Free Safeguarding Tool

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.

Charity Commission alignedDBS & LADO guidanceChildren & adults at riskPlain English
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Free Safeguarding Policy Generator with Integrated DBS Check Guidance

Generate a professional, Charity Commission-aligned safeguarding policy for your UK organisation. Our tool ensures your vetting procedures, including DBS checks and LADO referrals, meet the rigorous standards required by major grant funders like the National Lottery and local authorities.

Navigating DBS Check Levels for Your Charity

Not every role requires the same level of vetting. In the UK, there are four main types of Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks. A Basic check shows unspent convictions, while Standard and Enhanced checks are required for those working in regulated activities with children or vulnerable adults. Our generator helps you define exactly which roles in your charity need which check level, ensuring you are neither under-compliant nor over-vetting your team.

DBS Checks for Volunteers: What You Need to Know

For many UK charities, volunteers are the backbone of the organisation. Most DBS checks for volunteers are free of charge from the government, though some 'Umbrella Bodies' may charge a small administrative fee. Your safeguarding policy must explicitly state how you handle volunteer vetting to satisfy the due diligence requirements of grant providers who want to see a clear, fair, and safe recruitment process.

What are LADO Procedures?

LADO procedures refer to the specific steps a Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) follows when an allegation is made against a person who works with children. For UK charities, your safeguarding policy must clearly outline how you will interface with the LADO. This includes who is responsible for making the referral and the strict timelines involved in reporting concerns regarding staff, volunteers, or contractors.

When to Trigger a LADO Referral

An organisation must follow LADO procedures if a person working with children has: behaved in a way that has harmed or may have harmed a child; possibly committed a criminal offense against or related to a child; or behaved towards a child in a way that indicates they may pose a risk of harm. Notifications to the LADO must be made within one working day (24 hours) of the allegation surfacing.

How the workflow fits together

01

Match

dbs checks

02

Prioritise

lado procedures

03

Move forward

drafts, deadlines, and team review

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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?

UK registered charities working with children or young people
Charitable Incorporated Organisations (CIOs) and CICs
Community groups providing services to adults at risk
Sports clubs and youth organisations seeking grant funding
Faith organisations running children's or community programmes
Housing and social care charities
Any organisation applying for National Lottery or trust funding
Volunteer-run groups working in regulated activity settings

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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