Safeguarding PolicyGenerator
Create a complete, Charity Commission-aligned safeguarding policy for your UK charity or CIO in minutes, covering DBS checks, LADO, and online safety.
What Is a Safeguarding Policy?
A safeguarding policy is a formal document that sets out how your organisation protects the people it works with — particularly children, young people, and adults at risk — from harm, abuse, or exploitation. In the UK, having a safeguarding policy is not just best practice: for charities working with vulnerable groups, it is a fundamental requirement expected by the Charity Commission, most grant funders, and any regulated activity partner.
A good safeguarding policy explains who is responsible for safeguarding, how staff and volunteers are recruited and vetted, what to do if a concern arises, and how the organisation reports serious incidents. It should be written in plain English so that everyone involved — including volunteers with no formal safeguarding training — understands their responsibilities.
Our free generator creates a Charity Commission-aligned UK safeguarding policy tailored to your organisation's activities, beneficiary group, and vetting procedures. The output covers all key sections expected by funders and regulators, including DBS requirements, LADO referral procedures, and Charity Commission serious incident reporting.
Who Needs a Safeguarding Policy?
What Funders Expect to See
Most grant funders in the UK — including the National Lottery Community Fund, Lloyds Bank Foundation, Comic Relief, and local authorities — require evidence of a current safeguarding policy as part of their due diligence process. Some funders require this before they will even shortlist an application. Others ask you to attach a copy to your application or declare that you have an up-to-date policy in place.
Funders typically look for policies that are dated and regularly reviewed (at least annually), approved by the board of trustees, specific to your organisation's activities rather than generic, and clearly explain what happens when a concern is raised.
The Charity Commission also expects charities to report serious safeguarding incidents as Serious Incidents. A documented safeguarding policy demonstrates to the Commission that your charity takes its duty of care seriously and has appropriate governance in place.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do all UK charities need a safeguarding policy?
The Charity Commission expects all charities to consider safeguarding as part of their governance responsibilities. If your charity works directly with children, young people, or adults at risk, a written safeguarding policy is essential and will be required by almost all funders. Even charities that do not work directly with vulnerable groups should have a policy that addresses the safety of staff and volunteers.
What DBS check level do I need?
For roles involving regulated activity with children or adults at risk, an Enhanced DBS check with a barred list check is required. This applies to anyone working directly with children (teaching, care, supervision) or adults at risk in a regulated activity setting. Standard DBS checks are appropriate for roles with some contact but not regulated activity. Basic checks are for other roles without direct beneficiary contact. If you are unsure, the DBS eligibility guidance and your local authority safeguarding team can advise.
What is a LADO and when do I need to contact them?
A LADO (Local Authority Designated Officer) is a person in each local authority who manages allegations against people who work with children in a paid or voluntary capacity. If an allegation is made against a staff member or volunteer that they have harmed a child, you must refer this to the LADO — not investigate it yourself. Failure to refer to the LADO when required can constitute a serious governance failure and must be reported to the Charity Commission as a Serious Incident.
How often should a safeguarding policy be reviewed?
At minimum, annually — with the review approved and minuted by the board of trustees. You should also review the policy after any serious safeguarding incident, when legislation or statutory guidance changes, when your activities or beneficiary groups change significantly, or when a new Safeguarding Lead is appointed. Always date your policy and note the next review date on the document itself.
Can I use this AI-generated policy as-is?
The generated policy is a strong starting point, but you must customise it to your organisation. Replace all [PLACEHOLDER] sections with your specific details — local authority names, approval dates, review dates, and any partner-specific procedures. Have your board of trustees review and formally adopt it in a meeting, with a minuted resolution. If you are unsure about any section, consult your local NSPCC safeguarding team or a specialist charity solicitor. This tool provides a well-structured draft, not legal advice.
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