Bond statement in response to Charity Commission's report on Save the Children UK

Stephanie Draper, CEO for Bond the UK network for NGOs said:

“Bullying, harassment and abuse have no place in the NGO sector and fundamentally betray our basic values.

Safeguarding is a key priority for trustees and senior leaders. Many NGOs have taken steps to improve how they respond to concerns, as well as strengthening procedures, providing training and raising awareness to ensure that anyone who experiences any abuse or harassment has confidence they will be listened to and it will be acted on.

But it isn’t enough to meet minimum compliance standards, organisations need to live and breathe a safeguarding culture and this is where transparency and leadership are key. Leaders are in positions of power in their organisations, so they have a responsibility to establish and maintain an organisational culture that is conducive to safeguarding best practice.

Leaders must model an appropriate workplace culture, and the protection and wellbeing of everyone involved in an organisation’s work must be central to this.”

ENDS

Charity Commission Inquiry: The Save the Children Fund (Save the Children UK)
Bond is the UK network for organisations working in international development. Bond unites and supports a diverse network of over 450 civil society organisations and allies to help eradicate global poverty, inequality and injustice.
For further information please contact Maryam Mohsin, [email protected] or 07555 336029