# Government launches online portal to help charities with safeguarding concerns

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2020/01/22/government-launches-online-portal-to-help-charities-with-safeguarding-concerns/
- Published: 2020-01-22T09:30:50+00:00
- Author: Melanie May

**The Government has launched an online portal today, 22 January, to strengthen 
its support to charities handling safeguarding concerns or allegations. **

[The portal](http://www.safeguarding.culture.gov.uk/) 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](https://www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/)
investment, [the portal](http://www.safeguarding.culture.gov.uk/) will be promoted
by six organisations across England, which have each received a share of the funding:

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 * **Voluntary Organisations Network North East (VONNE) £115,000**

[VONNE](https://www.vonne.org.uk/) 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.

 * **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](https://knowhow.ncvo.org.uk/safeguarding)
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.”

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