Safeguarding Policy

1.    Introduction

1.1 Purpose
This safeguarding policy outlines the measures and procedures that Women Empowerment, Networking and Development Organisation (WENDO) will implement to ensure the safety and well-being of all individuals involved in its activities. WENDO (“the charity”) is dedicated to upholding the highest standards of safeguarding to protect the welfare and rights of individuals involved in its charitable activities.

The policy serves as a commitment to maintaining a safe, inclusive, and respectful environment for all and to protect all vulnerable persons, in particular women, adolescent girls and children. By adhering to this policy and working collaboratively, we can ensure the well-being of beneficiaries, staff, volunteers, and the communities we serve. 
 
1.2 Scope
The policy applies to all trustees, employees, volunteers, beneficiaries, and any other individuals associated with (i.e. affiliate or sister companies) the charity. 
 
1.3 What is Safeguarding?
Safeguarding means protecting an individual’s right to live in safety, free from abuse and neglect. It is about people and organisations coming together to prevent and stop both the risks and experience of abuse or neglect, while at the same time making sure that an individual’s wellbeing is promoted, including, where appropriate, having regard to their views, wishes, feelings and beliefs in deciding on any action.
 
2.    Definitions

• Beneficiaries: refers to individuals, groups, or causes that receive assistance, support, or resources from WENDO.

• Misconduct: refers to assault, harassment, discrimination, bullying and exploitation of a sexual nature; fraud and any other form of financial misconduct. 

• Volunteers: individuals who willingly offer time, skills and efforts to support the activities and initiatives of WENDO.

• Whistleblowing: refers to the act of disclosing information about illegal, unethical or improper activities within an organisation, typically with the intention of exposing wrongdoing and / or seeking corrective action.

 

3.    Legal & Regulatory Framework
The charity recognises that it has a legal and moral obligation to protect individuals from harm, abuse, neglect, or exploitation. The charity will adhere to all applicable legislation, including but not limited to the UK Charities Act 2011, the Equality Act 2010, as well as host country (i.e. Kenya) and local welfare and protection legislation.
 
Each country where WENDO has a presence will have different legal interpretations of safeguarding law and often nuanced compliance requirements. Where there is a conflict between this policy and local legal requirement(s), the local jurisdiction will take precedence.
 
4.    Commitment to Safeguarding
Employees, volunteers and beneficiaries of the charity may be at risk due to age, illness or disability. The charity commits to promote their welfare, and to take necessary and reasonable measures to protect them.

 

In the course of providing its services, the charity will endeavour at all times to minimise risk and ensure that such staff or beneficiaries are as safe from harm as the charity can make them. Harm may be in the form of abuse (physical, sexual, emotional, discriminatory, financial or material) or neglect. The charity will act on reports or suspicions of such harm.
 
The charity recognises the importance of working in partnership and collaboration with relevant agencies, organisations, and authorities involved in safeguarding. The charity will actively engage with local safeguarding boards, community organisations, and other stakeholders to share information, best practices, and resources to enhance safeguarding measures.
 
The charity also acknowledges that working in different cultural contexts requires a deep understanding and respect for local customs, traditions, and sensitivities. WENDO will ensure that its safeguarding policies and practices are culturally sensitive and responsive to the unique needs and challenges of the communities it serves.
 
5.    Safeguarding Responsibilities 
WENDO’s board of trustees promotes a fair, open, and positive culture to ensure everyone within the WENDO community has confidence to identify and report safeguarding concerns, take appropriate action and contribute to constant improvement.

This may include: 

• Beneficiaries (people who benefit from the charity’s work)

• WENDO staff 

• Volunteers 

• All other people who come into contact with your charity through its work 

 

Board of Trustees
The Board of Trustees holds the ultimate responsibility for safeguarding within the charity. They will ensure that safeguarding is given priority and that appropriate policies and procedures are in place and regularly reviewed.
Staff and Volunteers

The charity must ensure that all staff members and volunteers receive appropriate training on safeguarding, including identifying signs of abuse, reporting procedures, and maintaining confidentiality. They are responsible for familiarising themselves with and adhering to this safeguarding policy.

Beneficiaries
The charity is committed to promoting the rights, dignity, and well-being of its beneficiaries. Where appropriate, beneficiaries will be informed about their rights, the charity's safeguarding procedures, and how to raise concerns or report incidents.

WENDO ensures it is meeting its safeguarding responsibilities by:

• Having appropriate policies and procedures in place, which are followed by all WENDO stakeholders;

• Making sure safeguarding is central to the charity’s culture and all staff (and volunteers) know their responsibilities regarding safeguarding;

• Providing guidance, training and support to everyone who knows how to spot and handle concerns in a full and (where required) confidential manner;

• Deploying people (i.e. HR) checks to ensure people and volunteers are suitable to act in their roles, and ensuring appropriate staff inductions;

• Ensuring that all staff and volunteers receive safeguarding training at least annually

• Setting out clear lines of accountability and governance for safeguarding;

• Conducting regular risk assessments to identify potential risks to the safety and well-being of individuals associated with the charity;

• Deploying a clear procedure for investigation and review of all incidents;

• Keeping up to date with statutory guidance, good practice and legislation relevant to WENDO’s operations both domestically and internationally.    

 

6. What is Abuse?
The UK’s statutory Care Act identifies 10 categories of abuse1. Evidence of any one indicator from the following list should not be taken on its own as proof that abuse is occurring. However, it should alert WENDO’s response team to make further assessments and to consider other associated factors.
 
The list of possible indicators and examples of behaviour is not exhaustive, and people may be subject to a number of abuse types at the same time.

