Voluntary Sector & Faith Groups

Strategy for dealing with safeguarding issues in charities
The Charity Commission for England and Wales believes safeguarding should be a priority for all charities, not just those working with groups traditionally considered at risk.

The Charity Commission has produced report which sets out:

• the responsibilities of trustees of charities with regard to safeguarding vulnerable adults and children who may come into contact with the charity
• deals with trustees’ responsibilities and duties and the Charity Commission’s regulatory role and risk based approach
• outlines the Charity Commission’s four strand approach: awareness and prevention; oversight and supervision; co-operation; and intervention.

Find the report on the government website www.gov.uk/strategy-for-dealing-with-safeguarding-issues-in-charities

Faith-based groups and places of worship play a major role in the lives of many children and young people in the city. This means safeguarding must be a key consideration in all faith settings.

Faith Associates have produced a Handbook for Madrassah Management and Safeguarding which accompanies and compliments its ‘Management Guide for Mosques and Islamic Centres’.

The handbook is intended to be a clear guide to help Mosque and Madrassah management and staff successfully run their institution and contains practical advice including the legal requirements that must be observed when dealing with young people.

The resource provides advice and guidance on how to instigate good management styles, improve record keeping, build on good teaching and promote good practice.

Download the guide from their website at www.faithassociates.co.uk/publications/madrassah-management-and-safeguarding/

The NSPCC multi-faith safeguarding hub includes video statements, stories and texts, case scenarios and examples of good practice – find these on their website at www.nspcc.org.uk/preventing-abuse/safeguarding/

The NSPCC have produced a series of films on how to protect children within religious or faith settings; the films are aimed at people working in faith settings and places of worship across the UK to help them keep children safe and can be found on their website at www.nspcc.org.uk

The Inter Faith Network has produced guidance and briefings to help build good relations and promote mutual respect and understanding between people of different faiths and beliefs – find out more on their website at www.interfaith.org.uk

Living Faiths has developed a series of digital resources aims to show how faiths are practised and lived in people’s daily lives; these can be used to inform students and to encourage discussion and debate. Find these resources on their website at global.oup.com/living-faiths

The Happy Cultural planner lists religious festivals throughout the year; view it at https://www.happy.co.uk/festivals

RE:Online also provide a religious festivals calendar available at www.reonline.org.uk/festivals-calendar/

Health and Safety
The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) has a dedicated section on their website to help event organisers run events safely. This is a world class resource with step-by-step guides, downloadable documents like the purple and green guides and links through to relevant external bodies and organisations – visit the HSE website at www.hse.gov.uk/event-safety

The Purple Guide is an event safety guide has been written by The Events Industry Forum in consultation with the events industry. Its aim is to help those event organisers who manage health and safety, particularly at large-scale music and similar events – find this guide on the website at www.thepurpleguide.co.uk

The Green Guide is specific to safety at sporting events and managing crowds safely. It also provides information on ground management, technical specialists and all relevant authorities – find the guide on their website at www.safetyatsportsgrounds.org.uk

To find out about police services and charges at events visit the government website at www.gov.uk/the-can-do-guide-to-organising-and-running-voluntary-and-community-events

Bradford Council have a web page with information and guidance which can be accessed here