Safeguarding Policy

SAFEGUARDING POLICY

1. Purpose and Scope

This policy sets out how the charity protects children and adults at risk from harm, abuse, neglect, or exploitation. It applies to:

Trustees
Staff and volunteers
Contractors and consultants
Organisations and individuals applying for or receiving grants
Any person acting on behalf of the charity

The charity does not usually deliver frontline services, but it recognises its responsibility to ensure that its funding does not place people at risk and that concerns arising through grant-making activity are handled appropriately.

2. Legal and Regulatory Framework

The charity operates within:

The Charities Act 2011 and 2022
Charity Commission guidance, including Safeguarding and protecting people for charities and trustees
Children Act 1989 and 2004
Care Act 2014
Working Together to Safeguard Children (2023)
Data Protection Act 2018 and UK GDPR

Trustees hold ultimate accountability for safeguarding.

3. Definitions

Child: Anyone under 18.
Adult at risk: A person aged 18+ who has care/support needs and may be unable to protect themselves from harm or exploitation.
Safeguarding: Preventing harm, responding to concerns, and promoting safe environments.
Abuse: Physical, emotional, sexual, financial, organisational, discriminatory, or neglect.

4. Safeguarding Principles

The charity adopts the following principles:

Zero tolerance of abuse or neglect.
Proportionality: Safeguarding measures reflect the charity’s risk profile.
Accountability: Clear roles, responsibilities, and reporting routes.
Partnership: Working with statutory agencies when concerns arise.
Prevention: Ensuring grantees have appropriate safeguarding arrangements.

5. Responsibilities

Trustees

Ensure safeguarding is embedded in governance and risk management.
Approve and review this policy annually.
Ensure concerns are reported to statutory agencies and the Charity Commission when required.

Staff, Volunteers and Professionals

Understand and follow this policy.
Report concerns immediately.
Undertake safeguarding training appropriate to their role.

Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)

The Clerk to the Trustees shall act as the Designated Safeguarding Lead.
Acts as the central point of contact for safeguarding.
Maintains records of concerns.
Advises trustees on safeguarding risks.
Liaises with statutory agencies when necessary.

6. Safeguarding Expectations for Grantees

All organisations funded by, and partnering with, the charity must:

Have a safeguarding policy appropriate to their activities.
Act in accordance with their own safeguarding policy at all times.
Have named safeguarding leads.
Ensure staff and volunteers receive training.
Have safe recruitment practices (including DBS checks where required).
Report serious safeguarding incidents to the charity promptly.
Report notifiable incidents to the Charity Commission (if they are a charity).

The charity may request:

Copies of safeguarding policies
Evidence of training
Risk assessments for funded activities
Confirmation of incident-reporting procedures

Failure to meet safeguarding expectations may result in:

Additional monitoring
Suspension or withdrawal of funding
Reporting to statutory bodies

7. Safeguarding Expectations for Property Managers

Property Managers must:

Maintain a register of vulnerable tenants.
Ensure staff receive training.
Report safeguarding concerns immediately.

8. Identifying and Responding to Concerns

Concerns may arise through:

Contact with grantees and tenants
Information received during due diligence or monitoring
Whistleblowing disclosures
Public reports or media coverage

Reporting Procedure

1. Any concern must be reported immediately to the DSL.

2. The DSL assesses the information and determines next steps and whether the lead in addressing concerns should be taken by the Charity or the reporting organisation.

3. Where a child or adult is at immediate risk, emergency services are contacted.

4. The DSL records the concern securely.

5. The DSL informs trustees of serious incidents.

6. If the concern relates to a grantee, the charity may:

Request further information
Pause funding
Report to statutory agencies
Submit a Serious Incident Report to the Charity Commission

The charity does not investigate allegations itself but ensures concerns are passed to the appropriate authorities.

9. Safe Grant-Making Processes

Due Diligence

Before awarding a grant, the charity assesses:

Safeguarding policies and procedures
Governance and leadership
Risk assessments for proposed activities
Recruitment and vetting arrangements
Previous safeguarding incidents (if any)

Monitoring

During the grant period, the charity may:

Request updates on safeguarding arrangements
Review incident logs (summary only, not personal data)
Conduct site visits where proportionate
Require improvements if risks are identified

10. Data Protection and Confidentiality

Safeguarding information is stored securely and accessed only by authorised individuals.
Information is shared on a need-to-know basis.
Personal data is processed in line with the Data Protection Act 2018 and UK GDPR.
Records are retained only as long as necessary.

11. Whistleblowing

The charity encourages anyone connected to its work to raise concerns about wrongdoing, including safeguarding failures. Whistleblowers will be protected from retaliation. Concerns can be raised with:

The DSL
The Chair of Trustees
Statutory agencies (if appropriate)

12. Awareness

Trustees and staff receive safeguarding briefing appropriate to their roles, which is refreshed regularly.
Grantees are encouraged to maintain regular training for their teams.

13. Policy Review

This policy is reviewed annually or sooner if:

Legislation changes
Charity Commission guidance is updated
A serious incident highlights the need for revision

On each review of the Policy, training material for Trustees shall be circulated to the Board.

Adopted May 2026

3. Where a child or adult is at immediate risk, emergency services are contacted.

4. The DSL records the concern securely.

5. The DSL informs trustees of serious incidents.

6. If the concern relates to a grantee, the charity may:

o Request further information

o Pause funding

o Report to statutory agencies

o Submit a Serious Incident Report to the Charity Commission

The charity does not investigate allegations itself but ensures concerns are passed to the appropriate authorities.

9. Safe Grant-Making Processes

Due Diligence

Before awarding a grant, the charity assesses:

Safeguarding policies and procedures

Governance and leadership

Risk assessments for proposed activities

Recruitment and vetting arrangements

Previous safeguarding incidents (if any)

Monitoring

During the grant period, the charity may:

Request updates on safeguarding arrangements

Review incident logs (summary only, not personal data)

Conduct site visits where proportionate

Require improvements if risks are identified

10. Data Protection and Confidentiality

Safeguarding information is stored securely and accessed only by authorised individuals.

Information is shared on a need-to-know basis.

Personal data is processed in line with the Data Protection Act 2018 and UK GDPR.

Records are retained only as long as necessary.

11. Whistleblowing

The DSL

The Chair of Trustees

Statutory agencies (if appropriate)

12. Awareness

Trustees and staff receive safeguarding briefing appropriate to their roles, which is refreshed regularly.

Grantees are encouraged to maintain regular training for their teams.

13. Policy Review

This policy is reviewed annually or sooner if:

Legislation changes

Charity Commission guidance is updated

A serious incident highlights the need for revision

On each review of the Policy, training material for Trustees shall be circulated to the Board.

Adopted May 2026