NCVO

1. SAFEGUARDING AND PROTECTING
PEOPLE FROM HARM:
YOUR ROLE AS A TRUSTEE

2. SAFEGUARDING
AN UNDERSTANDING OF
LEGAL DUTIES

3. WHY DOES IT MATTER?

4. WHAT DO WE MEAN BY SAFEGUARDING?
For the Charity Commission’s purposes

5. WHAT IS A SERIOUS INCIDENT?
For the Charity Commission’s purposes

6. SAFEGUARDING DUTIES FOR TRUSTEES

7. HELP FOR TRUSTEES
HOW YOU CAN DISCHARGE
YOUR DUTIES EFFECTIVELY

8. CHARITY GOVERNANCE CODE

9. CHARITY ETHICAL PRINCIPLES

10. RIGHT TO BE SAFE
Every person who volunteers with works for or comes into contact with a
charity should be treated with dignity and respect, and feel that they are
in a safe and supportive environment.
All charities have a responsibility to create an inclusive culture that does
not tolerate inappropriate, discriminatory, offensive or harmful
behaviour towards any person who works for, volunteers with, or comes
into contact with the charity.
Charities should also be places where people’s wellbeing and mental
health are valued and promoted so that anyone working in the charity or
coming into contact with the charity is encouraged to value and invest in
their own health and wellbeing.

11. UPHOLDING THE PRINCIPLE
This means charities should:
Stand against and have a clear approach to prevent abuse of trust and
power including bullying, intimidation, harassment, discrimination or
victimisation in all their activities.
Create a culture that supports the reporting and resolution of
allegations, suspicions or concerns about abuse of any kind or
inappropriate behaviour.
Ensure that anyone working or volunteering for the charity understands
the expectations placed upon them, and provide the relevant training to
support them in meeting their responsibilities.
Ensure that anyone who works or volunteers in the charity has access to
proper support and advice if they
- experience or witness unacceptable behaviour
- raise a concern or make an allegation about the actions of others
- don’t feel safe.

12. GOOD GOVERNANCE FOR SAFEGUARDING
GUIDE FOR UK NGO BOARDS

13. KEY ISSUES FOR TRUSTEES

14. Safeguarding Culture
Policies and Procedures
Guidance and
support
Modelling and
reinforcing
expectations
Openness
and reporting

15. What policies does your organisation
use to safeguard people?

16. • Operational delivery
• Recruitment
• Criminal records
• Supervision
• Lone working
• Health & safety
• Equality, diversity &
inclusivity
• Work relationships
• References
• Risk register
• Whistleblowing
• Grievance
• Disciplinary
• Contract termination
• Problem solving
• Complaints and feedback
• “Code of conduct”
• IT / social media use
• Confidentiality
• Fraud and bribery
POLICIES CHECKLIST

17. What actions can you use to safeguard
people?

18. • Safeguarding incident
log
• Turnover of people
• Inductions
• Pocket guides
• Simple steps
• Training courses
• Supervision
• Trustee dashboards
• Publicising for feedback
• Role descriptions
• Absence monitoring
• Blocked websites
• Leadership training
• E-learning
• Role descriptions
• No lone working
• Accident book
• Pledges
• Appraisals
• CCTV
SOME PRACTICAL THINGS YOU CAN DO

19. •Check for gaps in your policies
• Risk assessment
• Gap analysis
Make your expectations clear
• Inductions, training and guidance
• Contracts
Check how you’re doing
• Monitor your safeguarding tactics
• Listen to feedback
Model and reinforce
• Make sure your staff and volunteers see that you
take this seriously

20. NCVO champions the voluntary sector and
volunteer movement to create a better society.
We connect, represent and support over 13,000
voluntary sector member organisations, from the
smallest community groups to the largest
charities.
This helps our members and their millions of
volunteers make the biggest difference to the
causes they believe in.
• Search for NCVO membership
• Visit www.ncvo.org.uk/join
• Email membership@ncvo.org.uk
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