Freegle Wiki - User contributions [en-gb]

Role of the Safeguarding Officer

2025-05-09T13:59:09Z

Billhopkinson: Created page with "<big>Role of Safeguarding Officer * Advise and support Freegle in developing and establishing your Freegle’s approach to safeguarding. * Play a lead role in maintaining and reviewing the plan for safeguarding. * Coordinate the distribution of policies, procedures and safeguarding resources throughout your Freegle. * Advise on training needs and development, providing training where appropriate. * Provide safeguarding advice and support to staff and volunteers. * Manage..."

<big>Role of Safeguarding Officer
* Advise and support Freegle in developing and establishing your Freegle’s approach to safeguarding.
* Play a lead role in maintaining and reviewing the plan for safeguarding.
* Coordinate the distribution of policies, procedures and safeguarding resources throughout your Freegle.
* Advise on training needs and development, providing training where appropriate.
* Provide safeguarding advice and support to staff and volunteers.
* Manage safeguarding concerns, allegations or incidents reported to safeguarding.
* Manage referrals to key safeguarding agencies (eg social services or police) of any incidents or allegations of abuse and harm.
</big>

Safeguarding

2025-05-09T13:56:40Z

Billhopkinson:

Safeguarding Statement (adopted 2 April 2025 by Freegle Board):

"Freegle is committed to having due regard to issues surrounding safeguarding children and vulnerable adults in its activities. Freegle and affiliated group volunteers work primarily online and as such do not usually have any direct contact with individuals, but through referral to Safeguarding Officer will acknowledge and respond to any unsafe practices or inappropriate situations that are identified in the course of activities."

Supporting information:

*[[Safeguarding Contacts]]
*[[Safeguarding FAQ]]
*[[Safeguarding Action Plan]]
*[[Safeguarding at Events]]
*[[Role of the Safeguarding Officer]]
*[[If you have a Safeguarding Concern]]

Links: [[Age limits]]

Back to [[How To Deal With]]

[[category:Safeguarding]] [[category:Policies, Procedures, Remits]]

If you have a Safeguarding Concern

2025-05-09T13:55:40Z

Billhopkinson: Created page with "If you have a safeguarding concern, such as a child becoming open to abuse, or an older adult possibly being the victim of coercion, then you should contact the Safeguarding Officer with evidence of your concern. Not all concerns need action, but when it does, the Safeguarding Officer will either advise or contact relevant authorities."

If you have a safeguarding concern, such as a child becoming open to abuse, or an older adult possibly being the victim of coercion, then you should contact the Safeguarding Officer with evidence of your concern. Not all concerns need action, but when it does, the Safeguarding Officer will either advise or contact relevant authorities.

Safeguarding

2025-05-09T13:51:04Z

Billhopkinson:

Safeguarding Statement (adopted 2 April 2025 by Freegle Board):

"Freegle is committed to having due regard to issues surrounding safeguarding children and vulnerable adults in its activities. Freegle and affiliated group volunteers work primarily online and as such do not usually have any direct contact with individuals, but through referral to Safeguarding Officer will acknowledge and respond to any unsafe practices or inappropriate situations that are identified in the course of activities."

Supporting information:

*[[Safeguarding Contacts]]
*[[Safeguarding FAQ]]
*[[Safeguarding Action Plan]]
*[[Safeguarding at Events]]
*[[If you have a Safeguarding Concern]]

Links: [[Age limits]]

Back to [[How To Deal With]]

[[category:Safeguarding]] [[category:Policies, Procedures, Remits]]

User:Billhopkinson

2025-05-09T12:36:31Z

Billhopkinson: Created page with "Board Director, Chair of Operations Team"

Board Director, Chair of Operations Team

Safeguarding

2025-04-03T10:25:28Z

Billhopkinson:

Safeguarding Statement (adopted 2 April 2025 by Freegle Board):

"Freegle is committed to having due regard to issues surrounding safeguarding children and vulnerable adults in its activities. Freegle and affiliated group volunteers work primarily online and as such do not usually have any direct contact with individuals, but through referral to Safeguarding Officer will acknowledge and respond to any unsafe practices or inappropriate situations that are identified in the course of activities."

