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What is safeguarding?

Find out what safeguarding means for your organisation

  • Safeguarding

Six steps to successful safeguarding

What the Charity Commission expects you to do, and the main areas of activity to focus on

  • Safeguarding

Law, rules and duties

Find out more about your legal and regulatory responsibilities in safeguarding

  • Safeguarding

Working overseas

Get advice on the safeguarding challenges of working outside the UK

  • Safeguarding

What to do if you have immediate concerns

If you’re worried about someone right now, follow these steps to help

  • Safeguarding

About these safeguarding pages

Find out more about the project supported by the National Lottery Community Fund and the Department for Digital Culture Media and Sport

  • Safeguarding

Steps to a safer organisation

Important aspects of safeguarding, including policies and procedures, roles and responsibilities, reporting and more

  • Safeguarding

Safeguarding day-to-day

Understand how to make safeguarding part of your everyday activities and review what you are doing

  • Safeguarding

Getting people involved

Safeguarding works best when everyone is involved. Find out how to make that happen

  • Safeguarding

Choosing staff, volunteers and trustees

When to take checks and other recruitment steps that help keep people safe

  • Safeguarding

Saskia Konynenburg appointed Interim Chief Executive of NCVO

  • Governance
  • Leadership

Civil Society Covenant launched to reset partnership with government

  • Campaigning
  • Government and politics

Help shape new public procurement rules for charities

  • Government and politics
  • Funding and income

How we help charities build confidence in evaluation

Many charities want to evaluate their impact but lack time or confidence. This blog shares how we support practical, sustainable approaches to self-evaluation.

  • Business planning and strategy
  • Impact and evaluation

Kate Lee OBE appointed new chief executive

NCVO announces the appointment of Kate Lee OBE as its new chief executive, joining at a crucial moment for the voluntary sector.

  • Leadership
  • Governance

Manchester attacks: a statement

A statement from Kate Lee OBE, our chief executive, on the recent attacks in Manchester.

  • Responding to crises

Support for charities in divided times

We know from speaking to our members about the increased need for sector support and solidarity in times of division and racial hatred.

  • Responding to crises

New treasurer and trustee confirmed at 2025 AGM

Members came together for our 2025 AGM to reflect on the past year, hear from our leadership team, and welcome our new treasurer and chief executive.

  • Governance
  • Inside NCVO

Refreshed Charity Governance Code strengthens focus on behaviours and inclusion

A refreshed Charity Governance Code gives clearer guidance for charity boards on leadership, decision making and inclusion.

  • Equity, diversity and inclusion
  • Governance

Charity governance is getting stronger, yet culture gaps persist

Our latest Governance in Focus report reveals that charity boards are improving how they govern but still have work to do on inclusion and culture.

  • Equity, diversity and inclusion
  • Governance

Getting volunteer insurance

Understand what insurance your organisation needs if it involves volunteers

  • Involving volunteers

Recruiting volunteers

How to run volunteer recruitment and where to find the volunteers you need

  • Involving volunteers

Develop your role

Important things to consider when creating a new volunteer role

  • Involving volunteers

Find volunteers

Advertise your role and attract the right volunteers

  • Involving volunteers

Manage applications and organise interviews

Make sure your application and interview processes are accessible and fair

  • Involving volunteers

Appoint volunteers

Carry out the appropriate checks and let volunteers know if they've been successful

  • Involving volunteers

Volunteers who claim benefits

How volunteering affects volunteers who claim benefits and how you can support them

  • Involving volunteers

Volunteers from overseas

The rules about volunteers from overseas, including who can and can’t volunteer and what the restrictions are

  • Involving volunteers

Writing a volunteer agreement

How to write a volunteer agreement without creating an employment contract

  • Involving volunteers

Running a volunteer induction

What to include in volunteer induction training to help new volunteers get started

  • Involving volunteers

Safeguarding essentials in charities (1 day)

All voluntary organisations have a duty to keep the people they work with safe from harm. This course introduces the basics of safeguarding within a charity context in England and highlights effective safeguarding practice

Charity trustee induction and refresher (2 x 0.5 days)

This course will give trustees an overview and understanding of charity governance, regulation and best practice

Safeguarding essentials for trustees (0.5 day)

This introductory course explains the key trustee responsibilities for safeguarding, following guidance from the Charity Commission

Managing people in the charity sector (2 days)

This course will equip managers in the voluntary sector with the skills and techniques they need to effectively manage paid members of staff

Charity finance skills (1 day)

This course will help people with little or no financial background to feel confident in managing day-to-day charity finance

Project management in the voluntary sector (2 days)

This practical course is specifically tailored to the voluntary sector. It’s designed to give you all the principles and practical tools you need to plan, deliver and evaluate your project successfully

Good practice in volunteer management (1 day)

This course provides an introduction to the key principles of good volunteer management and how to apply them in your organisation

Designated safeguarding leads in charities (1 day)

This one-day training course provides an overview of the roles and responsibilities of safeguarding leads in charities in England

Data protection essentials (2 x 0.5 days)

This course will take you through the essentials of lawful data processing for charities and help improve your compliance with the law

APPG on Charities and Volunteering: local partnership working

Join us for a discussion on the future of partnership working between local government and civil society.