WHAT DRIVES US?

About us

We are humanitarians and we want to see the world become a more just and fair place.
Until we get there we’ll keep on helping organisations who are working towards that goal.

About us

Humanitarian, development, and civil society work is challenging. We work to make it safer for people delivering such support in unstable places. We know the work we do is important and we know we have an obligation to do it as well as possible.

We prepare staff to deliver programmes in difficult security situations; to make good decisions about staff safety in the moment; and to plan for and respond well in a crisis.

We’ve been there, we know how difficult all these things can be. Crucial Safety was established to help staff meet these needs efficiently and cost-effectively.

We do our best to reach everyone who wants training and support, whether local, national or international staff, and that’s one of the reasons we’ve put so much time into developing online training courses. We want to deliver excellence and make sure as many people as possible stay as safe as possible.

How we work

Our mission

What we do

Our values

Our founder

Our founder, Ian Woodmansey, has been working with humanitarian and development organisations since 1994, including in senior field and headquarters positions. He has worked in numerous conflict-affected countries for the UN, ICRC, MSF-Holland, Oxfam GB, GIZ, and other smaller agencies. His most recent overseas deployment was as a Country Security Coordinator for an international NGO in Ukraine.

Ian’s roles in the humanitarian world include those of RedR UK’s Country Director in South Sudan and RedR’s Global Security Manager – and Lead Security Trainer – in the UK. He now works independently and has trained thousands of aid and development workers – local, national and international – in security management and crisis management. He is a consultant to numerous organisations around the world.

Ian leads trainings and consultancies for governments, charities, and the private sector in conflict and post-conflict contexts, advising organisations and individuals how to work safely and effectively in challenging situations. Through his experience of working across the globe, he has a keen understanding of what is needed to manage security well and how to respond effectively in a crisis.

Ian holds a Master’s Degree in International Development. He is certified by the Institute of Risk Management, is a Member of the Security Institute, an Associate Member of the Business Continuity Institute and a Professional Member of the Institute for Operational Risk. He is an INSSA Certified Country-level Security Risk Management Professional; an Individual Affiliate Member of the Global Interagency Security Forum; and a RedR UK Member and Associate Trainer.

Ian has been a director of IGHW Consultancy Ltd. since 2017 and established Crucial Safety as a way to bring online and classroom-centred training, consultancy, and mentoring under the same roof. For further information about how Crucial Safety can help you contact us.

We promise that ...

Previous clients

Join the security management club

Become a member of the club and receive tip sheets, breaking news, information on new webinars and trainings, and essential info on security and crisis management