Running a safe youth organisation

We have many voluntary organisations and faith groups in Southwark where parents and children can get together and enjoy themselves and, in doing so, build our community. Like any organisation these groups need to be vigilant and keep children safe from harm.

How harm could happen

• Through an accident
• Through bullying by other users
• Through misguided actions by staff
• Very rarely, staff, volunteers or young people may deliberately use the group to make contact with young people in order to abuse them.

Government guidance, issued under section 11 of the Children Act 2004, says that every organisation working with children or parents that receives grant funding must show it is run safely.

Our advice 

Every organisation should have

• A child protection policy and procedure, which describes what everyone must do to keep children safe
• One person whose role is to make sure that the child protection procedures happen
• Proper selection and vetting of staff and volunteers
• A simple training and information plan for everyone.

Supporting voluntary agencies in this role

We have information available online which may be helpful to voluntary agencies and faith groups. 

• Find out who to contact if you have concerns that a child is being harmed 
• Download our quick guide to criminal records bureau checks, including details of local agencies that can process your checks 
• Download the safe organisation checklist or contact us for copies in A4 and A3 
• Download a list of relevant books, many of which are available in libraries in Southwark

National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children

The NSPCC has launched a staying safe commitment scheme to support small organisations in their child protection responsibilities. For further information, visit the NSPCC website.

Sample child protection policy and procedure

To help organisations develop a child protection policy and procedure, we have created some templates and guidance. These are available for download from the following links...

• Sample policy and procedure for organisations
• Training requirements and suggestions for content  
• Sample template for the role of the designated person 
• Staff selection and training advice , including Criminal Records Bureau factsheet, template application form and letter to referee
• Guidance for staff and volunteers, including code of conduct and activity log
• Guidance for parents, including activity registration form
• Sample complaints procedure
• Bibliography and useful links
• Useful information, including indicators of abuse and action to take

National websites

• The Criminal Records Bureau
• Children England is working with the NSPCC on the government funded SAFE NETWORK project 
• The Churches' Child Protection Service offers advice to all voluntary and faith organisations 
• The Child Protection in Sport Unit  has information and a sample policy for parents and young people 
• The Arts Council publishes Keeping Arts Safe, advice on safeguarding for arts groups.
• The NSPCC publishes First Check and Sports Check, guides to running a safe organisation 
• The National Council for Voluntary Youth Services provides advice from their Sound Systems Project 
• Child Protection in Faith Based Environments, a report from the Muslim Parliament of Great Britain, includes contributions from representatives from the Jewish and Christian communities 
• Muslim Aid provides advice, including guidance on a child protection policy.
• Safe children, Sound Learning - Guidance for Madrassahs, is a comprehensive guide to keeping children safe in Islamic supplementary schools.
• Every Child Matters information on services for children.

Training events for the voluntary and independent sector

Our training page has information on the courses available to workers and volunteers in Southwark.  Most courses are free.

Every child matters training, including Information Sharing and the Common Assessment Framework is provided by Young Southwark.