Campaign Collective has backed a call by the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) for safeguarding to be considered a personal responsibility of everyone working with charities.
A suite of free online resources, launched today, outlines simple steps that voluntary organisations can take to ensure that they are run in a way that actively prevents beneficiaries, staff and others from suffering harm, harassment, bullying, abuse and neglect.
The resources were developed collaboratively by an NCVO-led partnership made up of expert organisations, created to deliver phase 1 of the Safeguarding Training Fund. The fund was announced in March by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and the National Lottery Community Fund, the largest funder of community activity in the UK.
Development of the resources has included extensive user research and usability testing with small charities by digital agency Neontribe to ensure that information is presented in an easily navigable and clear format.
Included in the new resources are a series of specialist guides for people working in particular roles, such as CEOs, trustees, fundraisers, HR staff, PR & marketing staff and those working in voluntary sector infrastructure bodies.
Simon Francis, Chair of the PRCA Charity & Not For Profit Group and Founder Member of Campaign Collective, commented:
Safeguarding should be the highest priority for everyone working in any aspect of charity marketing and communications. From the stars of campaign films to the emotional case studies used in appeals and the supporters tasked with engaging public and decision makers, there are safeguarding implications at every step.
But it is a complex area and so the guidance for communications professionals is an incredibly important development. Every charity communicator should make sure they use these valuable resources.
Karl Wilding, chief executive of NCVO, said:
There can be no higher priority for the voluntary sector than looking after the wellbeing and dignity of absolutely everyone in contact with our organisations whether our intended beneficiaries, staff or volunteers.
Safeguarding is everyone’s business – everybody working or volunteering in a voluntary organisation should understand it, even those who don’t work directly with children or adults at risk. The more that people understand their part to play in safeguarding, the more effective the whole sector’s safeguarding becomes.
Safeguarding is too important to get wrong. These resources, developed with partners who are experts in their fields, give simple advice for organisations to take the first steps to get it right. All organisations can continue to improve their safeguarding and these resources will help them on that journey.