What is Safeguarding?

Safeguarding, in simple terms, means making sure people are safe from harm. Its the everyday steps an organisation takes to prevent abuse, neglect, bullying, harassment or exploitation, and to act quickly and appropriately if theres a concern.

Safeguarding applies wherever people are supported, taught, supervised, coached or cared for including schools, clubs, tuition, sports, charities, care settings, and community groups.

It’s not just a policy on a website. Good safeguarding shows up in everyday behaviour, clear procedures, and transparent checks.

If you’re choosing a club, tuition provider, holiday camp, sports team, faith group, or any out-of-school activity, this page will help you understand what “safeguarding” really means and what you can ask to see.

What's included?

It's the proactive approach to protecting anyone from abuse, neglect, and harm and can be considered through the lens of:

Empowering
Prevention
Proportionality
Protection
Partnership
Accountability

Safeguarding children vs safeguarding adults at risk (what’s the difference?)

Both children and adults at risk need safeguarding, but organisations may need different approaches depending on who they work with and the level of risk. For example:

When working with children, safeguarding often focuses heavily on safer recruitment, supervision, appropriate boundaries, and clear reporting routes.
When working with adults at risk, safeguarding also considers dignity, empowerment, consent, and protection from abuse or neglect in care and support contexts.

If an organisation works with both, it should be clear about how it safeguards each group.

Do you know what background checks need to be carried out?

Why is safeguarding important?

Safeguarding helps:

Reduce the risk of unsuitable people having access to children or adults at risk
Ensure staff know how to spot and respond to concerns
Create safer spaces where people feel listened to and respected
Build trust with parents, carers, participants, donors and communities

Safeguarding vs child protection (what's the difference?)

People often use these terms interchangeably, but they're slightly different:

Safeguarding is the wider work to prevent harm and create safe systems and culture.
Child protection is the work to respond to a specific concern that a child is being harmed or is at risk of harm.
In practice, strong safeguarding reduces the likelihood that child protection action is needed and ensures concerns are handled properly when they do arise.

— What does good safeguarding look like in a club, activity provider or tutoring organisation?

Here are practical signs that safeguarding is being taken seriously:

Clear safeguarding policy that’s easy to access and up to date
A named Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) (and cover when they’re absent)
Safer recruitment: references checked, identity verified, role-appropriate background checks
Training: safeguarding training for staff/volunteers, refreshed regularly
Code of conduct: boundaries, appropriate communication, and behaviour expectations
Reporting process: staff know what to do if a child discloses something or a concern is raised
Record keeping: concerns and actions are logged appropriately
Supervision and ratios: safe staffing levels and proper oversight

What to do if you have a safeguarding concern?

If your child tells you something worrying, or you observe something concerning:

Listen calmly and reassure them they've done the right thing by speaking up
Write down what was said (in their words if possible) and when
Report it to the organisation and ask for the safeguarding lead
If you believe someone is at immediate risk, contact emergency services

How Safeguard-Me helps?

Safeguard-Me helps organisations keep safeguarding evidence organised and shareable so parents and guardians don't have to rely on vague assurances.

Identity verification
References
Qualifications
Criminal record checks
Full profile and compliance status

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)