Supporting information:

*[[Safeguarding Contacts]]
*[[Safeguarding FAQ]]
*[[Safeguarding Action Plan]]
*[[Safeguarding at Events]]

Links: [[Age limits]]

Back to [[How To Deal With]]

[[category:Safeguarding]] [[category:Policies, Procedures, Remits]]

Safeguarding Action Plan

2025-01-08T11:31:48Z

Billhopkinson:

1. Do not investigate, this is not your responsibility. Refer or report straight away to the Freegle Safeguarding link, safeguarding@ilovefreegle.org.

2. If you feel urgent action is needed because the child or vulnerable adult is at immediate risk of harm, contact the police on 999.

3. If you need to report a crime, but it is not an emergency, phone the police on 101, All referrals, to the police or any other agency, are always taken very seriously.

Safeguarding FAQ

2025-01-08T11:29:21Z

Billhopkinson:

Any other questions you would like answered, please ask on Central.

Q. What is safeguarding?

A. Safeguarding means protecting a citizen's health, wellbeing and human rights; enabling them to live free from harm, abuse and neglect. For children this means protection of those who cannot protect themselves from predatory or manipulative adults. For adults, the Care Act 2014 defines protection for those who are vulnerable and in need of care. However, we have a duty of care which goes beyond this. Some adults are easily deceived or coerced, Freegle should ensure that no harm comes to them from offering and receiving goods. So, in practice you do not work out which adult is vulnerable, and who is not, you monitor possible coercion or manipulation

Q. What precautions do Freegle Direct take regarding safeguarding?

A. All groups hosted on Freegle Direct are covered by the Disclaimer https://www.ilovefreegle.org/disclaimer which members/users implicitly agree to when signing up through Freegle Direct. The Freegle mobile app has an age rating of 12+ / Parental Guidance. This is because the user may see content generated by other users which isn't vetted before publication.

Q. What precautions should Freegle Users take?

A. Do not allow children to post offers, or allow them to hand over offers to takers. Do not post images of children if their contact details may become available to others. Treat adults with respect, do not use coercion with someone who is easily persuadable.

Q. What actions should Moderator volunteers take?

A. Ensure that users follow the above, giving advice where necessary. Notice any offers which may suggest harm, abuse or neglect and act on anything suspicious. You are not responsible for safeguarding everyone. But, if you spot it, you call out anything which appears inappropriate back to users. If still concerned, you do not conduct your own investigations, or share a possible case with other moderators because of confidentiality issues, instead refer the evidence of the incident, without opinions, to safeguarding@ilovefreegle.org as this is what local safeguarding people prefer. If in doubt, raise it. If you are unsure, or need advice, contact safeguarding@ilovefreegle.org. http://www.microsoft.com/security/family-safety/predators.aspx informs about how child predators may work.

Back to [[Safeguarding]]
[[category:Safeguarding]]

Safeguarding Contacts

2025-01-08T11:23:58Z

Billhopkinson:

'''These contact details were correct when published here (in 2013), but of course they will change over time. If you find that any are no longer working and/or you have others to add, please edit this page yourself or pop a message on Central and someone will do it for you. Thanks.'''

Please note that although there is a comprehensive system set up for child protection, safeguarding vulnerable adults does not have the same level of mechanisms and information. If you are concerned about an adult you feel might be vulnerable, the agencies that advise on child protection will be able to help.

==National Contacts==

'''Childline''' 0800 1111 for help and advice

'''Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre - CEOP''' [http://ceop.police.uk/]- lots of information about how to keep children safe on-line

'''NSPCC''' [https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/] and [https://learning.nspcc.org.uk/]] help and advice, or tel 0808 800 5000, text 88858 or email help@nspcc.org.uk

'''Northern Ireland DHSSPS(NI)''': [https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/topics/social-services/child-protection] information and contact details for reporting child protection concerns.

'''Scotland''' - [https://www.childprotection.scot/] information on child protection in Scotland

'''England''' - [https://www.suffolk.gov.uk/children-families-and-learning/keeping-children-safe/] government link page to local council child protection contacts

'''NCVO''' - [https://www.ncvo.org.uk/help-and-guidance/safeguarding/] Resources for safeguarding children and adults

Society Secretary

2024-04-23T15:00:23Z

Billhopkinson:

Revised April 2024

ROLE

The Company Secretary is responsible for the efficient administration of Freegle as a company, particularly in regard to ensuring compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements and for ensuring that decisions of the board of directors are implemented.

