Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE) has been awarded over £100k from the National Lottery Community Fund to promote good safeguarding practice to village and community halls throughout England.
The ACRE Network Safeguarding will be officially launched during Safeguarding Week which will take place 16-22 November 2020.
As a member of ACRE, Community First Oxfordshire, will be providing daily information throughout the week in order to increase awareness of good safeguarding practice. We hope you will find the week useful.
We will be working to make sure that the voluntary management committees that run halls and community buildings have the knowledge and confidence to provide a safe environment for all.
Advice and examples of best practice will be shared with those managing and using village and community halls so that they fully understand their responsibilities and have appropriate and proportionate policies and procedures in place.
We will be working with management committees to help them understand current legislation around safeguarding and make sure procedures are in place which reflect good practice. Ultimately, our aim is to increase awareness of the importance of safeguarding and making sure that these important rural assets are welcoming and safe places for all.
England’s 10,000 village halls are at the heart of rural community life – providing a hub for social activities, classes and services. Through its network of skilled advisers, ACRE supports the 80,000 volunteers who run village halls and similar rural community buildings.
Further Information
- NCVO Safeguarding information: https://knowhow.ncvo.org.uk/safeguarding
- NSPCC child protection guidance: https://learning.nspcc.org.uk/safeguarding-child-protection/voluntary-community-groups/
- Safeguarding concerns: practice example – hiring out space: https://learning.nspcc.org.uk/safeguarding-child-protection/safeguarding-concerns-practice-examples/
- Safeguarding guidance for disabled children and adults at risk: https://www.anncrafttrust.org/resources/
- Guidance on handling safeguarding allegations in a charity: https://safeguarding.culture.gov.uk/