safeguarding policy

World Without Orphans Europe Safeguarding Policy

Safeguarding is a core component of the activities of World Without Orphans Europe, even though we normally do not directly work with children or adults at risk*. An understanding of safeguarding and a commitment to promoting excellent safeguarding is essential to WWO Europe. *An adult at risk is any person who is aged 18 years or over and at risk of abuse or neglect because of their needs for care and/or support.

This means:

Individuals – including trustees, staff and volunteers – in their WWO Europe capacity – do not work directly with children or adults at risk. This will be under continual review as existing activities develop and new ones are started.
WWO Europe is committed to seeing best practice in the care of orphans and vulnerable children – this will include promoting the importance of safeguarding.
When WWO Europe provides training in various European countries, it is possible that participants may disclose safeguarding concerns. Therefore, WWO Europe expects trainers to know how they should respond if a safeguarding concern is disclosed in a training session. Typically, this will be done in accordance with the policy and procedures of the in-country organisation who organized the training session.
WWO Europe exists to improve the care of orphans and vulnerable children. Therefore it is likely that we will deliberately be working with organisations that currently do not have adequate safeguarding procedures. We will be working with them to encourage and equip them to improve their safeguarding standards. Where helpful we will use Thirtyone:eight’s International Safeguarding Audit Tool as part of this process.
WWO Europe will only enter formal partnerships with organisations who have demonstrated they have appropriate safeguarding policies and procedures.
All trustees, staff, and volunteers must sign the form (appendix 2) to say they have read and understood this policy and commit to abide by it.

Section 1.

Our Commitment

We recognise the need to provide a safe and caring environment for children, young people and adults. We acknowledge that children, young people and adults can be the victims of physical, sexual and emotional abuse, and additional types of abuse. We accept the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant of Human Rights, which states that everyone is entitled to “all the rights and freedoms set forth therein, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or any other status”. We also concur with the Convention on the Rights of the Child which states that children should be able to develop their full potential, free from hunger and want, neglect and abuse. They have a right to be protected from “all forms of physical or mental violence, injury or abuse, neglect or negligent treatment or exploitation, including sexual abuse, while in the care of parent(s), legal guardian(s), or any other person who has care of the child.” The WWO Europe leaders, staff and Trustees have therefore adopted the principles and procedures set out in this safeguarding policy.

WWO Europe recognises its accountability to the communities in which we operate, and commits to ensuring that all our activities contribute to the wellbeing of that community and do not place anyone at further risk. We commit to the Core Humanitarian Standards of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and operational independence and recognising the vulnerabilities of where we operate. We also adhere to the principle that our organisation will do no harm.

WWO Europe undertakes to:

Endorse and follow the principles of protection and non-discrimination enshrined in international conventions outlined above.
Assess all our activities and new initiatives in a community context to ensure that they do not have a negative impact on the safety of children or adults at risk in our community – or cause unintended consequences that make some groups less safe.
Appoint a safeguarding lead to identify and support the protection of children and adults with care and support needs. In large global organisations this may mean a central safeguarding lead and regional or national field safeguarding officers. WWOE will encourage the appointment of safeguarding officers in the national teams.
Train our staff and all those who work for us on how to uphold those principles and what to do if they have concerns about the safety or welfare of a child or adult.
Ensure that we offer a welcoming and inclusive environment to all members of the community.

The Role of the Designated Safeguarding Person

To ensure that everyone in the organisation is aware how to raise safeguarding concerns.
To ensure that everyone understands the signs and indicators of abuse in children and adults.
To plan and implement a safeguarding training programme for all workers and volunteers at the appropriate level.
To report to the Management Board on a regular basis about any Safeguarding matters. This does not include specific details about a Safeguarding incident (as this information may have to remain confidential) but for example, safeguarding audits, policy reviews, additional guidance, working with partner organisations.
The Designated Safeguarding Person must be consulted if a Safeguarding incident arises within the organisation.

Section 2.

Prevention

2.1 Understanding abuse and neglect

Defining child abuse or abuse against an adult is a difficult and complex issue. A person may abuse by inflicting harm or failing to prevent harm. Children and adults at risk, may be abused within a family, an institution or a community setting. Very often the abuser is known or in a trusted relationship with the child or adult.

In order to safeguard those in our organisations we adhere to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and have as our starting point as a definition of abuse, Article 19:

States Parties shall take all appropriate legislative, administrative, social and educational measures to protect the child from all forms of physical or mental violence, injury or abuse, neglect or negligent treatment, maltreatment or exploitation, including sexual abuse, while in the care of parent(s), legal guardian(s) or any other person who has the care of the child.

