Bramah HR proudly announces that the Samaritans have achieved certification under the new BSI PAS 5222: Safeguarding Children in Out of School Settings specification, becoming the first charity to do so.

4 March 2025 – Bramah HR proudly announces that the Samaritans have achieved certification under the new BSI PAS 5222: Safeguarding Children in Out of School Settings specification, becoming the first charity to do so. This landmark certification underscores the Samaritans' commitment to upholding the highest standards of safety and protection within their operations.

Introduction of BSI PAS 5222

BSI PAS 5222 is a groundbreaking framework aimed at ensuring the safeguarding and well-being of children in out of school settings. Sponsored by safeguarding expert Mark Bramah MSc of Bramah HR, this specification is developed by a multi-agency group of experts, guaranteeing its independence. The introduction of PAS 5222 highlights the vital importance of safeguarding vulnerable individuals and establishing best practices across various sectors.

Impact Across Sectors

The BSI PAS 5222 specification is crucial for:

  • Charities:Ensuring robust protection for children in charity-led activities.
  • Religious Organisations:Safeguarding children in religious events and education.
  • Business and Hospitality:Protecting children in business and hospitality environments.
  • Events Management:Ensuring safety at public and private events.
  • Security Industry:Developing child safeguarding strategies in public spaces.
  • Private Hire and Taxi Companies:Prioritising the safety of child passengers.
  • Uniformed Youth Organisations:Implementing strong safeguarding protocols for youth activities.

Statement from Mark Bramah, Director of Safeguarding & People Operations, BramahHR.

“We are thrilled to recognise the Samaritans as the first charity to attain the BSI PAS 5222 Safeguarding Children specification,” said Mark Bramah, Director of Safeguarding & People Operations at Bramah HR. “The Samaritans have demonstrated exceptional dedication in meeting the rigorous requirements of this audit. This certification signifies a pivotal advancement for the charity sector, highlighting the necessity of integrating safeguarding practices into essential business operations. The specification encourages external scrutiny and certification by BSI trained auditors. We are proud of the Samaritans' achievement in this process to certification.”

Statement from Lis Skeet, Executive Director of Operations, Samaritans.

"I am pleased to announce that Samaritans has successfully met the rigorous standards required by the newly released BSI PAS 5222: Safeguarding Children in Out of School Settings specification. This certification underscores our unwavering commitment to safeguarding the children we come into contact with.

Working alongside Mark Bramah and his dedicated team at Bramah HR and Safeguarding has beenbeneficial. Their expertise has been instrumental in helping us achieve this important milestone and the certification demonstrates our dedication to maintaining the highest standards of safety and protection.
Ultimately, this accomplishment reflects our ongoing efforts to ensure the well-being and safety of every child we come into contact with and we are proud to be leading the way in safeguarding practices.

Bramah HR, as the official auditing body, supports organisations in achieving BSI PAS 5222 certification. Our thorough audit process ensures compliance with the specification's stringent requirements.

For more information on becoming certified under BSI PAS 5222, please visit https://bramahhr.com/safeguarding-services/ or contact the team at [email protected] or 01256 578 052. 

Take a look at the Samaritans press release here; https://www.samaritans.org/news/samaritans-awarded-new-bsi-safeguarding-standard-pas5222/

By adopting the new BSI standard; PAS 5222, you commit to safeguarding children, creating safer environments, and building trust among stakeholders. Together, let’s prioritise the well-being and safety of our children in out-of- school settings. Download PAS 5222 here.