Safeguarding Policy 2024
This is a World Board governance policy and it applies to all volunteers, employees, contractors (including subcontractors) or any others working with or on behalf of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts.
Offering safe spaces is an essential foundation for quality Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting and we acknowledge the importance of a strong safeguarding policy to support this. Safeguarding at WAGGGS means the actions we take to prevent harm and promote the welfare of the children and young people we work with and for. Of particular importance is the need to create safe and supportive spaces for Girl Guides and Girl Scouts to participate in our work, to reduce risks and for any (safety and welfare) concerns to be raised and responded to.
The purpose of this policy and associated procedures is to provide clarity to all on how they should engage with children, young people and vulnerable adults when working for, on behalf of, or in partnership with WAGGGS. It is also to help us make sure that employees, volunteers and other representatives are protected.
It is intended to help us to have a common understanding of safeguarding issues, develop good practice across the diverse and complex areas in which we operate and thereby increase accountability in this crucial aspect of our work.
Policy Details | |
| Name of Policy | WAGGGS Safeguarding Policy |
| Owner of Policy | Head of International Operations |
| Version | 1.5 |
| Date Approved by Board | 2nd August 2024 |
| Frequency of Review | When requested by a Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), when relevant legislation changes, or every three years, whichever comes first. |
If you have any questions or concerns regarding safeguarding, please contact [email protected]
Version Control | ||
Version | Details of change | Date of approval by |
| 1.1 | Updated definitions of key terms and clarifying ambiguities relating to the policy’s applicability to staff and volunteers. The role of safeguarding lead on the World Board was also introduced. The policy also made it explicit that to meet its duties in relation to safeguarding, the World Board would expect that appropriate due diligence checks are carried out on Member Organisations and other partners to ensure the appropriate safeguarding policies and processes are in place. | July 2018 (WB paper 4796a) |
| 1.2 | Several revisions across the policy following consultation with a consultant from SAFEcic, a UK safeguarding policy consultancy and some minor adjustments to the text to ensure consistency throughout. | September 2018 (WB paper 4819a) |
| 1.3 | Accounted for organisational changes and the July 2019 safeguarding audit. | December 2019 |
| 1.4 | A new safeguarding policy created that introduces 7 safeguarding standards, with support from independent safeguarding consultants and consultation with WAGGGS Global Team. | May 2022 (WB paper 5025) |
| 1.5 | An updated safeguarding policy that includes a new standard on the Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA), vulnerable adults included, and clear statement on working with under 18s. | August 2024 (WB paper 5160) |
👉🏼 Use the table of contents on the side to easily navigate the policy.