Charities are all about making a positive difference in society. They work with all kinds of people, from different backgrounds, ages, and life stages. Meeting the needs of these groups whilst keeping everyone safe takes specialised support - that’s why The Stewards’ Trust have been a member with Thirtyone:eight for 22 years. This year, they were awarded the Thirtyone:eight Safeguarding Standards Award. Helen Paterson, Family Director and Designated Safeguarding Officer for The Stewards’ Trust, speaks to us about their experience of the award process and how it’s helped them as an organisation. They hope to inspire other charities and organisations to take similar steps toward strengthening their safeguarding practices.
Helen says, “We had our 70th anniversary last year, so The Stewards’ Trust is a well-established organisation, dedicated to supporting discipleship across generations. We offer a wide range of events, including residential retreats for families and activity camps for young people. Last year we ran 58 events, supporting almost 1800 people and we have about 230 volunteers. Our core mission is to nurture faith through community-building experiences, always with a strong focus on teaching and discipleship. As the organisation has grown, so has our commitment to safeguarding the individuals we serve.
The Stewards’ Trust has always prided itself on looking after people well. Creating a culture of care where everyone feels safe and supported is at the heart of our mission, and caring for people is really the foundation of safeguarding. We recognise that to truly honour this value, safeguarding is a priority. We think we’ve been doing a lot of things right, but we wanted someone objective and expert to have a look and see if they agree. So we decided to apply for the safeguarding award and go through the process.”
The Process:
Independently assessed against the Thirtyone:eight 10 Safeguarding Standards, the process helps organisations to identify its current strengths and any areas where extra work may be needed to improve safeguarding practices and embed them in organisational culture.
“The application process for the award was both challenging and enlightening. It initially felt daunting. We felt vulnerable to judgement or criticism, but it wasn’t like that at all. The team were really supportive. Offering constructive advice and reassurance where we needed it.
We thoroughly examined policies, practices, and organisational culture. We have a very small staff team, so to meet the six-month deadline we divided the tasks up and got different people in the team to be responsible for specific tasks.
The process highlighted that a lot of what we had in place was really good, but it did raise some areas to improve. Looking at the very fine detail was helpful to make sure we were covering everything as we should. We were pretty confident, but that fine toothcomb approach meant we unearthed important details like policies only covering certain stakeholders – eg. staff and not volunteers. It also highlighted for us the need for things like a risk register, and making sure we consider appropriate safeguarding protocols for all who engage with us – staff, volunteers and our guests.”
How we’ve benefited from the award process
“One of the key benefits of the process was the opportunity to involve a wide range of people within the organisation, including trustees, staff, and volunteers, in safeguarding. We’ve always said, ‘safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility’, but this process meant we were all focused on it at the same time. It helped reinforce a sense of shared responsibility for safeguarding across the organisation—especially with our trustees. The trustees have always been involved in our safeguarding, but this process made that really robust and practical. As a result, our governance structures have been really strengthened. The board have been really proactive and have reorganised to ensure that the person responsible for safeguarding now has more time and capacity to oversee it effectively.
The process also allowed us to step back and view our safeguarding practices from a broader perspective. We’ve been able to celebrate what we’re doing well, and having done the work needed to achieve the award gives us even more confidence that we really are on the right path, maintaining integrity, and genuinely safeguarding the people we serve.”
Would The Stewards’ Trust Recommend the Safeguarding Award to Others?
“Yes absolutely! We recommend the safeguarding award to any organisation serious about improving its safeguarding practices. The process not only helps organisations assess and refine their practices but also builds confidence that you do know what you’re doing, and provides external validation for your hard work.
The process can feel daunting at first, and it’s not easy, but it offers a really valuable opportunity to reassess your safeguarding, and identify areas for improvement. In the end, it is a powerful way to ensure that safeguarding remains a top priority and that safe and supportive spaces are created for everyone in the community. Safeguarding is a shared responsibility, and by prioritising it, organisations can ensure that all individuals—young and old—can flourish in a safe environment.”
Find out more about The Stewards’ Trust
Find out more about the Safeguarding Standards Award
The Safeguarding Standards Award is open to our 6,500 members. Membership is open to any organisation that wants to raise the standard of safeguarding. Find out about the benefits of membership or join us today and create safer places for everyone.