Law, rules and duties

This NCVO guide explains the legal and regulatory safeguarding framework that all voluntary organisations — registered or not — must be aware of, including Charity Commission guidance, the Children Acts 1989 and 2004, the Care Act 2014, the Mental Capacity Act 2005, the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, and the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015. It introduces the principle of proportionality, whereby the depth of safeguarding plans should reflect an organisation's size, activities, and the vulnerability of those it works with. The guide also signposts practical starting points from bodies such as the NSPCC, Ann Craft Trust, and Citizens Advice, making it useful for organisations at any stage of developing their safeguarding policies and procedures. A notable scope point is that some duties — such as the Prevent duty — apply only to specific types of charities, such as educational charities.