The Importance of Basic Safeguarding Training for Organisations Supporting Refugees, Asylum Seekers, and Migrants

Basic safeguarding training is essential for volunteers, charities, and community organisations working with refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants in the United Kingdom. Many individuals arriving in the UK come from countries with different legal systems, cultural expectations, and child or adult protection practices. As a result, understanding UK safeguarding standards is crucial for both service providers and the communities they support.

Recently, safeguarding training delivered by Voluntary Action Leeds highlighted the importance of creating safe, respectful, and accountable environments for vulnerable people. The training provided valuable guidance for volunteers and charity organisations on recognising abuse, responding appropriately to concerns, and understanding their duty of care toward children and vulnerable adults.

In the UK, safeguarding policies are built around protecting individuals from physical abuse, emotional abuse, neglect, exploitation, discrimination, domestic violence, and online harm. These protections apply regardless of nationality, immigration status, religion, gender, or cultural background. For refugees and asylum seekers, understanding these safeguarding principles can help them feel safer, more informed, and more confident when accessing services or integrating into communities.

For many migrants, some safeguarding expectations in the UK may differ significantly from practices in their home countries. For example:

• Physical punishment of children may be culturally accepted elsewhere but is treated seriously under UK safeguarding laws.
• Forced marriage, domestic abuse, and coercive control are recognised as safeguarding concerns in the UK.
• Children and vulnerable adults have clear legal rights to protection and support.
• Volunteers and professionals have a responsibility to report safeguarding concerns.

This makes safeguarding awareness not only important for organisations, but also for the refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants themselves. When people understand their rights and the protections available to them, they are better equipped to seek help, report abuse, and build trust within their new communities.

Community organisations working with migrants should ensure that safeguarding policies are explained clearly and sensitively, taking into account language barriers, trauma, and cultural differences. Training should encourage inclusion, dignity, confidentiality, and mutual respect while helping organisations maintain safe environments for everyone involved.

Special thanks go to Voluntary Action Leeds for providing this important safeguarding training and for continuing to support charities, volunteers, and grassroots organisations across Leeds. Their work strengthens community protection and promotes safer services for vulnerable people.  

Other organisations and community groups working with refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants are strongly encouraged to connect with Voluntary Action Leeds for safeguarding guidance and training opportunities.

Contact Details

Voluntary Action Leeds

• Address: Stringer House, 34 Lupton Street, Leeds LS10 2QW
• Phone: 0113 297 7920
• Email: info@val.org.uk / training@val.org.uk  

For any questions or further information, feel free to reach out to us at admin@johnpaulawifoundation.org – we’re here to help!