Our Policies

CARA Safeguarding Policy

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1. Purpose

CARA is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children and adults at risk who may benefit from our work. We believe that everyone has the right to live free from abuse, exploitation, neglect and harm, regardless of age, disability, gender, ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation or socioeconomic background.

Although CARA is a small UK charity run entirely by volunteer trustees and volunteers, we recognise our responsibility to ensure that safeguarding underpins all aspects of our work. This includes:

• our day-to-day operations in the UK;

• our fundraising and volunteer activities;

• the selection and oversight of our overseas partners;

• the ethical use of images and personal information relating to beneficiaries; and

• any visits made to projects supported by CARA.

Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility.

 

2. Scope

This policy applies to:

• all trustees;

• all volunteers;

• anyone representing CARA in any capacity;

• trustees or volunteers visiting projects funded by CARA;

• organisations receiving funding or support from CARA where safeguarding forms part of our due diligence and partnership arrangements.

 

3. Principles

CARA is committed to:

• placing the welfare of children and adults at risk above all other considerations;

• preventing abuse wherever reasonably possible;

• treating all people with dignity and respect;

• acting promptly on safeguarding concerns;

• ensuring concerns are reported appropriately;

• working only with organisations that demonstrate an appropriate commitment to safeguarding;

• protecting the dignity, privacy and identity of beneficiaries in all communications.

 

4. Roles and Responsibilities

Designated Safeguarding Lead

The Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) is:

Marianne Scholes – Trustee

The DSL is responsible for:

• receiving safeguarding concerns;

• maintaining confidential safeguarding records;

• deciding whether concerns require escalation;

• liaising with partner organisations where appropriate;

• ensuring safeguarding policies remain up to date;

• providing safeguarding advice to trustees and volunteers.

If the concern involves the Designated Safeguarding Lead, or where additional oversight is appropriate, concerns should be reported to:

Colin Lillicrap – Chair of Trustees

All trustees and volunteers are responsible for:

• reading and complying with this policy;

• reporting safeguarding concerns immediately;

• maintaining appropriate professional boundaries;

• acting in the best interests of beneficiaries at all times.

 

5. Day-to-Day Operations, Volunteering and Fundraising Activities

CARA’s activities within the UK consist primarily of governance, fundraising, communications and supporting overseas partners.

As a general principle, CARA trustees and volunteers do not undertake activities that involve being left alone with children or adults at risk. We do not carry out home visits and do not provide direct care or support services.

If, in exceptional circumstances, a trustee, volunteer or representative of CARA finds themselves in direct contact with a child or adult at risk, they must:

• behave appropriately and professionally at all times;

• avoid situations where they are alone with an individual wherever reasonably possible;

• ensure another responsible adult is present whenever practicable;

• immediately report any safeguarding concerns to the Designated Safeguarding Lead.

All trustees, volunteers and representatives of CARA are expected to:

• treat everyone with dignity and respect;

• avoid any behaviour that could be perceived as abusive, exploitative or inappropriate;

• maintain clear professional boundaries;

• avoid exchanging personal contact details with beneficiaries unless specifically authorised;

• use social media responsibly and never post information that could place beneficiaries at risk.

Fundraising and public events should be appropriately planned and risk assessed where children may be present.

 

6. Reporting Safeguarding Concerns

Any safeguarding concern, allegation or disclosure must be reported immediately to the Designated Safeguarding Lead.

The Designated Safeguarding Lead will:

• assess the concern;

• maintain a confidential written record;

• determine whether further action is required;

• liaise with partner organisations where appropriate;

• seek advice from statutory authorities where necessary.

Where concerns relate to the Designated Safeguarding Lead, they should instead be reported directly to the Chair of Trustees.

No trustee or volunteer will be disadvantaged for reporting a safeguarding concern in good faith.

 

7. Images, Stories and Personal Information

CARA recognises that images and personal stories can be powerful tools for raising awareness and generating support. However, they must never compromise the dignity, privacy or safety of beneficiaries.

