Safeguarding

Our details

Legal Name

Caring Kits for Kids

Charity Number.

1193173

Address

3 Swaythling Road
West End

Southampton, SO30 3AE

United Kingdom

Lead trustee for safeguarding and child protection

Dr Gayle Hann

safeguarding@caringkitsforkids.org.uk

Reporting safeguarding concerns

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.

Gayle Hann

Safeguarding Officer

safeguarding@caringkitsforkids.org.uk

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 0285Email: help@nspcc.org.uk

The risks to children and young people

As a charity we recognise that the children, young people and expectant mothers who

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 schools and campuses;
• Victimisation;
• Self-harm;
• Unsafe environments and activities;
• Crime; and
• Exploitation

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 ensured our volunteers, staff and trustees, through their roles at the charity, have limited knowledge of and no direct contact with anyone who receives our kits.

This is only 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:

1. those open to adults and children of all ages;
2. 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.