The Safe Network

Building strong and safe communities through volunteering.

The Safe Network is a National Safeguarding Delivery Unit project jointly managed by NSPCC (www.nspcc.org.uk) and Children England (www.childrenengland.org.uk) (formerly NCVCCO) designed to help third sector organisations safeguard and protect children and young people.

Volunteering has an important role to play in both the formal safeguarding arrangements for children and vulnerable adults and also in contributing to the social capital that helps to keep communities safe and enjoyable for all citizens.

"Volunteering plays an important role in the formal safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults."

As a partner of the Safe Network, CSV supports the Network’s aim of helping to keep children safe when taking part in activities available and on offer in local communities. CSV’s work with the Safe Network includes the promotion of good practice in the development and management of volunteering with and for children and young people.

For almost 50 years, CSV has worked across the generations in a wide range of settings to help create and support volunteering, training, and learning opportunities for people of all ages that improve the lives of individuals and communities.

Through this work we have learnt that there are a range of barriers that hinder opportunities for inter-generational activity and understanding that is essential for the development of sustainable and safe communities and neighbourhoods. For example, our Volunteers in Child Protection initiative, and the community safety dimensions to the work of CSV’s Retired and Senior Volunteering Programme.

Some of these barriers can be found within the current processes for checking criminal records of volunteers and the vetting and barring arrangements. Other barriers result from misconceptions about the relative aspirations, interests and needs of children and older people.

Contact the Safe Network through their website www.safenetwork.org.uk or through their telephone and email helplines: 0116 234 7217 or info@safenetwork.org.uk.