BRIEF FOR NEW COMPANY SECRETARY

The rules for Company Secretary are different for public and private companies. Freegle is a private company, although a charity, because it is owned by its members.
A Company Secretary is optional for a private company (April 2008 Companies Act), because it is not owned by the public and so public disclosure of business and financial activities and performance is not required to Companies House. Freegle opts to have a Company Secretary, rule 84.

When a company secretary is appointed by the Board, Financial Conduct Authority must be notified.

The heart of the role is that Company Secretary is the guardian of the company’s proper compliance with both the law and best practice. The board will look to the company secretary for guidance on what their responsibilities are under the rules and regulations to which they are subject and on how these responsibilities should be discharged. A Company Secretary has to keep up to date on law, as advised by the FCA.

The typical roles for a Company Secretary to undertake, or oversee are:

# Maintaining the company’s statutory books, including a register of present and past directors and secretaries, minutes of general meetings and board meetings;
# Filing annual returns, AR30 form with the FCA. Other documents which should be filed include the directors’ report and financial statements, including details of the company’s assets and liabilities.
# Arranging meetings of the directors. This responsibility will involve ensuring proper notices of meetings, preparation of agenda, circulation of relevant papers, and taking and producing minutes to record the business transacted at the meetings and the decisions taken.
# Informing FCA of any significant changes in the company’s structure or management, for example the appointment or resignation of directors.
# Maintaining the company’s registered office as the address for any formal communications.
# Ensuring the security of the company’s legal documents, such as, certificate of incorporation or articles of association
# Deciding on the company’s policy for the filing and retention of documents.
# Ensuring directors comply with corporate legislation and the articles of association of the company.

The Board can from time to time vary these. Freegle adds the following to the remit of Company Secretary:
# To maintain registers of members, in accordance with Rules 95 - 97.
# Convene General Meetings, at the request of the Board of Directors, in line with requirements of Rules 22-49.
# Appointment of Returning Officers and Ombudsman, in collaboration with the Board of Directors.
# Ensure [[New Director Procedure]] is carried out.
# Ensure that an annual confirmation of affiliation process is carried out.

Links:
*[[https://discourse.ilovefreegle.org/t/freegle-needs-a-new-company-secretary/7306]] 2024 request for candidates
*[[Freegle Board]]
*[[Document Approval Policy]]
*[[Register of Members and Directors]]
*[[Company Records]]

[[category:Policies, Procedures, Remits]][[category:Freegle Board]]

Society Secretary

2024-04-23T11:54:01Z

Billhopkinson:

The Remit was agreed by the Board at their August 2014 meeting

ROLE

The Company Secretary is responsible for the efficient administration of Freegle as a company, particularly in regard to ensuring compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements and for ensuring that decisions of the board of directors are implemented.

BRIEF FOR NEW COMPANY SECRETARY

The rules for Company Secretary are different for public and private companies. Freegle is a private company, although a charity, because it is owned by its members.
A Company Secretary is optional for a private company (April 2008 Companies Act), because it is not owned by the public and so public disclosure of business and financial activities and performance is not required to Companies House. Freegle opts to have a Company Secretary, rule 84.

When a company secretary is appointed by the Board, Financial Conduct Authority must be notified.

The heart of the role is that Company Secretary is the guardian of the company’s proper compliance with both the law and best practice. The board will look to the company secretary for guidance on what their responsibilities are under the rules and regulations to which they are subject and on how these responsibilities should be discharged. A Company Secretary has to keep up to date on law, as advised by the FCA.

The typical roles for a Company Secretary to undertake, or oversee are:

# Maintaining the company’s statutory books, including a register of present and past directors and secretaries, minutes of general meetings and board meetings;
# Filing annual returns, AR30 form with the FCA. Other documents which should be filed include the directors’ report and financial statements, including details of the company’s assets and liabilities.
# Arranging meetings of the directors. This responsibility will involve ensuring proper notices of meetings, preparation of agenda, circulation of relevant papers, and taking and producing minutes to record the business transacted at the meetings and the decisions taken.
# Informing FCA of any significant changes in the company’s structure or management, for example the appointment or resignation of directors.
# Maintaining the company’s registered office as the address for any formal communications.
# Ensuring the security of the company’s legal documents, such as, certificate of incorporation or articles of association
# Deciding on the company’s policy for the filing and retention of documents.
# Ensuring directors comply with corporate legislation and the articles of association of the company.

