Charity: NATIONAL SADAQA FOUNDATION (Charity No. 1206401)

Organisation type: Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO)

Version: v1.0

Status: Draft for Board approval

Date: 06 February 2026

Purpose

To set out how NATIONAL SADAQA FOUNDATION (NSF) safeguards children, young people and vulnerable adults in all activity connected to NSF, including grant-making, partnerships, events, and volunteering.

1. Policy statement

• NSF is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.
• We recognise our duty to take all reasonable steps to prevent harm, respond promptly to concerns, and act in the best interests of those at risk.
• Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. NSF will not tolerate abuse, exploitation, harassment, or neglect in any form.

2. Scope

• This policy applies to trustees, staff, volunteers, contractors, and anyone acting on behalf of NSF.
• It also applies to partner organisations and grant recipients where NSF funding or involvement is connected to activity involving children or vulnerable adults.

3. Definitions

• Child: anyone under 18.
• Vulnerable adult: an adult who may be unable to protect themselves from abuse or neglect due to care/support needs.
• Safeguarding: protecting from maltreatment; preventing impairment of health/development; ensuring safe and effective care; taking action to enable best outcomes.

4. Roles and responsibilities

• Board of Trustees: overall accountability for safeguarding, ensuring adequate policies, resources and oversight.
• Safeguarding Lead: named individual responsible for receiving concerns, advising, recording, and liaising with statutory agencies where required.
• All personnel must follow this policy, complete training, and raise concerns immediately.

5. Safer recruitment and vetting

• NSF will use safer recruitment practices, including references where appropriate.
• DBS checks will be obtained where roles meet eligibility and where work involves children or vulnerable adults.
• No one will begin regulated activity without appropriate checks and supervision.

6. Training and awareness

• Safeguarding induction is mandatory for trustees and anyone in NSF roles involving contact with beneficiaries.
• Refresher training will be completed at least annually (or more frequently if risk profile increases).

7. Reporting concerns

• If a child or vulnerable adult is in immediate danger, call 999.
• All safeguarding concerns must be reported to the Safeguarding Lead immediately.
• Concerns will be recorded in a secure safeguarding log with dates, facts, and actions taken.
• NSF will refer concerns to statutory authorities where required.

8. Working with partners and grant recipients

• NSF will conduct safeguarding due diligence before funding activities involving children/vulnerable adults.
• Grant recipients may be required to provide safeguarding policies, training evidence, and named leads.
• NSF may suspend or terminate funding if safeguarding standards are not met.

9. Confidentiality and information sharing

• Information will be shared on a ‘need-to-know’ basis, in line with safeguarding duties and data protection law.
• NSF will not promise confidentiality if doing so would place someone at risk.

10. Allegations against trustees/volunteers/staff

• Any allegation will be taken seriously and managed promptly.
• Individuals may be suspended from duties while investigations proceed.
• Statutory agencies will be involved where required.

11. Review

• This policy is reviewed at least annually and after any serious incident or material change in operations.

Appendix A: Reporting details (complete before publication)

• Safeguarding Lead name: Rayan Mahmud
• Safeguarding email: rayan@nsfuk.org
• Safeguarding phone:

Local authority safeguarding contact