Saffron BASEN

Powered by the #TogetherWeCan movement, and the SaffronSACAP objective; ’To improve collaborative mechanisms for the safeguarding of African children and vulnerable adults, by gathering, sharing information, promoting and facilitating practice improvement between statutory bodies, education, organisations, local and faith communities’.

‘Saffron Black African Safeguarding Engagement Network’ (SaffronBASEN) facilitates a dedicated fast-growing global network of black and African organisations committed to strengthen the voices of marginalised communities, promoting diversity, equality, inclusion, promoting cultural awareness and integration. Though business and socio-economic partnerships and collaborations, the network actively contributes to sustainable improvements of economic, social and environmental circumstances.  Saffron continues to draw up a common front; improving the safety, health and well-being of Black African children (BAC); by taking every action to promote their welfare, protect them from harm, maltreatment, and every form of abuse.  Hence enabling BAC children to grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care, meet their aspirations, develop their potentials and bringing about the best outcomes; whilst tackling the shared safeguarding social problems and issues that affect black, African children, young people, vulnerable adults and families in the UK, Africa and the global village.

OUR VISION

To increase awareness of child protection and safeguarding issues amongst African communities; Bridging the Gap’ between social care agencies & Black African communities.

Aims and Objectives

Powered by the #TogetherWeCan movement, Saffron BASEN facilitates a dedicated network of black and African organisations working together with a collective interest to:

  • Raising Awareness of Safeguarding & Child Protection in Diverse Communities
  • Advocacy for coordinated Diversity, Equality and Inclusion in Local, National & International Policy Development  
  • Promote cultural awareness, integration and development an understanding of shared Safeguarding issues that impact black, African children, young people, vulnerable adults and families in the UK, Africa and the global village.
  • Provision of training and develop tools in addressing sensitive and difficult Safeguarding & Child Protection Issues
  • Increase knowledge and understanding of government policies, legislation, strategies and initiatives to safeguard children and families
  • Forge Member Partnership opportunities, Collaborations, Engagement and Training Events among members
  • Signpost Enquires to relevant member and external organisations, including government/private funding resources and fundraising events dedicated to projects for black African communities.
  • Undertake research and produce reports on issues Specific to Black African Communities including government policies, legislation, strategies and interventions.

Focus Work Streams

  • Network members will facilitate and deliver through advocacy, influencing and direct work on these primary work streams listed below (these are not exhaustible; we are open to add other focus work streams as they become social issues within our communities).
    • Developing Safeguarding, Child Protection Awareness, Support & Interventions within the Community including, Businesses, Sports, Youth and Faith Organisations
    • Supporting Education, Mobilisation, Skills development and Training Events for all
    • Advocating services and interventions for, Youth Engagement, Empowerment, Victim Support and Protection
    • Influencing Diversity, Equality and Inclusion in Education, Immigration, Social Welfare, Criminal Justice System and Policy Development  
    • Influencing Cultural and Religious Sensitivity, awareness and integration
    • Develop Tools in Addressing Sensitive and Difficult Safeguarding & Child Protection Issues
    • Influencing and Advocacy on Policies, legislation, Reports, strategies and initiatives
    • Promoting Engagement, Partnerships, Collaborations, Funding resources and Events,
    • Influencing and Developing Research, reports, policies, legislation etc.

We would know Saffron BASEN is achieving its aims and objectives by:

  • Increased Community awareness and engagement in Safeguarding & Child Protection support & interventions
  • Increased delivery and community engagement in Education, Mobilisation, Skills development and Training Events
  • Increase in accessible community services and interventions for Victim Support, Protection and projects working in affected communities
  • Recognisable evidence of better government Cultural and Religious Sensitivity, engagement, integration of Diversity, Equality and Inclusion of Black African views in local, regional and national Policy Development and Tools in addressing Sensitive and Difficult Safeguarding & Child Protection Issues within black African groups and communities
  • Increase in Research commissioning, published reports, policies, legislation strategies and initiatives tackling Sensitive and Difficult Safeguarding & Child Protection Issues
  • Increase in membership Engagement, Partnerships, Collaborations, statutory agencies and mainstream NGOs, Funding resources and Events highlighting Safeguarding & Child Protection and identified community Issues
  • Increased recognition of the network’s, partnerships, collaborations and various funding body’s awareness of the roles and activities of various members and how they engage with black, African groups and communities

Saffron BASEN Membership Criteria and Categories

SaffronBASEN membership is a social enterprise, which means that all profits are reinvested into the network programmes.  SBASEN is run mostly by volunteers and survives through membership fees, government funding initiatives, donations and crowdfunding.

SaffronBASEN membership encompasses a wide representation of black owned businesses, UK registered charities, community interest groups, youth, parents, statutory bodies, key stakeholder organisations, government agencies, local authorities, safeguarding partnerships, professionals religious leaders and community groups with a primary motivation, working uniquely to solve shared safeguarding social problems and issues that affect black, African children, young people, vulnerable adults, families and communities.  Members embrace collaborative and partnership approaches to promote safeguarding child protection awareness, develop essential protocols, engagement tools, training and events.

