Safeguarding Guidance for Members

Guidance and information which will hopefully assist members in their guiding activities

What Does Safeguarding Mean?

Safeguarding refers to the measures and practices put in place to protect the health, well-being, and human rights of individuals, particularly those who are vulnerable. Its primary purpose is to ensure that every person, regardless of age, gender, or background, is kept safe from harm, abuse, and neglect. Safeguarding involves creating safe environments, promoting well-being, and taking action to prevent any risks that could harm an individual’s physical or emotional health.

While safeguarding and child protection are often mentioned together, they are distinct concepts. Safeguarding is a broader term that encompasses protecting all vulnerable individuals, including children under the age of 18 years, the elderly, and those with disabilities. It focuses on preventing harm and promoting welfare in general.

 On the other hand, child protection is a specific part of safeguarding that concentrates solely on protecting children from abuse and neglect. It involves taking direct action to ensure the safety of children who are at risk of significant harm.

There is legislation in the UK and most other countries which imposes duties on individuals and organisations in relation to safeguarding.

Why does the International Guild of Battlefield Guides have a Safeguarding Policy?

There are a number of reasons:

  1. We have a duty to take reasonable steps to protect from harm children and vulnerable adults who come into contact with the Guild.
  2. Members of the Guild may come into contact with these persons, particularly in the course of their guiding activities – the way in which members act in relation to safeguarding can have an effect on the reputation of the Guild though the association of membership.
  3. To have a procedure in place to deal with a scenario that a person wishes to report a safeguarding issue concerning a Guild Member to the Guild or something which happens at a Guild event.
  4. To raise awareness amongst the Guild membership that safeguarding is something that every member ought to be aware of and have some knowledge of what to do (a) to avoid scenarios which may be safeguarding issues in respect of their own acts and (b) if they witness something which could be a safeguarding issue.

The importance of gaining knowledge about safeguarding issues

It is not possible in a brief note like this to provide a level of knowledge which is appropriate for all members. Whilst education and/or training at a basic level should be sufficient for most members, some members who work more closely with children and  vulnerable adult groups may require more.

The Guild Education Programme will provide some guidance as to what members should be aware of in relation to safeguarding and the importance of every member having appropriate levels of knowledge through training or otherwise to comply with obligations imposed upon them by law in this regard. 

What are the most common forms of abuse?

  • Physical abuse
  • Emotional abuse
  • Sexual abuse
  • Neglect

Children and vulnerable adults may be abused by:

  • family members
  • friends
  • people working or volunteering in organisational or community settings
  • people they know
  • strangers

Some basic Do’s and Don’ts when guiding with children under 18

Do’s

  • Be aware that when children or vulnerable adults are present on a tour, this creates some addition responsibilities upon you.
  • Make sure that there is a relevant approved adult present and responsible for the children (e.g. teacher or parent) when you are guiding
  • Be professional in the way in which you interact with children
  • Avoid physical contact
  • Avoid contact outside of work / your contracted terms
  • Behave in a way which indicates that you are suitable to be working with children
  • Do raise concerns that you have if you think that a child has been subjected to any form of abuse or harm.

Don’ts

  • Unless you are checked and approved to be working with and supervising children, don’t guide without a relevant approved adult present and responsible for the children (e.g. teacher or parent)
  • Don’t allow that responsible adult to leave you in charge of children without them.
  • Don’t be over familiar to children including actions or language which could be construed as such
  • Don’t lend money / possessions or share personal information
  • Don’t give gifts
  • Don’t contact children through social media or mobile technology
  • Don’t put yourself in positions which may be regarded as inappropriate

Reporting safeguarding issues

In many circumstances, you are likely to have a legal duty to report safeguarding issues. Even if you do not have a legal duty, you have a moral duty to do so to prevent the abuse or further abuse.

You are likely to have a number of options, and you will learn about which is likely to be most appropriate as you become more familiar with safeguarding issues. These options are not mutually exclusive, so therefore you may need to make more than one report depending on the circumstances:

  1. Reporting to the responsible adult for the child (e.g. the teacher or parent);
  2. An authority established in the place / region / country for that purpose (e.g. in the UK, there are Safeguarding Children Partnerships at Regional Council level where concerns may be reported)
  3. The Police
  4. The NSPCA (in the UK) or similar organisation with that facility in another country
  5. The Guild if it concerns a Guild member

It does not really matter which country you are in or where the safeguarding issue occurred. The Police forces and other agencies around Europe all work together and so a matter concerning a UK safeguarding suspect in relation to something which occurred in Europe could be reported in both Europe as well as to the UK Police.

Important

This note does not seek to satisfy the need for Guild members to ensure that they have an appropriate level knowledge for their guiding or other activities.  It is primarily to explain why the Guild has adopted its Safeguarding Policy and to provide some useful basic hints as to what to do and not to do.

You can also look at our public safeguarding page which has links to our Safeguarding Policy and provides guidance on how and to whom to report safeguarding issues.