Safeguarding concerns can arise in many forms and may not always be immediately obvious. We recognise that children and young people may experience harm in their homes, communities, educational settings, online environments or other places where they spend time.

Concerns may involve:

• Physical abuse: Deliberate physical harm, including hitting, shaking or other actions that cause injury.
• Emotional abuse: Persistent behaviour that negatively affects a child’s confidence, emotional wellbeing or development, including intimidation, humiliation, threats or rejection.
• Sexual abuse: Involving a child in sexual activity, including contact and non-contact abuse, whether in person or online.
• Neglect: The persistent failure to meet a child’s basic physical or emotional needs, potentially affecting their health, safety or development.
• Bullying, harassment or discrimination: Behaviour that causes distress, intimidation, exclusion or harm, including incidents occurring online.
• Online abuse, grooming or exploitation: Situations where technology or digital communication is used to manipulate, threaten, exploit or harm a child.
• Domestic abuse: Circumstances where a child experiences or is affected by abuse within their family or household.
• Criminal or sexual exploitation: Situations where a child is manipulated, coerced or pressured into harmful or exploitative activities.
• Inappropriate behaviour or breaches of professional boundaries: Conduct by adults or other individuals that may compromise a child’s safety or wellbeing.
• Concerns relating to a child’s home circumstances or emotional wellbeing: Situations that suggest a child may require additional protection, guidance or support.

We recognise that safeguarding concerns may arise through direct disclosures, observations, changes in behaviour, information shared by others or patterns of incidents over time.

All concerns, disclosures or allegations are treated seriously.

Where a safeguarding concern is identified, our staff and volunteers are expected to respond calmly, listen without judgement, record relevant information accurately and report the concern through the appropriate safeguarding procedures.

Staff and volunteers should not attempt to investigate allegations themselves, question children unnecessarily or make assumptions about whether abuse has occurred.

Where a child shares information about a concern, we aim to reassure them that they have done the right thing by speaking up and explain, in an age-appropriate way, what may happen next.

We will not promise absolute confidentiality where sharing information is necessary to protect someone from harm.

Where required, concerns will be referred to relevant statutory agencies, including children’s social care services or the police.

We recognise that timely action is essential. Where there is an immediate risk of serious harm, appropriate emergency action must be taken without delay.

If a child or young person is in immediate danger, emergency services should be contacted on 999.