The Board can from time to time vary these. Freegle adds the following to the remit of Company Secretary:
# To maintain registers of members, in accordance with Rules 95 - 97.
# Convene General Meetings, at the request of the Board of Directors, in line with requirements of Rules 22-49.
# Appointment of Returning Officers and Ombudsman, in collaboration with the Board of Directors.
# Ensure [[New Director Procedure]] is carried out.
# Ensure that an annual confirmation of affiliation process is carried out.

Links:
*[[https://discourse.ilovefreegle.org/t/freegle-needs-a-new-company-secretary/7306]] 2024 request for candidates
*[[Freegle Board]]
*[[Document Approval Policy]]
*[[Register of Members and Directors]]
*[[Company Records]]

[[category:Policies, Procedures, Remits]][[category:Freegle Board]]

Society Secretary

2024-04-23T11:51:45Z

Billhopkinson:

The Remit was agreed by the Board at their August 2014 meeting

ROLE

The Company Secretary is responsible for the efficient administration of Freegle as a company, particularly in regard to ensuring compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements and for ensuring that decisions of the board of directors are implemented.

BRIEF FOR NEW COMPANY SECRETARY

The rules for Company Secretary are different for public and private companies. Freegle is a private company, although a charity, because it is owned by its members.
A Company Secretary is optional for a private company (April 2008 Companies Act), because it is not owned by the public and so public disclosure of business and financial activities and performance is not required to Companies House. Freegle opts to have a Company Secretary, rule 84.

When a company secretary is appointed by the Board, FCA must be notified.

The heart of the role is that Company Secretary is the guardian of the company’s proper compliance with both the law and best practice. The board will look to the company secretary for guidance on what their responsibilities are under the rules and regulations to which they are subject and on how these responsibilities should be discharged. A Company Secretary has to keep up to date on law, as advised by the FCA.

The typical roles for a Company Secretary to undertake, or oversee are:

# Maintaining the company’s statutory books, including a register of present and past directors and secretaries, minutes of general meetings and board meetings;
# Filing annual returns, AR30 form with the FCA. Other documents which should be filed include the directors’ report and financial statements, including details of the company’s assets and liabilities.
# Arranging meetings of the directors. This responsibility will involve ensuring proper notices of meetings, preparation of agenda, circulation of relevant papers, and taking and producing minutes to record the business transacted at the meetings and the decisions taken.
# Informing FCA of any significant changes in the company’s structure or management, for example the appointment or resignation of directors.
# Maintaining the company’s registered office as the address for any formal communications.
# Ensuring the security of the company’s legal documents, such as, certificate of incorporation or articles of association
# Deciding on the company’s policy for the filing and retention of documents.
# Ensuring directors comply with corporate legislation and the articles of association of the company.

The Board can from time to time vary these. Freegle adds the following to the remit of Company Secretary:
# To maintain registers of members, in accordance with Rules 95 - 97.
# Convene General Meetings, at the request of the Board of Directors, in line with requirements of Rules 22-49.
# Appointment of Returning Officers and Ombudsman, in collaboration with the Board of Directors.
# Ensure [[New Director Procedure]] is carried out.
# Ensure that an annual confirmation of affiliation process is carried out.

Links:
*[[https://discourse.ilovefreegle.org/t/freegle-needs-a-new-company-secretary/7306]] 2024 request for candidates
*[[Freegle Board]]
*[[Document Approval Policy]]
*[[Register of Members and Directors]]
*[[Company Records]]

[[category:Policies, Procedures, Remits]][[category:Freegle Board]]

Society Secretary

2024-04-22T12:12:38Z

Billhopkinson:

The Remit was agreed by the Board at their August 2014 meeting

ROLE

The Company Secretary is responsible for the efficient administration of Freegle as a company, particularly in regard to ensuring compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements and for ensuring that decisions of the board of directors are implemented.

