The Safeguarding in the Voluntary Sector Conference 2027
Previous Supporters Include
Overview
Adult safeguarding concerns in England rose to an estimated 640,240 in 2024–2025, a 4.0% increase from 2023-2024 (GOV UK, 2026). As voluntary organisations face increasingly complex safeguarding risks alongside heightened regulatory scrutiny, organisations must ensure their safeguarding approaches remain effective, responsive and embedded across all levels of governance.
The Charity Commission identifies safeguarding as a core governance responsibility, with trustees accountable for ensuring appropriate systems, processes and cultures are in place to protect people who encounter their charity and work within it (Gov UK, 2017). Effective safeguarding cannot rely solely on policies and procedures; it requires strong governance, accountability and practice embedded across organisations (Gov UK, 2017). As charities operate in rapidly evolving and complex environments, now is the time to strengthen safeguarding governance and ensure approaches remain responsive to emerging risks.
Join us at The Safeguarding in the Voluntary Sector Conference 2027 to explore the emerging pressures and challenges shaping safeguarding across the third sector. From international safeguarding and AI-driven digital risks to strengthening safeguarding practice and embedding effective governance, this conference will equip delegates with practical insights from leading sector experts. Attendees will discover what works, learn from real-world experiences and leave with the implementation strategies to strengthen safeguarding policies.
Agenda
Online Registration
Chair’s Opening Remarks
Emily Konstantas, Founder and Global Chief Executive Officer, The Safeguarding Alliance (invited)
Keynote: Regulatory Update: Safeguarding Expectations for Charities in 2027
- Understand the latest safeguarding expectations for charities and what they mean for trustees, leaders, and safeguarding professionals across the sector
- Explore the areas of safeguarding practice receiving increased regulatory focus and how organisations can strengthen assurance, accountability and risk management
- Identify how charities can ensure safeguarding arrangements remain effective and responsive to emerging risks, moving beyond compliance towards embedded safeguarding practice
Mazeda Alam, Head of Trustee Guidance, Charity Commission for England and Wales (invited)
Panel: Strengthening Safeguarding in the Voluntary Sector – Lessons Learned, Emerging Challenges and Future Priorities
- Gain insights into the safeguarding approaches and practices that have delivered measurable improvements across voluntary sector organisations
- Explore the key challenges currently shaping safeguarding practice and discover practical strategies organisations are implementing to overcome them
- Examine how organisations are using DBS checks as the starting point for safeguarding, while strengthening ongoing approaches to managing risk and monitoring behaviour
- Identify future priorities and next steps for strengthening safeguarding approaches by evolving your policies, practices and culture to respond to emerging challenges
Debbie Busler, Director of Safeguarding, British Red Cross (CONFIRMED)
Sarah Lancaster, Director of Safeguarding & Youth Voice, UNICEF UK (invited)
Alexis Gallagher, Safeguarding and HR adviser, Bond (invited)
Questions and Answers
Comfort Break
Keynote: Making Complex Safeguarding Decisions – Balancing Risk, Confidentiality and Information Sharing
- Develop strategies for responding to safeguarding concerns effectively, using professional curiosity to identify risks, ask the right questions and ensure concerns are not overlooked
- Strengthen decision-making when assessing risks by understanding thresholds, determining appropriate actions and recognising when escalation is required
- Gain practical guidance on managing safeguarding incidents, from initial concerns through to referrals, ensuring timely and proportionate responses that prioritise the safety of children and adults
- Build confidence in balancing confidentiality and information sharing, enabling effective safeguarding action while meeting legal, ethical and professional responsibilities
Kate Lee OBE, Chief Executive Officer, The National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) (invited)
Keynote: Inclusive Safeguarding in Practice: Tackling Inequalities, Building Trust and Removing Barriers to Protection
- Explore best practice for supporting and protecting LGBTQ+ adults, children and young people
- Assess how safeguarding policies should be equitable and accessible to LGBTQ+ communities
- Examine the importance of safeguarding LGBTQ+ individuals and why it is crucial for the voluntary sector
- Identify where safeguarding risks arise for LGBTQ+ children and adults to strengthen safeguarding policies and ensure approaches are responsive and inclusive
Questions and Answers
Lunch Break
Panel: Safeguarding in Polarised Environments – Protecting Staff, Volunteers and Communities When Your Mission is Under Scrutiny
- Explore how charities safeguard their people when their mission, identity or work may bring disagreement or hostility
- Understand how organisations identify and manage safeguarding risks arising from external pressures, including harassment, abuse, threats and online hostility
- Gain insight into governance approaches that strengthen organisational resilience, including risk management, leadership and clear escalation processes
- Learn how charities can maintain a safe and inclusive environment while continuing to deliver their purpose in challenging spaces
Shauna McAllister, Senior Risk, Safeguarding and Incidents Manager, Refugee Council (invited)
Aflak Suleman, Head of Safeguarding, Islamic Relief Worldwide (invited)
Sandra Cornwall, Safeguarding Manager, Amnesty International UK (invited)
Keynote: International Safeguarding: Practical Solutions for Organisations Operating Overseas
- Adapt safeguarding approaches across different countries and operating contexts, ensuring staff, volunteers and people accessing support remain protected
- Understand how cultural, legal and regulatory differences can affect safeguarding practice overseas, and explore strategies for managing risks with respect to geographical and cultural context
- Explore approaches for maintaining up-to-date safeguarding policies, procedures and reporting mechanisms across international operations, aligned with local requirements and evolving risks
- Develop strategies for protecting staff, volunteers and communities operating in complex environments, ensuring safeguarding remains effective despite changing risks and external pressures
Nik Clifton, Head of Global Integrity and Safeguarding, War Child Alliance (invited)
Questions and Answers
Breakout Networking: Collaborative Solutions for Safeguarding
Join our breakout networking to connect with peers, exchange insights, share experiences, and best-practice guidance on strengthening safeguarding frameworks. Collaborate with fellow professionals to takeaway implementation strategies that have proved successful in organisations across the voluntary sector and leave with practical solutions to address pressing safeguarding challenges.
