typed the wrong email address. Reply to the email, or email us at [email protected], with the name shown in the email. We'll let their church know so the details can be corrected.

You can't change a response once it's recorded. Email [email protected] with the name of the person and their church, and tell us what you meant to choose. We'll pass this on to the church's administrators so they can review it and update it if needed.

Safe ministry training is renewed regularly, and references are checked each time someone completes their training again. If it's a new request, please respond to it, even if you've given a reference for the same person before. If you're sure you've already responded to this request, or you think it's out of date, email [email protected] and we'll check.

Reference requests are sent by Safe Ministry Check on behalf of the church named in the email. They only ask you to confirm a few statements about the person who listed you. If you're unsure, check with that person or their church before responding.