Such protective measures should, as appropriate, include effective procedures for the establishment of social programmes to provide necessary support for the child and for those who have the care of the child, as well as for other forms of prevention and for identification, reporting, referral, investigation, treatment and follow-up of instances of child maltreatment described heretofore, and, as appropriate, for judicial involvement.

Also for adults the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights with particular reference to Article 5:

No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

In addition, we acknowledge the harm caused by spiritual abuse as defined by Lisa Oakley and Justin Humphreys in ‘Escaping the Maze of Spiritual Abuse’

“a form of emotional and psychological abuse…characterized by a systematic pattern of coercive and controlling behaviour in a religious context. Spiritual abuse adds an additional layer to an abusive experience when it is grounded or justified with a level of spirituality.”

2.2 Safer recruitment

WWO Europe will ensure all workers will be appropriately recruited as well as trained, supported and supervised to ensure that they uphold the principles of protection and non-discrimination described above. This includes ensuring that:

There is a clear application process and those appointed are suitably qualified for their roles including any pastoral role providing care and support to those in need.
Those appointed have been given a clear understanding of their responsibilities in relation to child and adult safeguarding and the principles of non-discrimination. The process will ensure that they have expressed their commitment to these principles prior to appointment.
In the case of creating a short list of applicants, it is carried out against clear criteria.
There is a face to face (or virtual/online) interview.
References have been obtained and followed up where appropriate.
From every person directly involved/working with WWO Europe as staff or leader criminal record checks will be obtained.
Where the country of nationality for the prospective employee provides a system of credible background checks or access to police checks for the purposes of employment – helping to demonstrate a person’s safety and suitability to work with children or vulnerable adults - these have been obtained. For example, for UK nationals working overseas with contact with children it is possible to ask them to apply for an International Child Protection Certificate. For local staff, references should be available from local police agencies and any consideration should be given to what such records may or may not show. Qualifications where relevant have been verified. If qualifications are in a language other than English, an official translation should also be provided.
Successful applicants are expected to sign a Code of Conduct that outlines the standards of behaviour expected of themselves or others.
Suitable training is provided for the successful applicant, that includes safeguarding awareness.
The applicant has completed a probationary period.
The applicant has been given a copy of the organisation’s safeguarding policy and knows how to report concerns.

2.3 Safeguarding on overseas trips and field visits

Field experience includes all types of trips which involves travel to an overseas office or project which includes face-to-face interaction with project participants, children and adults. This activity increases risk of potential harm. This includes all short-term visits.

Participants in all trips are subject to satisfactory completion of all vetting processes that will be undertaken. Such requirements include:

A background check is undertaken and evidenced (if the trip will involve directly working with children or adults at risk).
Signed code of conduct.
Two references, one from the person’s current or most recent employer, and one from their church leader. If one of these cannot be provided, another professional or person in leadership who knows the applicant well and is not a relative can be asked.
Briefing/ training on safeguarding expectations and processes that includes cultural considerations.
Briefing will include the policy on the use of photographic material.

2.4 Safeguarding culture and training

We are committed to ongoing training and professional development in relation to child and adult safeguarding. We believe in a partnership approach to safeguarding, underpinned by a shared culture and values base, in line with the local context. To do this the leadership will seek to draw on both formal and informal support for this within the community to ensure it is deep-rooted. We aim to have policy and practice that is robust and accessible within the country(ies) where we work, and that also meets UK standards for organisations working overseas.

All our workers will receive regular inputs about how to recognise signs of abuse and how to handle concerns in relation to protection and safeguarding.

WWO Europe will also ensure that children and adults at risk are provided with information on where to get help and advice in relation to abuse, discrimination, bullying, or any other matter where they have a concern.

All workers will be issued with the following code of conduct that outlines acceptable behaviour towards children, young people, and adults at risk and will be given clear expectations about what is expected of them both within their job role and outside the work environment. They will also receive regular support and further training as necessary.

Section 3

3.1. Code of Conduct and Practice Guidelines

We do not currently work directly with children, young people or adults at risk – however, the section will shape our training and setting expectations with those we work with.

As an organisation working on behalf of children, young people and adults at risk we wish to operate and promote good working practice. This will enable workers to run activities safely, develop good relationships, operate within safe boundaries and thereby minimise the risk of false or unfounded accusation.

