The Wildlife Trusts Safeguarding Commitment

Ensuring that all who visit our sites and engage with our organisation have an enjoyable and safe experience is an absolute priority for The Wildlife Trusts. This includes our visitors, members, volunteers, staff and trustees.

We recognise that there are some people who may need additional help and support including children, young people and adults at risk; as a movement we are committed to our Safeguarding responsibilities as well as ensuring safety and wellbeing is at the heart of our engagement with all people. We want to inspire and encourage everyone to spend time outdoors, develop a connection with nature and play their part in nature’s recovery in our local communities.

We will:

• Take every reasonable step to protect all who visit our sites, take part in our activities or engage with us online
• Give equal priority to keeping all safe from harm, regardless of age, disability, gender, race, beliefs, sex or sexual orientation
• Provide our staff, volunteers and trustees with the knowledge and tools to guide them in protecting children, young people and adults at risk from abuse and neglect
• Not tolerate any form of abuse or neglect within The Wildlife Trusts

We will achieve this by:

• Supporting staff and volunteers by establishing a clear Safeguarding policy and procedural framework, transparent reporting and by promoting a culture of learning throughout the movement
• Encouraging staff and volunteers to discuss any concerns immediately or as soon as practically possible with their line manager/supervisor or designated safeguarding lead
• Listening to and hearing the voice of those who use our sites and respecting their views
• Recruiting our staff and volunteers safely by following the principles of safer recruitment guidance
• Recording and storing information safely and in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation
• Recognising the position of trust in which staff, trustees and volunteers are regularly placed and use our procedures and work with our local authorities to manage any allegations against them appropriately
• Establishing online safety guidelines to keep everyone interacting online with The Wildlife Trusts as safe as possible
• Ensuring that we provide a safe physical environment for all by adhering to health and safety measures in accordance with the law and regulatory guidance
• Working in partnership and establishing a clear system of referring or reporting to the statutory agencies responsible for the Safeguarding of children, young people and adults at risk
• Ensuring that any third-party individual or organisation involved in delivering activities on behalf of The Wildlife Trusts has appropriate safeguarding arrangements.