The network undertakes research on issues specific to black African communities including, advocacy and promoting government policies, legislation, strategies and initiatives to ensure that our grass root organisations are fully equipped and confident when addressing sensitive and difficult issues relating to the ‘safeguarding agenda’.

Membership: Activities

Our members must demonstrate their ongoing work or interest in the following key activities

  • Policy Influencing and Advocacy
  • Prevention, Community Awareness, Education and Mobilisation
  • Research
  • Victim Support and Protection
  • Training and Skills Building for Agencies

Membership Criteria and Categories

Saffron continues to steer cultural sensitivity and integration through our #TogetherWeCan partnership programs and collaborations.  

Essential Criteria for Membership: There are three levels of membership; Partners, Collaborators and Sponsors.  Network members would need to provide evidence of their on-going work or interest in SaffronBASEN Focus Work Streams

Membership for Partners is opened, for a nominal fee, renewable each year based on participation, to registered charities in the UK, black business, academic researchers, statutory agencies, including mainstream national and international NGOs seeking collaborative opportunities with other membership groups.

We Expect all Partners to:

  • Engage in and represent their organisations at all advocacy activities, training and events organised by the Network
  • Share information with other members and resources on subjects of interest
  • Contribute to the bi-monthly E-Briefing on current and relevant subjects with opportunities for organisations to be featured
  • Promote the SSBASEN and its work to partner agencies, local, regional, national and international stakeholders
  • Actively engage in Network activities by attending all quarterly meetings a year, respond to communication, provide feedback on consultations and provide regular updates on their work as required
  • Actively build partnerships and collaborations with other members and membership groups.

Membership Benefits for Partners

  • Opportunity to attend Quarterly meetings, seminars and briefing sessions, with expert speakers on various SSBASEN related topics.
  • Opportunity to network with key policy-makers and be involved in national, regional and international social policy activities
  • Free access to all communications produced by SSBASEN, including monthly E-Briefing on topical and relevant subjects with opportunities for organisations to be featured
  • Participation in BASNET Working Groups and collaborative opportunities on community led projects.

Membership for Collaborators

Free and registration is renewable each year based on participation, to charities, black owned businesses, community interest groups, youth, parents, professionals, religious groups and leaders, including mainstream national and international NGOs seeking collaborative opportunities with other membership groups; with a primary motivation, working uniquely to solve shared safeguarding social problems and issues that affect black, African children, young people, vulnerable adults, families and communities.  Members embrace collaborative and partnership approaches to promote safeguarding child protection awareness, develop essential protocols, engagement tools, training and events.

We Expect all Collaborators to:

  • Engage in and represent their organisations at all advocacy activities, training and events organised by the Network
  • Share information with other members and resources on subjects of interest
  • Contribute to the quarterly E-Briefing on current and relevant subjects with opportunities for organisations to be featured
  • Promote the SSBASEN and its work to other black owned businesses,community interest groups, youth, parents, professionals, religious groups and leaders,
  • Actively engage in Network activities by attending all quarterly meetings, respond to communication, provide feedback on consultations and provide regular updates on their work as required
  • Actively build collaborations with other membership groups.

Membership Benefits for Collaborators

  • Opportunity to attend Quarterly meetings, seminars and briefing sessions, with expert speakers on various SSBASEN related topics.
  • Opportunity to network with key policy-makers and be involved in national, regional and international social policy activities
  • Free access to some identified training and ONE network event and all communications produced by SSBASEN, including quarterly E-Briefing on topical and relevant subjects with opportunities for organisations to be featured
  • Participation in BASNET Working Groups and collaborative opportunities on community led projects.

Membership for Sponsors is free and renewable each year based on participation, to charities, black owned businesses, community interest groups, youth, parents, professionals, religious groups and leaders, including mainstream national and international NGOs seeking collaborative opportunities with other membership groups; with a primary motivation, working uniquely to solve shared safeguarding social problems and issues that affect black, African children, young people, vulnerable adults, families and communities.  Members embrace collaborative and partnership approaches to promote safeguarding child protection awareness, develop essential protocols, engagement tools, training and events.

Brand Visibility:

In return for a ‘Partnership and Collaboration Agreement’, the SSBASEN team under the #TogetherWeCan flagship, will work tirelessly to increase your brand awareness and visibility in all our programmes.  We will display your brand image (organisation’s logo) on all our social media platforms and website as a ‘Child Focused and Socially Conscious Organisation’; bringing you new client interests and improving relationships with existing clients.  This will also give your employees a sense of fulfilment as working for employers who strive to ‘Make a Difference in communities’

How To Become A Member of SaffronSBASEN

Complete the application form below to become a member of Saffron Black African Safeguarding Engagement Network’ (SaffronBASEN)Please ensure you have filled in every field before pressing “submit” button.  Your application will be reviewed by the Network Secretariat who will be in touch to finalise your membership.