Safeguarding must be a key priority for all charities, and requires a much broader range of activities than charities have traditionally considered, a new Charity Commission strategy has said.
The Commission’s new safeguarding strategy, published today, makes it clear that charities must have policies to prevent a broad range of harm, not just to vulnerable beneficiaries but to all people they work with, including staff and volunteers.
“Safeguarding is a key governance priority for all charities, not just those working with groups traditionally considered at risk,” the regulator said in a statement today.
“The strategy explains that trustees should ensure their charity provides a safe environment for staff, volunteers, and anyone who comes into contact with it.
“It also makes clear that safeguarding goes beyond preventing physical abuse, and includes protecting people from harm generally, including neglect, emotional abuse, exploitation, radicalisation, and the consequences of the misuse of personal data.
“Trustees always remain responsible for safeguarding, even if some aspects of it are delegated to staff.”
The strategy says that safeguarding is one of the three areas of risk facing charities that the Commission prioritises in its work, alongside fraud and terrorism.
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