Safeguarding resources

This page provides information on what safeguarding is and how it applies to the sector, as well as the guidance, resources, and tools to help improve your safeguarding policies and practices.

What is safeguarding?

Safeguarding is the responsibility of organisations to make sure their staff, operations, and programmes do no harm to children and adults at-risk nor expose them to abuse or exploitation. It is becoming good practice to think about how we safeguard everyone in our organisations at all times, including protecting staff from harm and inappropriate behaviour such as bullying and harassment. 

Who does it apply to?

Everyone connected to your organisation should know how to keep children, adults at-risk, and staff safe. There should be learning opportunities to consistently develop and maintain the necessary measures, attitudes, skills, and knowledge amongst staff, partners, and all those that contribute to your organisation’s work. The communities you work with should understand your commitments to safeguarding and what to do if concerns arise.

Our commitment to change in safeguarding 

Our commitment to change in safeguarding demonstrates how the NGO sector is driving forwards consistency and leadership on safeguarding so we all reach the same standards and work together to protect people from sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.

The 12 commitments and 34 related actions are divided between “strategic shifts” which are survivor support and enhanced accountability, minimum standards, cultural change, organisational capacity and capability.

Survivor support and enhanced accountability

Minimum standards

Cultural change

Organisational capacity and capability

This set of case studies has been produced by Bond and its members to share how NGOs address the complex issues or difficult considerations around doing safeguarding well. These case studies complement the sector's commitment to change in safeguarding, and demonstrate how the NGO sector drives forwards consistency and leadership on safeguarding.

Survivor-support and accountability

Supporting survivors, victims and whistleblowers, enhancing accountability and transparency, strengthening reporting and tackling impunity.

Raising a concern

Your employer should have policies and procedures for those who wish to report wrongdoing, but you can report a concern to them even if they don’t. If you don’t want to tell your employer, you are protected by UK law and can report a concern anonymously or confidentially to the Charity Commission directly.

In-country safeguarding and survivor support services 

Bond is working with Safeguarding Group members to collate and signpost guidance and resources on in-country safeguarding and survivor-support services on a dedicated webpage. If you are a Bond member and would like access to this, please contact Andrew May ([email protected]).

Resources

Resource Safeguarding report-handling toolkit The 20 core elements of a safeguarding report-handling mechanism for organisations.	Resource Safeguarding definitions and reporting mechanisms A list of definitions of safeguarding terms used for safeguarding reporting.	Resource Safeguarding report-handling mechanism: case studies This set of case studies should be used to support safeguarding learning.
Resource 8 principles for building trust through feedback best practice principles for developing an accountable feedback mechanism.	Resource Good governance for safeguarding: A guide for UK NGO boards Six ways that trustees can take the lead on safeguarding.	Resource Measures to prevent sexual exploitation and abuse Quick reference to handle and prevent sexual exploitation and abuse.
Resource PSEA Implementation Quick Reference Handbook A complete quick reference guide to implementing measures.	Resource ChildHope toolkits Child protection toolkits and resources developed by ChildHope and their partners.	Resource Gender and Development Network resources Gender reviews, survivor support and sexual harassment.
Resource Report serious wrongdoing at a charity Guidance on reporting as a worker or citizen from the Charity Commission.	Resource Whistleblowing for employees Help and guidance for any employee working in the UK who have chosen to whisteblow.	Resource Workplace bullying and harassment Your rights and guidance for dealing with workplace bullying and harassment.
Resource Guidance for Employers and Code of Practice Guidance for employers from Department for Business, Innovations and Skill.	Resource Safeguarding: a summary for charity trustees Guidelines for trustees regarding handling safeguarding complaints.	Blog Facilitating meaningful child participation in safeguarding Young people can play an important role in safeguarding their communities.
Blog Why you need to define and apply safeguarding in your own terms Changing cultures and having the right mechanisms helps with under-reporting.	Blog 6 ways trustees must lead on safeguarding Board members need to play their part in driving up safeguarding standards.	Blog Feedback is vital for trust and effective safeguarding Establishing trust so that individuals and communities feel able to raise concerns.

