Government launches online portal to help charities with safeguarding concerns
Melanie May | 22 January 2020 | News
The Government has launched an online portal today, 22 January, to strengthen its support to charities handling safeguarding concerns or allegations.
The portal offers a step by step guide to help charities manage their concerns, identify the right people to contact if needed and access useful resources and advice.
Following a combined £1.2 million DCMS and National Lottery Community Fund investment, the portal will be promoted by six organisations across England, which have each received a share of the funding:
- Voluntary Organisations Network North East (VONNE) £115,000
VONNE will partner with four local infrastructure organisations in the North East to deliver regular training sessions, develop local safeguarding networks where needed, and share the NCVO resources widely.
- Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE) £104,950
ACRE will use their network of 38 county based members to reach rural villages and community halls and share safeguarding materials and resources. They will promote the resources on their website, through newsletters and networking events supporting management committees and volunteers.
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- Voluntary Action Leeds (VAL) £94,000
This project will be delivered in partnership with five infrastructure organisations in West Yorkshire and York – Community Action Bradford and District, Wakefield Young Lives Consortium, VSI Alliance Calderdale, Third Sector Leaders Kirklees and York CVS.
Working as a partnership with locally tailored delivery, there will be a particular focus on volunteer-led groups and those working with BAME and new migrant communities. They will distribute resources via peer-to-peer support, signposting and strengthening existing networks to enable local networking and mutual support.
- Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) £100,000
SCIE will support small faith-based organisations to access materials via regional workshops across the country, webinars and bespoke training courses. They will also work with user-led organisations supporting people with disabilities to devise a checklist looking at safeguarding governance and accountability.
- The Federation of London Youth Clubs (London Youth) £76,641
London Youth will directly train and support youth workers, volunteers and trustees operating in grassroots community youth organisations across London. They will share materials with a wide cohort of organisations, through webinars and local peer safeguarding support groups.
- National Association for Voluntary Community Action (NAVCA) £104,700
NAVCA will utilise its national membership base to share resources through communication materials, peer to peer learning within networks and awareness raising events.
The funding has also enabled the NCVO to bring together a partnership of organisations to develop a series of free factsheets, practical tools, podcasts and videos to promote a good safeguarding culture in charities.
Minister for Civil Society, Baroness Barran said:
“It is absolutely right that charities have access to the best advice and guidance for dealing with any safeguarding concerns. Charities must be safe spaces for everyone – be that those who use their important services, volunteers or employees. I am pleased to launch this new digital portal to share best practice across the country.”
Dawn Austwick, Chief Executive at The National Lottery Community Fund, added:
“We support charities, community groups, and people with great ideas – local or national, large or small, no matter what their starting point. Easier access to safeguarding tools, resources and support will help them to keep staff and volunteers safe as they bring people together and deliver their fantastic work.”
About Melanie May
Melanie May is a journalist and copywriter specialising in writing both for and about the charity and marketing services sectors since 2001. She can be reached via thepurplepim.com.