1. Introduction

Giving Back Generation (“GBG”, “we”, “our”, or “us”) is committed to safeguarding the health, safety, and wellbeing of all individuals involved in our work—including staff, volunteers, beneficiaries, visitors, and especially the young people and vulnerable adults we support.
This Health and Safety Policy outlines GBG’s responsibilities and procedures to ensure a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment in accordance with the law, the requirements of the Charity Commission, and our safeguarding obligations.

2. Scope of the Policy

This policy applies to:

• All GBG premises and any venue or location where GBG activities, programmes, or events are held.
• All individuals participating in GBG activities, including trustees, employees, volunteers, contractors, partners, beneficiaries, children, and young people.
• All GBG operations, whether in person or online.

3. Roles and Responsibilities

3.1 Trustees and Senior Management

• Ensure legal compliance with all relevant health and safety and safeguarding legislation (including the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, and the requirements of the Charity Commission).
• Allocate adequate resources for effective health and safety and safeguarding measures.
• Regularly review this policy and oversee the management of risks to all GBG stakeholders, especially children and vulnerable adults.
• Investigate and address any health, safety, or safeguarding incident or concern promptly.

3.2 Employees and Volunteers

• Follow all GBG health, safety, and safeguarding procedures and policies.
• Participate in mandatory health and safety and safeguarding training and refreshers.
• Report hazards, incidents, or safeguarding concerns immediately to their supervisor, designated safeguarding lead, or health and safety officer.
• Take reasonable care for their own health and safety and that of others, especially young people and vulnerable individuals.

3.3 Contractors and Partners

• Adhere to GBG’s health and safety and safeguarding standards when working on GBG premises or projects.
• Provide evidence of their own health and safety and safeguarding policies if requested.

4. General Safety and Safeguarding Measures

4.1 Risk Assessments

• Conduct risk assessments for all activities, events, and premises—paying special attention to activities involving young people or vulnerable adults.
• Update risk assessments regularly and whenever activities or venues change.

4.2 Training and Awareness

• Provide health and safety training (including fire safety and first aid) and safeguarding induction to all staff and volunteers.
• Provide information on emergency procedures, fire evacuation routes, first aid locations, and safeguarding reporting.
• Raise awareness about responsibilities to protect and safeguard children and vulnerable adults.

4.3 First Aid

• Maintain adequate first aid supplies at all GBG locations and events.
• Ensure that at least one trained first aider is present during all activities and events involving young people or vulnerable adults.
• Record and report all first aid incidents as required by law and GBG procedures.

4.4 Fire Safety

• Equip premises and venues with appropriate fire detection and suppression systems.
• Conduct regular fire drills and update evacuation plans as necessary.
• Clearly display fire exits, assembly points, and emergency instructions.

4.5 Equipment and Venue Safety

• Inspect and maintain all equipment, vehicles, and venues used in GBG activities to ensure safety and suitability.
• Provide and require personal protective equipment (PPE) where necessary.

5. Safeguarding Young People and Vulnerable Groups

5.1 Enhanced Safeguarding Measures

• Implement safeguarding measures in line with Charity Commission guidance and our own Safeguarding Policy.
• Ensure all staff and volunteers working with children, young people, or vulnerable adults undergo an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, appropriate safeguarding training, and sign the Safeguarding Code of Conduct.
• Designate a Safeguarding Lead responsible for ongoing training, monitoring, and incident response.

5.2 Inclusion and Reasonable Adjustments

• Make reasonable adjustments to activities and environments to ensure accessibility and inclusion for all, including those with additional needs or disabilities.

5.3 Food Hygiene and Welfare

• When providing food, follow all relevant food hygiene, allergy management, and health guidance.
• Ensure that participants’ dietary or health needs are known and respected.

5.4 Public Health Measures

• Follow government guidance to mitigate the spread of infectious diseases (e.g., COVID-19), including promoting hand hygiene, providing sanitisation stations, and encouraging use of masks or distancing as appropriate.

6. Reporting and Incident Management

• All accidents, near misses, safeguarding concerns, or breaches of safety or safeguarding protocols must be reported immediately to a supervisor, safeguarding lead, or health and safety officer.
• Record all incidents in the GBG Incident Report Log.
• Investigate incidents thoroughly to identify causes and prevent recurrence.
• Notify relevant authorities (e.g., local authority, Charity Commission, HSE) as required by law or safeguarding guidance.

7. Emergency Procedures

• Emergency contact numbers and instructions must be clearly displayed at all GBG locations and event venues.
• Ensure all staff and volunteers know the evacuation and emergency procedures.
• Designate responsible officers to coordinate responses in any emergency or safeguarding incident.

8. Monitoring and Review

• Regularly inspect premises, equipment, and activities for health, safety, and safeguarding compliance.
• Review this policy annually, and immediately after any significant incident, legislative change, or new Charity Commission guidance.
• Consult with staff, volunteers, and (where appropriate) beneficiaries and parents/carers when updating this policy.

9. Communication

• This Health and Safety Policy is made available to all staff, volunteers, beneficiaries, and their families.
• A summary of this policy is published on our website. Copies can be requested from the GBG office.

10. Contact Information

For health and safety or safeguarding concerns, reports, or questions, please contact:

Giving Back Generation Limited
Health & Safety/Safeguarding Officer
662 High Road, N12 0NL, London, United Kingdom
contact@givingbackgeneration.org.uk

Emergency contact number: 999

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