A West Yorkshire & York partnership of six infrastructure organisations, led by Voluntary Action Leeds, has been selected to support the roll-out of new government advice and guidance on safeguarding.
As part of this the Government have launched a new digital portal, which will support charities with a helpful step-by-step guide for handling safeguarding concerns or allegations.

Following a joint £1.2 million DCMS and National Lottery Community Fund investment, the materials and portal will be promoted by local partners across the UK, including Voluntary Action Leeds and its West Yorkshire & York partners, who will work together to champion the importance of good safeguarding and locally available sources of advice within the region.

Voluntary Action Leeds and partners, Community Action Bradford & District, Wakefield Young Lives Consortium, VSI Alliance Calderdale, Third Sector Leaders Kirklees and York CVS, will engage with their district networks and put a particular focus on volunteer-led groups and those working with BAME and new migrant communities.

The new resources and portal will be distributed and promoted through peer-to-peer support, signposting and engaging with existing networks to enable local networking and mutual support, through a locally tailored delivery.

Richard Jackson, Chief Officer at Voluntary Action Leeds, said: “Being awarded this piece of work is a great development for the third sector in West Yorkshire and York and recognises the importance of working through locally trusted organisations to engage on this important issue.  Our collaborative approach has meant that Yorkshire will play an integral role in this important national safeguarding project.”

Jasvinder Sanghera CBE, Independent Chair of Leeds Children’s Safeguarding Partnership, added: “I would like to congratulate Voluntary Action Leeds and partners across West Yorkshire and York in their successful Lottery/DCMS training fund bid.

“VAL plays a key role in supporting the voluntary and community sector who in turn provide essential services for children and families in Leeds. This successful funding bid will further contribute to our ambition of making Leeds the best city for all children and young people to grow up in.”

Five other organisations – Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE), The Federation of London Youth Clubs, National Association for Voluntary Community Action (NAVCA), Voluntary Organisations Network North East (VONNE), Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE) –  will work across England to champion the importance of good safeguarding, raising awareness of the new tool, NCVO’s online safeguarding training resources and any locally available sources of advice, support, and training opportunities.

Richard Jones CBE, Independent Chair of Leeds Safeguarding Adults Board, said: “The third sector has a vital role in supporting people in Leeds to be safe from abuse and neglect. We are delighted that the particular needs of these important organisations are being recognised nationally; and are equally pleased that Voluntary Action Leeds will be delivering this support locally. This is an important development for Leeds; skilled and knowledgeable staff and volunteers across all organisations and communities really help make Leeds a safe place for everyone.”

The funding also enabled the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) to bring together a partnership of organisations to develop high-quality online resources, freely accessible to all charities, promoting a safe culture within the sector which launched in October.

To find out more about Voluntary Action Leeds or the new digital tool to strengthen safeguarding in charities, please contact Voluntary Action Leeds on 0113 297 7920 or visit doinggoodleeds.org.uk where regular information will be published.

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