Safer guiding training

What's safer guiding training?

Safer guiding is our safeguarding training and will help you to:

• Understand your role in safeguarding and what to do.
• Learn about our approach to health and safety and your responsibilities.
• Find out all about data protection and what you need to do.
• Include everyone.

There are 2 types of safer guiding training – safer guiding and safer guiding basics. The one you’ll do will be based on your role.

For anyone volunteering with girls

If you have any contact with girls you’ll need to do the safer guiding course. This has 4 topics and replaces a safe space levels 1, 2 and 3.

This e-learning takes about 3 hours and is divided into smaller modules. It’s designed for you to dip in and out of and it’ll save your progress along the way. We wouldn’t recommend completing this all in one go but make sure you allow plenty of time to complete it before your deadline.

At the end of each of the 4 topics there's a quiz for you to do. You must pass each quiz to complete the course.  

If you prefer to complete a trainer-led session instead of the e-learning, you can book this through the learning platform. These sessions take around 4-5 hours.

For those without direct contact with girls

You'll need to do safer guiding basics - a shorter version of the safer guiding training. It's required instead for a small number of non-girl-facing roles.

This takes around 45 minutes to complete and there's no quiz attached to it.

You can complete the training on the learning platform.

Which training do I need to do?

Check the lists below to find out which volunteer roles need to do which training.

When do I need to do the training?

Existing volunteers​ 

If you’re an existing volunteer who has previously completed a safe space training, you only need to do the new course when your highest level of a safe space expires. So if you have a safe space levels 1 and 2, you’ll only need to do safer guiding once your level 2 expires. 

You can of course do safer guiding any time after launch. You’ll need to renew it every 3 years.

New volunteers 

Any new volunteers have 40 days to complete the training once you’ve been assigned a role.

Unit requirements 

There will need to be at least 1 leader per unit (leader, assistant leader, leader in training) with either an in-date a safe space level 3 or safer guiding at each meeting.  

People visiting a unit once, for example an expert or community leader, don’t need to complete the training. But they should be aware of the importance of our safeguarding practices and follow the guidance and checklist found on the visitors to your meetings webpage. 

To put parents on a rota at the units, you should follow the guidance on involving parents.

Other trainings

A safe space level 4

This is for anyone taking on a commissioner role. It’s also for trainers delivering a safe space level 4, safeguarding leads and a safe space advisers. You’ll only need to do this training once and there's no renewal.

Commissioners will need to complete level 4 before being assigned a commissioner role.

There may be volunteers in other roles that may find this training useful, for example, contingent management and support teams leading a national contingent to international events.

Take a look at our learning platform to see what level 4 sessions are running. You can attend the session as a webinar or face to face session.

A safe space for under 18s

This training is for our young members aged 10-17. Find all the information you need on the a safe space for under 18s webpage.

Questions you may have

If I've done my a safe space training. Do I need to do the new safer guiding training?

Yes, but only when your highest level of a safe space expires. For example, if you have a safe space levels 1 and 2, you’ll only need to do safer guiding once your level 2 expires.

What happens after I’ve done the safer guiding training?

Once you’ve completed safer guiding, it will show on your GO record and on the learning platform. You’ll need to renew it every 3 years but don’t worry, we’ll send you a reminder.

I’m having issues completing the training. How can I get help?

If you’re worried about completing the training or have difficulty accessing what you need to, please speak to your commissioner so they can help you.

If there are other reasons you can’t complete the training, such as personal circumstances, accessibility needs, or there are no trainings you can attend before your deadline, email [email protected] before your deadline to let them know.

I've completed the training but it's not showing on my GO record. What should I do?

If you've completed an e-learning but it’s not recorded on GO, check that you have fully completed all parts of the e-learning and the course is showing as complete. It might take up to 24 hours to sync across to GO. If you have any issues, please contact [email protected]. 

If you attended a face-to-face training or webinar and it’s not on your GO record, please contact whoever organised the training. You should have received an email confirmation with a contact.

Any further questions?

If you have a safeguarding question or concern contact [email protected]. If you have questions about the training, email [email protected].