REMIT
*1. To maintain registers of members and directors, in accordance with Rules 95 - 97.
*2. Submit an annual return as detailed in Rules 101-103 [[Notes on Submission of the AR30 Annual Return]].
*3. Keep up to date with legislation that might impact on the operation of Freegle Ltd as a company and inform the Board of any legal changes or new requirements.
*4. Convene General Meetings, at the request of the Board of Directors, in line with requirements of Rules 22-49.
*5. Appointment of Returning Officers and Ombudsman, in collaboration with the Board of Directors.
*6. Ensure [[New Director Procedure]] is carried out.
*7. Ensure that an annual confirmation of affiliation process is carried out, via the [[Contacting Groups Procedure]].

BRIEF FOR NEW COMPANY SECRETARY

The rules for Company Secretary are different for public and private companies. Freegle is a private company, although a charity, because it is owned by its members.
A Company Secretary is optional for a private company (April 2008 Companies Act), because it is not owned by the public and so public disclosure of business and financial activities and performance is not required to Companies House. Freegle opts to have a Company Secretary, rule 84.

When a company secretary is appointed by the Board, FCA must be notified.

The heart of the role is that Company Secretary is the guardian of the company’s proper compliance with both the law and best practice. The board will look to the company secretary for guidance on what their responsibilities are under the rules and regulations to which they are subject and on how these responsibilities should be discharged. A Company Secretary has to keep up to date on law, as advised by the FCA.

The typical roles for a Company Secretary to undertake, or oversee, varying according to the decisions of the Board:

# • Maintaining the company’s statutory books, including a register of present and past directors and secretaries, minutes of general meetings and board meetings;
# • Filing annual returns, AR30 form with the FCA. Other documents which should be filed include the directors’ report and financial statements, including details of the company’s assets and liabilities.
# • Arranging meetings of the directors. This responsibility will involve ensuring proper notices of meetings, preparation of agenda, circulation of relevant papers, and taking and producing minutes to record the business transacted at the meetings and the decisions taken.
# • Informing FCA of any significant changes in the company’s structure or management, for example the appointment or resignation of directors.
# • Maintaining the company’s registered office as the address for any formal communications.
# • Ensuring the security of the company’s legal documents, such as, certificate of incorporation or articles of association
# • Deciding on the company’s policy for the filing and retention of documents.
# • Ensuring directors comply with corporate legislation and the articles of association of the company.

Links:
*[[https://discourse.ilovefreegle.org/t/freegle-needs-a-new-company-secretary/7306]] 2024 request for candidates
*[[Freegle Board]]
*[[Document Approval Policy]]
*[[Register of Members and Directors]]
*[[Company Records]]

[[category:Policies, Procedures, Remits]][[category:Freegle Board]]

Freegle Direct Events

2023-10-11T14:55:44Z

Billhopkinson: misspell

The facility of posting '''Direct events''' is available to all members who have joined a community via [https://direct.ilovefreegle.org Direct.ilovefreegle.org/]

The events are shown on the side panel to the right of the posts. They cannot be shown to Facebook users because the side panel stuff is kept by them for advertising. However, Facebook users will get sent a notification each time one is posted. 

Moderators receive an email to the owner address so that they can verify the post before allowing it. It is good practice for moderators to keep this mail in a folder, as if you later decide to remove it, you can just click on the refuse link within it.

Communities which are also on Facebook can access the events to edit or delete them themselves. [[Image:Wiki edit events.jpg|thumb|right|450x350px]]

To do this they have to be an admin on the Facebook page and log in via Freegle Direct by clicking on the log in with Facebook option.

This verifies their entitlement to alter things. 

You should arrive at the Direct page but see cogs next to any community you are an admin on. See screenshot.

 

You should also see when you click on the community you wish to alter the events with a big cross to delete and a small pencil top right to edit them. Click on this and it will take you to the form to alter anything you wish.  If you are not on Facebook and want it  removed before the expiry date and don't have this email then please mail support@ilovefreegle.org Alterations should be resubmitted and the original deleted.

 For an example Admin notice for your members about the Events facility see [[Freegle Direct Events Admin]].

For more answers to your questions about Events, have a look at Freegle Direct Moderator FAQ

 

[[Category:Freegle_Direct]]