WWO Europe’s general code of conduct is that team members and representatives of WWO Europe:

Are never alone with a child (in their role as a WWO Europe worker)
Do not bully, harass or discriminate against any child or adult at risk
Do not hit, smack or cause physical harm to a child as a means of discipline
Do not threaten, bully, humiliate or make any child feel uncomfortable
Do not use their position for financial gain
Do not interact which children or adults at risk in an inappropriate way, single them out for praise or attention or try to humiliate or harm them
Do not enter into an intimate or sexual relationship with a child or use inappropriate sexual language around them
Have a clear understanding about the organisations policy on taking photos and the use of social media. Know the Code of Conduct on Images and Messaging. In the absence of such a policy do not engage with children and young people or adults at risk directly on social media.

As well as a general code of conduct for workers we also undertake to specifically consider how all of our activities might impact on children and on adults at risk in the community in which we are based. For example, if we are running an activity for children, we will carefully risk assess its impact on them in the context of their family and community needs and expectations – considering whether their families agree with their participation, whether the children are needed at home and what impact might their participation have on them.

Our practice guidelines reflect the nature of the activities we offer. General practice guidelines apply across all areas of our work. These may be found in the appendices at the end of the policy. Specific guidelines that apply to individual activities such as children’s work, health care projects, or specific events, will from time to time be created and provided to staff and other team members. For some activities you will need specific forms, e.g. consent forms, risk assessments etc.

3.2 Working in Partnership

The diversity of organisations and settings means there may be variation in practice when it comes to safeguarding children, young people and adults. For example, what constitutes abuse can be different because of cultural tradition, belief and religious practice or understanding,

We therefore have clear guidelines in regard to our expectations of those with whom we work in partnership, whether in the UK or not. We will discuss with all partners our safeguarding expectations and have a partnership agreement for safeguarding. This could include some of the following considerations:

Ensuring certain policies are in place.
Safe recruitment of staff/volunteers within the partnering organisation.
Trained and supported at suitable levels given their roles and responsibilities within the organisation.
Appropriate safe working arrangements (a few examples include risk assessment for activities, appropriate online and offline contact/interaction etc).
Reporting protocols on safeguarding concerns/incidents both at a local level where appropriate and also with commissioning organisations (and to regulatory bodies in relevant countries especially if beneficiaries have suffered harm).

We believe good communication is essential in promoting safeguarding, both to those we wish to protect, to everyone involved in working with children and adults and to all those with whom we work in partnership. This safeguarding policy is just one means of promoting safeguarding.

Section 4

4.1 Responding to allegations of abuse

Where the organisation becomes aware of an allegation or suspicion of abuse against a child or adult, they will discuss this with their safeguarding lead. The leadership undertake to understand and map the local context so that they have a process for dealing with disclosures of abuse – albeit the actions will vary according to the case.

If the disclosure of child abuse (or abuse of an adult) relates to a perpetrator outside the organisation the leadership will consider how they can support the future safety of the victim, access to care and support as well as access to justice. In the case of children this will focus on what is in the best interests of the child.

In doing this the leadership will consider:

The consequence of reporting to the formal authorities, whether there is sufficient confidence in the formal authorities that appropriate child and adult victim centred action will be taken and that victims will be safe. If there is concern (based on experience or evidence) that reporting to the formal authorities would place a child or adult victim at further risk this will not be done.
The leadership will seek to make links with civil society organisations, NGOs or INGOs that may be available to investigate or act to protect a child or adult at risk. The leadership will draw upon their partnerships and their shared knowledge, expertise and insight on this issue locally where it is available. The safeguarding lead will determine if partner organisations or civil society organisations can help to support a local statutory safeguarding response or can help manage, support or advocate for an individual child or adult.
The leadership will seek to understand what, if any, health services are available to the child or adult victim but check what protocols they operate under (is there mandatory reporting to law enforcement for example) to find out whether they offer confidential services and can be accessed.
The leadership will assess what community justice structures exist and whether these tend to provide advocacy for vulnerable children or adults and result in safe outcomes.
In cases where reporting to formal authorities would not be safe, the leadership will seek to establish if there is an informal local mechanism, e.g. village community leaders, through which allegations of abuse can be addressed.

When an organisation or place of worship has concerns about harm or abuse against an adult - they should consider what support they can offer as above but also ensure that they put the wishes of the individual at the heart of any decisions or actions in line with the principles of adult safeguarding. The adult victim may chose not to accept support or to do so only conditionally and this should be respected provided they have the freedom and capacity to make that choice.

In dealing with disclosure of abuse the leadership will ensure that they maintain confidentiality of reports made and that there are clear internal procedures around the reporting and recording of reports.

4.2. Allegations against workers

Where allegations of abuse are made against members of staff or volunteers working for the organisation the leadership undertakes an internal investigation.

