What is Safer guiding?

Safer guiding is Girlguiding’s new safeguarding training, covering the content used to form safe space levels 1, 2, and 3.

It is compulsory for new volunteers to complete, and for current volunteers to complete before their highest level of safe space training expires.

Safeguarding and promoting the safety and wellbeing of girls, young women and adults is a priority for Girlguiding.

It is at the heart of everything we do, and it’s the responsibility of every Girlguiding volunteer, member, and member of staff. 

Collectively we refer to all elements of our safe practice as ‘Safer guiding’.  This includes our requirements to complete DBS checks, report disclosures and attend relevant training.

It’s extremely important that you’re clear about your safeguarding responsibilities, and about Girlguiding’s commitment to safeguarding.  The Girlguiding website has lots of information about providing Safer Guiding.

Ensure you are familiar with Girlguiding’s procedure for managing allegations and concerns.

Are you a leader in training?

Those leaders who have previously completed Risky Business, Keeping Information Safe and a safe space level 3 won’t need to do safer guiding before starting the role of leader. If a leader in training has done a safe space level 3 but not risky business or keeping information safe, they will be required to do safer guiding, as both of these topics are now covered in the new training. 

This decision has been made to ensure all new leaders are equipped with the training they need to keep girls safe and can feel confident in understanding and applying relevant policy.

Useful links

Safeguarding and risk in your unit - click here
What to do in an emergency - click here
Reporting concerns - click here
Learning platform - click here

Safer guiding

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Safer guiding FAQ’s

  • Safer Guiding is Girlguiding’s new safeguarding training, covering the content used to form safe space levels 1, 2, and 3. It is compulsory for new volunteers to complete, and for current volunteers to complete before their highest level of safe space training expires.

  • Safer guiding can be completed as an eLearning on the learning platform. This takes approximately 3 hours to complete but does not have to be completed in one go.

    You can also attend a webinar or in-person training to complete Safer Guiding. Webinar sessions can also be booked through the learning platform. Head to learning.girlguiding.org.uk, click on ‘Find Learning’, and search ‘Safer Guiding Webinar’.

    If there isn’t a course available when you first look, please do check back as we add new course dates when they’re available.

  • You must have either valid A Safe Space or Safer guiding training, as without it you cannot volunteer.

    If you can’t do the training in time, for example because of personal circumstances, please speak to your county commissioner as soon as possible. They are there to help you and can apply for an extension if you need it.

  • Safe Space Level 4 still exists independently of Safer guiding, however this training will now only need to be completed once, and will no longer need to be renewed.

    Safe Space Level 4 trainings can still be booked through the learning platform. If there isn’t a course available when you first look, please do check back as we add new course dates when they’re available.

  • Face-to-face training is organised at county level.  Please refer to your county communications, such as, Facebook, website or newsletter, or contact your County Administrator.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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 compliance@girlguiding.org.uk before your deadline to let them know.

  • 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 membershipsystems@girlguiding.org.uk. 

    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.

  • If you have a safeguarding question or concern contact safeguarding@girlguiding.org.uk. If you have questions about the training, email volunteersupport@girlguiding.org.uk.