Minimum standards

Agreeing minimum standards and ensuring we and our partners meet them. We’ve developed policy templates which you can download, edit and use to develop your own policies. These look at safeguarding, the code of conduct, handling reports and complaints, and disclosing organisational malpractice (whistleblowing).

Regulators’ requirements for safeguarding

Find out more about the safeguarding requirements set by the Charity Commission and DFID’s guidance on enhanced due diligence.

Resources

Resource Safeguarding policy templates This is a suite of core policies that can be used to strengthen your safeguarding framework.	Resource IASC Six Core Principles Relating to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Guidelines from Inter-Agency Standing Committee for safeguarding policy.	Resource Minimum Operating Standards For the protection from sexual exploitation and abuse from own personnel.
Resource The Core Humanitarian Standard on Quality and Accountability Improve the quality and effectiveness of the assistance you provide	Resource UN Convention on the Rights of the Child The full ratified and adopted UN resolution.	Resource UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities The full ratified and adopted UN resolution.

Cultural change

Incentivising cultural change through strong leadership, organisational accountability and better human resource processes. 

Resources

Podcast Stepping up to our diversity and inclusion challenge A look at the challenges international NGOs face in staff diversity and inclusion.	Resource The power of gender-just organizations A conceptual framework for transformative capacity building in your organisation.	Resource The power of gender-just organizations Conceptual framework toolkit for transformative capacity building in your organisation..
Resource Top Ten Basics of Feminist Leadership in ActionAid A look at the positive benefits of embracing feminist leadership	Resource Safeguarding and Beyond: One Year On A look at what has improved, and what hasn't a year on from scandal.	Resource Safeguarding and Beyond Recommendations and analysis from the GADN's year long study into safeguarding practice.
Resource Confronting sexual violence and abuse in the aid industrial complex Gender-based violence and sexual abuse at the centre of the struggle for women’s rights.	Resource Guidance and resources on gender reviews Support to survivors of violence, sexual harassment and safeguarding	Resource Gender at work framework The Gender at Work Framework highlights the interrelationship between gender and organizational change.

Organisational capacity and capability

Strengthening organisational capacity and capability, including building the capability of implementing partners to meet the minimum standards.

Specialist training providers for safeguarding

Find out what training and consultancy support is available for addressing safeguarding and sexual exploitation and abuse in the development and humanitarian sectors. 

Resources

Resource Safeguarding in successful partnerships - Change statement Our commitment to changing the way safeguarding works in partnerships.	Training Managing safeguarding investigations This course equips you to manage investigations into safeguarding concerns.	Training Safeguarding governance for boards of trustees This bespoke workshop equips boards of trustees to meet their responsibilities for safeguarding.
Resource Safeguarding in successful partnerships How collective concerns and challenges can start to be overcome.	Group Safeguarding Working Group An online space for members to share ideas, resources and good practice around safeguarding issues.	Training Humanitarian Leadership Academy A range of safeguarding courses, both on and offline from a respected platform.
Training CHS Alliance training A range of safeguarding courses, both on and offline from a respected platform.	Resource Disaster Ready A collation of over a thousand courses and resources from global NGOs, including for Safeguarding.	Resource CDAC Network toolkit Toolkit and course resources for free and downloadable.
Training UN PSEA Online Training Prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse training for the UN	Resource SIDA safeguarding resources A collection of safeguarding resources from Scotland's International Development Alliance.	Resource NCVO Knowhow - Safeguarding Advice Site Resources, training and advice on safeguarding from NCVO
Resource NSPCC Safeguarding Children and Child Protection Resources and guidance for safeguarding children from NSPCC.	Resource We Rise toolkit Safeguarding advice for people building movements and campaigns	Training Good safeguarding practice This course will equip you to develop a robust approach to safeguarding in your organisation.