Refugees are by definition vulnerable and are seeking safety. Our safeguarding policy has a particular importance and our activity is reviewed regularly in the light of this policy. Only trusted people can work as volunteers in contact with refugees, their families and families supporting them. Trustees and volunteers are bound by our safeguarding policy in their activity on our behalf.

The Shaftesbury Refugee Group is committed to treating fairly all the people that use our services and who are volunteers or Trustees. We aim to provide equity of opportunity for all.

We will avoid discriminating against people, and create a safe and inclusive atmosphere for our Friends, Members and service users.

We expect the highest standards from our Trustees.

Our Trustees will make their decisions impartially and without self interest and always to benefit the charity and the people that it supports.

We respect people’s right to privacy and the security of their personal information.

If we come to hold your personal data we will always tell you when that happens, tell you how it happened, why we are holding it and how long we will hold it for. You can see the data we hold about you at any time and ask that it be rectified or deleted at any time.

We will review our planned work for any potential hazards, assess the consequence and likelihood to determine risk and take action to reduce or eliminate it.

We will always report accidents and close calls and learn from these.

The Shaftesbury Refugee Group is committed to ensuring that our activity does not have a negative impact on the local or wider environment nor does it consume the resources of our shared world in an unsustainable way.

We aim to use all contributions carefully and fairly, making sure that refugees and those who support them get the greatest benefit from people’s generosity.

We will be transparent about our finances and how they are used and report them on time and publicly.

We regularly assess the chance of harm and take steps to control the risks to the people we support and to the good work of our charity.

Risk assessment and control will be the chief way we manage Health and Safety.

We want to make it possible for people to participate in governing our charity. We make sure the reasonable cost of participation can be met for those that need it.

We will make no payment for volunteering or for the work of a Trustee.

We want to provide assistance and support for the personal needs of refugee families living in Shaftesbury and Gillingham and the adjacent towns and villages.

Sometimes that is possible through fairly awarded grants tailored to the needs of people.

We try hard to get things right for our beneficiaries and volunteers. When things are not yet right, we know the charity can learn how to improve from feedback.

We will listen carefully to any concern or complaint and act to improve on what we do.

We take care to get the balance right between making sure our work can continue and that our resources get used now, when the need is greatest.

We will hold the minimum in reserve to meet our obligations and commitments.

It is Shaftesbury Refugee Group’s policy to report all ‘serious incidents’ to the Charity Commission and to take their advice and support to resolve issues.

Volunteers are an invaluable part of our work and their time and skills are appreciated by everyone involved in the settlement of displaced people. This guidance lets you know what to expect from us and what we expect from you, including your agreement to confidentiality about the people you work with.