Importance of maintaining a safeguarding policy

The Charity Commission guidance states that protecting people and safeguarding responsibilities should be a governance priority for every charity (regardless of the size, type, or income of the charity) and not just for a charity working with children or vulnerable adults. The guidance states  that it is a fundamental part of operating as a charity for the public benefit.

Charities should therefore adopt a safeguarding policy and keep it under regular review.

New safeguarding policy templates

We have taken the opportunity of replacing our generic safeguarding policy template with four new templates, each of them being for different circumstances. There are two templates for a small charity: one is for use where the charity has contact with children, and one where the charity has no contact with children. There are also two templates for a medium sized charity: one for use where there is contact with children, and one where there is no contact with children.

Changes to the law and practice relating to safeguarding

Under the new Crime and Policing Act 2026 (which came into effect on 29 April 2026), a criminal offence committed by a trustee or senior manager acting within the actual or apparent scope of their authority may in some circumstances be attributed to the Charity itself. Charities need to maintain arrangements designed to reduce that risk, in particular, they need to maintain a suitable safeguarding policy. These templates are designed to reduce that risk.

More generally, there have over the past few years been various changes in legislation, Charity Commission expectations, case law, employment law, online safeguarding, and HM Government statutory guidance. Safeguarding policies need to take account of these changes. These templates take account of these changes.

Why should I use one of these new templates?

These comprehensive and updated new templates reflect these changes to the relevant law and practice. They provide a good basis for drafting a safeguarding policy for your charity, and they will save you time when you are planning and drafting such a policy.