The year started with a level of uncertainty while we waited to find out whether we would get additional funding for the service. Our previous director moved on from her position in February while this month also saw the official launch of the Safe Network Standards, which have gone on to be a core part of Safe Network and have been used by lots of groups and individuals, being downloaded nearly 10,000 times since launch.

Simon Massey became the Head of Safe Network in March just as we found out that we had secured an additional two years funding from the Department for Education - this was excellent news. Children England and NSPCC welcomed the Child Accident Prevention Trust (CAPT) as a new strategic partner. 

Day to day 'business as usual'

The new partnership meant that mentoring opportunities for commissioners of services were scoped and planned; the 'Making the Link' website became part of Safe Network; Regional Development Managers continued to engage with Local Safeguarding Children Boards (LSCB's), voluntary sector groups and other partners in their areas; safeguarding champions were recruited, trained and supported across the country; new resources were developed for the Safe Network website; and regular e-newsletters from all the partners were distributed to increasing numbers as the year went on.

Significant developments during 2011

The production of the 'Safe organisation, safe children' modular training learning resource.  This package will assist those wanting to train a group of people (from one organisation or a number of different ones) on the subject of child safeguarding - it directly links to the Safe Network Standards in an attempt to provide up a joined up approach for groups to use.

The Safe Network website traffic increased as the year progressed. New resources were developed and promoted by community-based activity, other groups using links to the sites and the e-newsletters.  The Safe Network traffic was averaging over 20,000 hits per month towards the end of the year with the newsletter going out to over 4,000 recipients each month.  The Making the Link website also saw a large increase in traffic over the course of the year.

Work with LSCBs went from strength to strength with positive working relationships being developed including the endorsement of the core safeguarding standards in a number of areas and working together using the core standards as a template to provide guidance and support to the voluntary and community sector.

Live Twitter safeguarding advice sessions took place in October and November with the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) taking part as our 'guest expert' in November.  We responded to 10 enquiries the first time and 19 the second - a summary of these can be found here.

Plans for 2012

• Building on the above! 
• Twitter sessions will become a regular activity alongside new resources on the Safe Network website - including working with rural communities and supporting children and young people living with deafness to name two. 
• Regional Development Managers, champions and CAPT workshops / mentoring opportunities will offer support, training and guidance across the country
• We will be working closely with other organisations to promote safeguarding in the voluntary sector including the ISA, Charity Commission, Home-Start and other national organisations.
• The Safe Network Standards are being reviewed and the 2012 version should be available around March

Get involved

We are always keen to hear from individuals or groups who we could work with - you could be a small group, an umbrella body or an LSCB but please get in touch if you have any ideas.