The leadership recognises that some staff may pose a risk to children or adults at risk – and this may be deliberate attempts to harm them or may be as a result of lack of understanding of appropriate care, interaction and boundaries.

The leadership will ensure they have a trained person (usually the safeguarding lead or their deputy) to investigation allegations against staff members or volunteers. However, if there is a conflict of interest which means that this person is well known to the subject of complaint or the person making the accusation (or there is any question of professional rivalries, prejudices or conflict) this person will not conduct the investigation. The leadership must find an independent person to conduct the investigation in such cases. Thirtyone:eight may be able to assist or advise in such cases.

The investigation will involve:

Gathering information to undertake an initial assessment to determine the scope of the investigation (what aspects of law or policy have been violated), clarifying the allegations and deciding who will investigate and broadly how it will be investigated (establishing Terms of Reference).
Undertaking a plan for confidentiality to limit knowledge of the investigation and to ensure safe storage so that information shared with the investigator or their team is kept confidential and cannot be accessed by anyone outside the investigation.
Undertaking a risk assessment to plan what measures are needed to keep victims safe (e.g. assessing whether there may be reprisals either from the subject of the allegation or others) and what can be done to prevent this. Also making an assessment of whether any interim measures are needed to keep children or vulnerable adults safe from the subject of the allegation.
Agreeing a timeframe for activity and key interviews/ evidence to be gathered.
Undertaking the investigation and producing a report with outcome findings

This internal investigation will involve gathering evidence and interviewing witnesses and making a judgement about any allegation. Safeguarding allegations are often difficult or even impossible to prove or disprove one way or another and the investigators may need to make a finding on the balance of probabilities. The leadership commit to taking appropriate actions following the findings of such investigations and if there is evidence that a child has been abused the leadership will commit to dismissal of the individual.

On conclusion of the investigation you need to consider if the allegation meets the threshold for reporting to the Charity Commission.

4.3 Whistleblowing

Whistleblowing is intended to encourage and enable anyone to raise serious concerns without fear of victimisation, subsequent discrimination or disadvantage.

Anyone can raise concerns about malpractice, wrongdoing and conduct of a person in the organisation via the Safeguarding Officer.

Whistleblowing information will be provided to new staff as part of the recruitment process.

Where possible, their identity will remain confidential. Anyone wishing to disclose information should do so to their Line Manager in the first instance, or where this is not possible, to a senior member of staff or Board of Trustees member.

Please refer to our full Whistleblowing and Complaints Policies for more details.

Section 5. Pastoral Care

5.1 Supporting those affected by abuse

WWO Europe is committed to offering pastoral care, working with partners as appropriate, to support all those who have been affected by abuse, who have contact with or are part of the organisation.

5.2 Working with offenders and those who may pose a risk

When someone attending the organisation’s activities is known to have abused children, is under investigation, or is known to be a risk to adults, the person in charge of the activity will make arrangements to supervise the individual concerned and offer pastoral care. In its safeguarding commitment to the protection of children and adults with care and support needs, we will set boundaries for that person, which they will be expected to keep. These boundaries will be based on an appropriate risk assessment and through consultation with appropriate parties. They determine if the person is suspended from duties pending the outcome of the risk assessment.

For helpful resources on a range of subjects highlighted in this policy, we recommend visiting: https://thirtyoneeight.org/get-help/resources/help-guides/

Adoption of the policy

This policy was last reviewed at WWO Europe's trustees meeting on 15th Oct 2025, and will be reviewed annually.

Signed by Ruth Vergnon, Chair of WWO Europe board and Barbara Ruegger, Safeguarding Coordinator.

Appendix 1: Definitions of abuse

Physical Abuse

The infliction of pain or physical injury, which is either caused deliberately, or through lack of care to a child under your care.

Sexual Abuse

Forcing or enticing a child or young person to take part in sexual activities, whether or not the child is aware of what is happening, with or without physical contact. This includes producing or watching sexual activities and “grooming” (preparing for abuse).

Psychological or Emotional Abuse

Persistent emotional ill treatment, including rejection, bullying and witnessing the ill-treatment of another (e.g. domestic violence), causing severe and persistent adverse effects on a child’s emotional development.

Neglect and Abandonment

The persistent failure to meet a child’s basic physical and/or psychological needs, likely to result in the serious impairment of the child’s health or development; failure to provide adequate food, clothing and shelter, supervision or medical care. Severe neglect might lead to abandonment.

Spiritual Abuse

Spiritual abuse is linked with other forms of abuse, and could be defined as an abuse of power, often done in the name of God or religion, which involves manipulating or coercing someone into thinking, saying or doing things without respecting their right to choose for themselves.

2025-11-21 00:00:00