Safeguarding

Guiding is about fun, adventure, learning – and staying safe. All Girlguiding volunteers need to complete the level of A Safe Space appropriate for their role, and follow our policies to make sure all our members have a safe space for their guiding.

Please check out the safeguarding policy and procedures. If anything isn’t clear, ask. If you’re worried about something, make sure you follow the procedures. Remember – safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility.

A Safe Space training

is about more than safeguarding: it is designed to enable leaders to create an environment that helps us live out our values and Promise. It increases self-esteem and self-confidence and gives opportunities for adventure and challenge, whilst encouraging members to think for themselves and make their own decisions.

• Level 1, An introduction: For all volunteers, including GO coordinators, home contacts, peer educators and young leaders. Also for all external volunteers working with the girls.
• Level 2, Creating a safe space: For young leaders, peer educators, unit helpers, and those who need to complete Level 3 and 4.
• Level 3, Recognising, telling and taking action: For all leaders, assistant leaders and leaders in training, anyone leading a team of adults, mentors, advisers, coordinators (except GO coordinators), licence holders on residentials, trainers, tutors and those doing level 4. Level 3 can now be delivered remotely so please don’t worry about having to physically get to a training session.
• Level 4, Managing concerns, allegations and disclosures: For all commissioners, designates, deputies and those sharing a role, trainers delivering A Safe Space, safeguarding leads and A Safe Space advisers. Level 4 can also now be delivered remotely.

Please also note - At least one leader with A Safe Space level 3 must be present at any meeting – whether that is in person or virtual.

All levels of A Safe Space training are valid for 3 years. Please help us by completing your training when you are first reminded. Any time and resources put into issuing reminders isn’t then available to Girlguiding for other activities that benefit girls - so by completing your training as soon as possible, you are helping make everything possible available to our young members.

You can check your own record

A Safe Space trainings will be under ‘My Achievements’, and if you are a unit leader you will also be able to check the training for the other volunteers in your unit by viewing them under the sub-heading, ‘Individuals’. You can then select ‘View Achievements’ as your ‘Action’ and see that leader’s completed courses and e-learnings. Please talk to your commissioner about accessing the training you, or anyone in your team needs and if you have any further queries regarding this, please do get in touch.