When using photographs, videos, case studies or personal information, CARA will:

• respect the dignity of every individual;

• avoid images that sensationalise poverty, trauma or vulnerability;

• avoid stereotypes or language that diminishes beneficiaries;

• only use images and information where appropriate consent has been obtained by the originating organisation;

• avoid publishing information that could unnecessarily identify or place beneficiaries at risk;

• store digital information securely;

• comply with UK data protection legislation where applicable.

Where children are featured, particular care will be taken to ensure that images cannot reasonably be used to identify or locate them unless this is clearly appropriate and consent has been obtained.

Images supplied by partner organisations

CARA does not normally photograph beneficiaries directly.

Photographs, videos and beneficiary stories relating to CARA-funded projects are ordinarily supplied by CARA’s official partner organisations. As part of CARA’s partner due diligence, we require partners to have safeguarding policies and procedures that are consistent with the principles set out in this policy, including appropriate arrangements for obtaining informed consent for photography and the use of personal information.

Before using material supplied by partners, CARA will satisfy itself that the material has been obtained and may be used appropriately.

Where suitable photographs are unavailable, CARA may instead use AI-generated images for illustrative purposes. AI-generated images are clearly intended as representative illustrations and are not presented as depicting actual beneficiaries.

 

8. Overseas Visits

From time to time trustees or volunteers may visit projects supported by CARA.

Such visits exist to strengthen partnerships, understand project delivery and improve oversight. They are not intended to provide direct services to beneficiaries.

Power imbalance and cultural context

CARA recognises that, in many countries where our partner organisations operate, foreign visitors may be afforded significant respect, authority or deference because of their perceived status or nationality. CARA also recognises the inherent imbalance of power that can arise where beneficiaries or partner organisations rely upon funding provided by CARA to support their safety, wellbeing and development. These factors may make children, adults at risk and local communities more vulnerable to inappropriate influence, exploitation or abuse.

Accordingly, any trustee, volunteer or representative visiting a CARA-funded project will receive an appropriate safeguarding briefing before travel. This will include the safeguarding risks associated with international development work, the expectations placed upon visitors' conduct, the safeguarding procedures of both CARA and the host organisation, and the requirement to maintain appropriate professional boundaries at all times.

Visitors must:

• comply with this safeguarding policy;

• comply with the safeguarding procedures of the host organisation;

• receive an appropriate safeguarding briefing before travel;

• avoid unsupervised contact with children or adults at risk;

• never transport children unless specifically authorised by the host organisation;

• avoid giving gifts or money directly to individual beneficiaries;

• seek permission before taking photographs;

• respect local customs while maintaining safeguarding standards.

Any safeguarding concern arising during an overseas visit must be reported immediately to the partner organisation and to CARA’s Designated Safeguarding Lead.

 

9. Selecting and Monitoring Partner Organisations

As CARA delivers its charitable purposes primarily through partner organisations, safeguarding forms a central part of our partner selection and oversight processes.

Before entering into a partnership, CARA will seek appropriate assurance that a prospective partner:

• has a safeguarding policy appropriate to the nature of its work;

• has procedures for reporting safeguarding concerns;

• demonstrates leadership commitment to safeguarding;

• recruits staff and volunteers responsibly;

• provides safeguarding training where appropriate;

• has suitable arrangements for managing allegations and responding to safeguarding incidents.

Safeguarding forms part of CARA’s due diligence when considering new partnerships.

During the life of a partnership, CARA will continue to monitor safeguarding through regular communication, project reporting and ongoing engagement.

Where safeguarding concerns arise regarding a partner organisation, CARA may:

• seek further information;

• request improvements;

• require an action plan;

• suspend funding;

• terminate the partnership where appropriate.

CARA will not knowingly support organisations that fail to take reasonable steps to safeguard children or adults at risk.

 

10. Confidentiality

Safeguarding information will be handled sensitively and shared only with those who need to know in order to protect individuals or fulfil legal or regulatory responsibilities.

Records will be stored securely by the Designated Safeguarding Lead.

 

11. Training

All trustees and regular volunteers will be familiar with this safeguarding policy.

The Board will review whether additional safeguarding training is required, particularly where activities or partnerships change.

 

12. Review

This policy will be reviewed annually by the Board of Trustees, or sooner if legislation, guidance or CARA’s activities change.

Any safeguarding incidents or lessons learned will inform future revisions of the policy.