3. 2 WAGGGS Role Safeguarding Youth Volunteers and Vulnerable Adult Volunteers
WAGGGS recognises that our volunteers vary in age, come from different backgrounds and cultures, and have diverse knowledge and intersecting identities. When working with youth volunteers and vulnerable adult volunteers, it is important to understand these realities and identify how that affects our ability to meaningfully engage with them and ensure their safety and well-being. In practice, this means we will make efforts to understand the cultural context we operate in and understand how power may influence or inhibit someone’s ability to fully engage as a volunteer. It also means that we will think holistically about our volunteers’ experience and potential factors that could make them more at risk of experiencing harm and
abuse. The following processes will be in place for youth volunteers and vulnerable adult volunteers active on projects:
- Appropriate support & training – no volunteer is asked to perform tasks or take on responsibilities without relevant training and support
- Regular check-ins with volunteers will ensure to cover aspects of their safety, well- being, and any additional support they require
- Support System – create opportunities for youth volunteers to support each other through buddy / peer systems and vulnerable adult volunteers to get extra support from a designated staff focal point.
- Power and Participation - recognising the impact of power dynamics, influence, and hierarchies on the engagement of youth volunteers and vulnerable adult volunteers, we pay close attention to factors such as age, gender, disability, race, sexual orientation, religious or cultural beliefs, and socio-economic status.
- Feedback – seek feedback on issues related to diversity, inclusion, safety and wellbeing during the volunteer experience at WAGGGS. Build learning and reflection sessions into engagement with volunteers to ensure their views, voices and ideas are captured and acted upon.
- Report – where there is a concern with a youth volunteer or vulnerable adults volunteer this will
be reported to the Safeguarding team for support as per our reporting procedure
This Standard is being met when…
- Volunteers feel confident and supported to keep the children and young people they work with safe through appropriate training and guidance
- Volunteers are aware of safeguarding risks and mindful of factors which affect vulnerability in a diverse multi-cultural global context
- Volunteers contribute to a safe and supportive environment for children, young people and vulnerable adults
- There are clear reporting lines between volunteers and SFPs
- The recruitment process for volunteers under 18 years old aligns with the safeguarding policy (section 4.2) and procedures.
- Youth and vulnerable adult volunteers feel safe and supported and able to raise issues relating to their participation and well-being to WAGGGS Global Team