Comfort Break
Case Study: Digital Safeguarding in the Age of AI – Protecting Children and Adults from Emerging Online Risks
- Explore how AI is changing the safeguarding landscape and altering the responsibilities of voluntary organisations, including emerging risks to children, adults, staff and volunteers across the voluntary sector
- Build confidence in managing data protection, privacy and information security risks when using AI within charitable services, safeguarding and operations
- Gain insight into developing resilient AI safeguarding policies that respond to evolving risks, protect sensitive information and establish clear organisational responsibilities for safe AI use
Dan Sexton, Chief Technology Officer, Internet Watch Fund (invited)
Keynote: Measuring Safeguarding – Moving Beyond Policies to Effectiveness and Assessment
- Assess how charities can evaluate whether safeguarding is embedded in day-to-day practice, rather than existing solely within policies and procedures
- Evaluate how effectively safeguarding is embedded into organisational practice, ensuring compliance with regulatory updates, monitoring training effectiveness, and identifying when training requires review or improvement
- Examine how trustees and safeguarding leaders can ensure that safeguarding arrangements are working effectively
- Strengthen safeguarding across your organisation by using audits, feedback, quality assurance and continuous learning
Vijay Patel, Head of Safeguarding, Social Care Institute for Excellence (invited)
Questions and Answers
Chair’s Closing Remarks
Emily Konstantas, Founder and Global Chief Executive Officer, The Safeguarding Alliance (invited)
Conference Close
Get in Touch
Previous Speakers
Mazeda Alam
Head of Trustee Guidance
The Charity Commission for England and Wales
Debbie Busler
Head of Safeguarding
British Red Cross
Naomi Dickinson
CEO
Norwood
Sarah Lancaster
Director of Safeguarding
UNICEF UK
Becki Hinchliffe
Safeguarding Lead
AQA
Emily Konstantas
Founder and Global Chief Executive Officer
The Safeguarding Alliance
Testimonials
It is extremely important to keep abreast of updates in order to inform best practice – this conference helped to facilitate that for our organisation.
A great event, full of relevant information and provided lots of new ideas for me to take back to my organisation. Thorough and engaging presentations from great speakers. The event platform was fantastic and made it easy to navigate and engage.
I found the conference very useful. The range of speakers and topics provided a balanced perspective on safeguarding within the voluntary sector. The sessions were engaging and offered valuable learning points.
Brilliant – well organised. The content and speakers were incredibly knowledge and engaging. I learnt so much and I will take back to my organisation to implement. I would definitely attend again and would highly recommend any safeguarding leads.
A great opportunity to learn from other safeguarding professionals working in the voluntary sector, and to keep up to date with changes in legislation, regulation and best practice.
It is great to come together as 3rd sector safeguarding professionals.
Why You Should Attend
✓ Hear from leading safeguarding experts and gain practical insights from senior leaders and practitioners across the voluntary sector
✓ Navigate safeguarding in an evolving landscape by exploring emerging risks, current challenges and innovative approaches to protecting children and adults
✓ Stay ahead of regulatory developments with the latest safeguarding guidance and strategies to strengthen governance and move beyond compliance
✓ Networking opportunities with speakers and senior colleagues across voluntary sector organisations, building partnerships and sharing best practices to strengthen safeguarding frameworks
✓ 8 hours of CPD points towards your yearly quota
Who Should Attend
| Job Title Examples | Organisation Type Examples |
| Head of Safeguarding | Small, Medium, and Large Charities |
| HR & People Leaders | Health Care providers and adjacent organizations |
| Head of Governance and Compliance | Charities which work with vulnerable individuals |
| Volunteering Development Leads | Social Care providers |
Pricing Options
PRIVATE SECTOR
Your delegate place at this leading conference gives you: Full access to the conference; E-guide; Networking opportunities during the day; Access to presentations post conference; 8 CPD Points.
PUBLIC SECTOR
Your delegate place at this leading conference gives you: Full access to the conference; E-guide; Networking opportunities during the day; Access to presentations post conference; 8 CPD Points.
VOLUNTARY SECTOR
Your delegate place at this leading conference gives you: Full access to the conference; E-guide; Networking opportunities during the day; Access to presentations post conference; 8 CPD Points.
Sponsorship
Raise Your Profile, Showcase Your Solutions, Generate New Business
If your products, services, and solutions can support our audiences in their roles, and you want to make connections and generate new business with key stakeholders, decision makers, and influencers, then please contact us HERE
IMPORTANT: There are only a small number of sponsorship opportunities available to ensure maximum exposure and ROI – contact us today to secure your place.
Virtual vs F2F
Whilst F2F provide better options for networking, there are many distinct advantages of sponsoring our online conferences including:
- Wider geographical reach of delegates and a different audience who prefer online to f2f
- Lower sponsorship package costs
- No travel/accommodation
- Less time out of the office
- No stand materials required (lower costs)
- 1 of only 2 sponsors involved – less competition on the day
- Prime speaking slot in the morning of the conference including Q&A – less distractions and easier for delegates to hear/absorb information
- Receive all delegate data after the conference to follow-up directly with those who attend and don’t attend (small % but still key stakeholders)
- Ongoing exposure via OnDemand access
To find out more and discuss your specific objectives, please contact us below:
