Safeguarding
This page aims to explain how as a charity we protect the people who: benefit from the charity’s work; and those who volunteer and work to support its mission.
This page will explain how safeguarding concerns can be raised, how allegations and incidents are handled and how the charity responds to these, including reporting to the relevant authorities.
This page gives particular mention to the risks to children and young people and intends to provide guidance and overarching principles to guide the charity’s approach to protection.
This page was last updated on the 17th of September 2021 and the guidance and principles it outlines applies to trustees, staff, volunteers and anyone working on behalf of or representing the charity.
Our details
Legal Name
Caring Kits for Kids
Charity Number.
Address
Lead trustee for safeguarding and child protection
Dr Gayle Hann
safeguarding@caringkitsforkids.org.uk
Reporting safeguarding concerns
If you think someone is in immediate danger, please contact the emergency services by telephoning 999.
The charity takes very seriously any allegation of impropriety on the part of any trustee, staff member, volunteer or anyone acting on the behalf of the charity.
Anyone who discovers anything amiss should get in touch immediately with Gayle Hann, the charity’s Safeguarding Officer.
If anyone feels unable to report an incident to the charity. They can make a report to the police or local child protection services, or by contacting the NSPCC’s Whistleblowing Advice Line:
Telephone: 0800 028 0285
Email: help@nspcc.org.uk
The risks to children and young people
No one should ever experience abuse of any kind especially children and young people.
The charity recognises the importance of educating its volunteers, staff and trustees of situations where children and young people need protection.
We make our volunteers, staff and trustees aware of situations where children and young people need protection including but not limited to:
- Sexual abuse;
- Grooming;
- Physical and emotional abuse and neglect;
- Domestic violence;
- Inappropriate supervision by staff or volunteers;
- Bullying, cyber bullying, acts of violence and aggression within our schools and campuses;
- Victimisation;
- Self-harm;
- Unsafe environments and activities;
- Crime; and
- Exploitation
The charity recognises the importance of recognising risks to children and young people.
Protecting people who benefit from the charity’s work
As a charity we recognise that the children, young people and expectant mothers who receive our kits are receiving them at a scary, uncertain and bewildering time.
We have therefore taken measures to isolate them from further harm. We have ensure our volunteers, staff and trustees, through their roles at the charity1, have limited knowledge of and no direct contact with anyone who receives our kits.
This is made possible thanks to the help of the hospitals we work with, who distribute our kits on our behalf.
This helps us to not only protect the children, young people and expectant mothers who receive our kits but also helps us protect our trustees, staff and volunteers from undue influence, pressure and harm.
Protecting the people who work and volunteer to further the charity’s work
Health and Safety at Charity Events
Before starting any event, event organisers will have carried out a risk assessment and taken steps to minimise the risks to health and safety.
Parents and children will be made especially aware of any particular risks and of the steps taken to minimise those risks. The charity will keep a record of all risk assessments.
Photography at Charity Events
No photos will be published of anyone attending an event or activity without their permission.
In the case of those under the age of 18, a person with parental responsibility will need to have provided prior written consent for photos to be taken – in addition to providing permission for them to be subsequently published.
Only those authorised by the charity to take photographs should be taking photographs at charity events.
If any person has any concerns regarding any person taking photos at an event or activity, that person should contact the event organiser or the charity immediately.
Bullying at Charity Events
We will not tolerate the bullying of children either by adults or by other children. If any incident of child-on-child bullying should arise at a the Charity event, those involved will be separated immediately and the parents of the children involved
will be asked to deal with the matter. The Board will review all incidents of child-on-child bullying and assess the likely future risk to children. If appropriate, the Board will consider banning a child from future events, but only in full accordance with the rules and procedures of the Charity. Allegations of adults bullying children will be dealt with in accordance with this Policy.
Managing Behaviour, Discipline and Acceptable Restraint
Adults supervising children at charity events must never use any form of corporal punishment.
If physical restraint is absolutely necessary to prevent injury to any person or to prevent serious damage to property, then the minimum necessary restraint may be used — but for that purpose only.
Attending charity events
There are two kinds of events/activities:
- those open to adults and children of all ages;
- those for children accompanied by a ‘parent’ or ‘guardian’
Fundraising activities such as sponsored walks and events open to all ages, children under 16 must be accompanied throughout by an adult over the age of 18 who not only brings the child but also takes the child home again afterwards.
Young people aged 16 or 17 may attend unaccompanied if they bring the written consent and mobile telephone number of one of their parents.
At events and activities for children accompanied by a ‘parent’, children under 16 must be supervised throughout the event by an adult over the age of 18 who not only brings the child to the event but also takes the child home again afterwards. If a lone adult brings more than one child, then the children will have to stay together, so that the one adult can supervise them. Young people aged 16 or 17 may attend unaccompanied if they bring the written consent and mobile telephone number of one of their parents.
The charity will not be organising events aimed at the participation of unaccompanied children and therefore there will not be a requirement for staff to undertake DBS checks. Should children be present at events, parents and carers will be informed that they will be responsible for their supervision at all times.
How allegations are handled
Allegations will be handled and dealt with sensitively and promptly, regardless of where the alleged incident took place.
How incidents are handled
Incidents will be appropriately reviewed.
Reporting allegations and incidents to the relevant authorities
The charity will notify the police, social care and/or the local authority’s designated officer for child protection, in the event that a safeguarding allegation involving children is made against someone who is employed in another role or position which brings them into contact with children.
1. Trustees, volunteers or staff may hold other positions or roles that mean they have direct contact or knowledge of who is receiving kits.