1. Physical abuse: including hitting, slapping, punching, burning, and inappropriate restraint. 

2. Sexual abuse: including rape, indecent assault, inappropriate touching, exposure to pornographic material. 

3. Psychological or Emotional abuse: including belittling, name-calling, threats of harm, intimidation, isolation. 

4. Financial or Material abuse: including stealing, selling assets, fraud, misuse or misappropriation of property, possessions, or benefits.

5. Domestic: including physical/psychological violence, financial abuse, coercive control, harassment, stalking, online/digital abuse.

6. Neglect and Acts of Omission: including withholding the necessities of life such as medication, food, or warmth, and ignoring medical or physical care needs. 

7. Discriminatory abuse: including racist, sexist, that based on a person’s disability and other forms of harassment, slurs, or similar treatment. 

8. Institutional or Organisational: including regimented routines and cultures, gender based discrimination, unsafe practices, lack of person-centred care or treatment.

9. Modern Slavery: including sex trafficking, child sex trafficking, forced labour and domestic servitude, child labour/child soldiers.

10. Self-neglect: including personal care, diet, hoarding, insanitary or squalid living conditions, neglecting household maintenance. 

 

7. Preventing & Reporting Safeguarding Concerns

7.1 Reporting Mechanisms
The charity will establish clear and confidential reporting mechanisms to allow individuals to report any safeguarding concerns. This may include a designated safeguarding officer and/ or a specific email address and phone number for reporting.
 
Staff and volunteers of WENDO have a responsibility to report something they become aware of if they have reasonable grounds to suspect that it is abuse, neglect or criminal activity. They may become aware by seeing, hearing or reading. The charity cannot promise confidentiality to staff or volunteers where such information has to be shared with a statutory authority for investigation.
 
7.2 Responding to concerns
In the event of a safeguarding incident or concern, the charity will initiate an immediate and appropriate response (see Annex 1 for WENDO’s Safeguarding Investigation Procedure).

 

The incident will be thoroughly investigated, documented, and reported to the appropriate authorities as required. The charity will take steps to mitigate risks and prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future. Lessons learned from incidents and near misses will inform the ongoing development and improvement of safeguarding practices.

All reported safeguarding concerns will be taken seriously and dealt with promptly and appropriately. Where commensurate, referrals to appropriate authorities like social services, the police or other professional bodies will take place. If a criminal offence is suspected to have been committed, the police will be informed. 

7.3 External Reporting
The UK’s Charity Commissions expects individuals involved in charities, and in particular Trustees, to act in the wider public interest and promptly report any crimes, serious incidents and other types of misconduct to the relevant bodies. These may include the police, social services and the Charity Commission itself.

Charities also have a duty to inform the Commission of ‘Serious incidents’ which include major safeguarding situations. The Commission defines a serious incident as an adverse event, whether actual or alleged, which results in or risks significant:

• Harm to the charity’s beneficiaries, staff, volunteers or others who come into contact with WENDO

• Loss of money or assets

• Damage to WENDO’s property

• Harm to WENDO’s work and/ or reputation 

 

The responsibility for reporting serious incidents rests with the charity’s trustees. In practice, this may be delegated to someone else within the charity, such as an employee or the charity’s professional advisers. The Commission does not prescribe a time frame for reporting a serious incident; rather, the report must be made ‘promptly’, meaning as soon as is reasonably possible.
 

Further guidance from the Commission on reporting serious incidents can be found here.

8. Recruitment & Training
 
8.1 Recruitment Procedures
All staff members and volunteers involved in roles that require direct contact with potentially vulnerable individuals will undergo a robust recruitment process. This process will include thorough screening, including interviews, reference checks, and where required enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks. 
 
The charity will regularly review its recruitment procedures in response to changes in legislation.
 
8.2 Code of Conduct
The charity will have a code of conduct in place that sets out the expected behaviour and professional boundaries for staff and volunteers when working with beneficiaries. The code will outline appropriate and unacceptable conduct and highlight the importance of respecting the rights and dignity of all individuals.
 
8.3 Induction Training & Awareness
The charity will provide an induction programme for all new staff and volunteers. The induction will make it clear to them that they have an obligation to implement this policy and to learn about protection issues and their related responsibilities.

The charity will also provide safeguarding training to all relevant staff members and volunteers, ensuring they are aware of their responsibilities, recognise signs of abuse, and know how to respond to safeguarding concerns. Training will also cover relevant policies and procedures, confidentiality, and reporting mechanisms.

9. Confidentiality, Governance & Whistleblowing

9.1 Confidentiality
All safeguarding concerns and related investigations will be handled confidentially, with information shared only on a need-to-know basis. The charity will comply with data protection legislation and ensure that any personal information collected and stored is done so securely and in accordance with the applicable regulations. 
 
All reports and logs will be kept securely within WENDO’s environment, and confidentiality is a priority. 
 
Our privacy policy sets out how we adhere to data protection regulations and can be read in full at www.wendo.org.uk/privacy-policy
 
9.2 Governance
The charity will regularly review and update this safeguarding policy to reflect changes in legislation, best practices, and the evolving needs of the charity. 
 
The policy will be reviewed at least annually, or more frequently, if necessary, by the Board of Trustees with the help the charity’s advisory board.
 
9.3 Whistleblowing
The charity is committed to creating a culture where individuals feel safe and confident to raise concerns about safeguarding issues. The charity has implemented a whistleblowing policy that encourages and protects individuals who report concerns in good faith. 
 
WENDO’s whistleblowing policy details the procedures for reporting, investigating, and addressing any whistleblowing allegations related to safeguarding.

10. Appendix
Annex 1 - WENDO Safeguarding Investigation Process

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