This is a free tool available to all voluntary and community groups offering services in Reading, who wish to take the first steps towards having good governance in place but perhaps don’t feel ready to complete a full quality award. If you are a small community group, this is ideal as it much less time consuming but will give you valuable assurance. If you are a larger charity, this is a great first step in case you are considering completing the full quality award in the future.
(Unsure what ‘governance’ means? Take a look at our glossary, which contains a list and explanation of common terms used when talking about charities and community groups).
How will your group benefit from First Steps towards Safe and Sound?
- Confidence that you have the very basics in place to protect yourselves as trustees (committee members), your beneficiaries, volunteers and any staff against the risks associated with running your group.
- Easily show this to others such as to funders, partners, your members, beneficiaries and supporters.
How First Steps towards Safe and Sound works
- Attend a 1-hour ‘Introduction to First Steps’ session to gain an overview. This should be attended by either a trustee or manager of your group and this is required before taking the next step. These sessions run monthly and alternate between online and in-person. For upcoming dates, please see our training page here.
- Complete this First Steps towards Safe and Sound Checklist to check whether you have everything in place. If you need support or templates, just get in touch or see the resources below. Please keep copies of all documentation in a safe place.
- Receive a confirmation email. We will also add your organisation to a public list to show you have completed First Steps towards Safe and Sound.
Please note that First Steps towards Safe and Sound is a checklist and not a quality award. However, you can choose to work towards the full Safe and Sound Quality Award now or at a later date. You can find more details about the Safe and Sound Quality Award here.
Resources and templates to help you
- Data protection – guidance from NCVO
- DBS guide for voluntary and community groups – from RVA
- Equal opportunities policy – example policy from NCVO
- Equality Act 2010 Protected Characteristics – short video explaining what these are
- Equality Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) – examples of awareness of EDI when providing services or recruiting staff or volunteers
- Glossary of common terms used in the voluntary and community sector
- Health and Safety – guidance from NCVO
- Insurance – guidance from NCVO
- Risk assessment template for services or activities
- Safeguarding – guidance from NCVO
- Training options such as safeguarding
- Volunteer policy: what to include – guidance from NCVO
- Volunteer policy – example from WCVA
Support from RVA
- If you have any questions or need any further templates or guidance, please contact Herjeet Vass, Advice Service Manager on 0118 9372273 or email herjeet.vass@rva.org.uk.
- If you would like paper versions of any of the above linked documents, just get in touch with us.
To download a free copy of the First Steps booklet please fill in the form below