Safeguarding Policy

Enactus UK&I and NextGenLeaders are committed to ensuring the health, safety, and well-being of all participants and personnel, regardless of age, gender, stage of development, disability, sexual orientation, religion, culture, or ethnicity. This policy applies to all individuals involved in our programmes, including children, young people, and adults.

We believe that everyone has the right to a safe and secure environment free from harm or abuse. This is a proactive policy designed to prevent harm, injury, or abuse and to ensure swift, decisive action to counteract any danger.

We will:

  • Treat all people with respect and dignity.

  • Carefully recruit and select all personnel and participants in leadership positions.

  • Respond to concerns and allegations appropriately.

  • Share information about safeguarding concerns with agencies as required.

  • Provide effective management for all participants, mentors, and personnel through support and training.

Definitions of Key Terms and Abuse

  • Child: Anyone under the age of 18, as defined by the Children Act 1989 and 2004.

  • Vulnerable Adult: Anyone over 18 who may require community care services due to mental or physical disability, illness, or age, and who may be unable to care for or protect themselves from harm or exploitation.

  • Safeguarding: All actions taken to promote the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and protect them from harm. This includes preventing impairment of health or development, ensuring they are growing up in circumstances consistent with safe and effective care, and taking action to enable them to have optimal life chances.

  • Child Protection: The specific measures taken when there are concerns that a child is suffering or is at risk of suffering significant harm.

Legal Context

Our commitment to safeguarding is underpinned by key legislation and guidance. This policy has been created in line with the principles of the Children Act 1989 and 2004, the Care Act 2014, and the statutory guidance Working Together to Safeguard Children. Our procedures are designed to meet or exceed legal and regulatory requirements, ensuring a safe and compliant environment for everyone in our programmes.

Types of Abuse and Associated Signs

Abuse can take many forms and may involve a single act or an ongoing pattern of behavior. It can occur in a family, in an institution, or in a community setting.

  • Physical Abuse: Causing physical harm or injury.

    • Signs: Unexplained injuries (bruises, cuts, burns, fractures), flinching at touch, fear of certain people, withdrawal, wearing inappropriate clothing to cover marks.

  • Emotional Abuse: Persistent emotional ill-treatment causing severe adverse effects on an individual's emotional development.

    • Signs: Low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, sudden changes in behavior, withdrawal or being overly aggressive, seeking excessive attention, developmental delays, self-harm.

  • Sexual Abuse: Forcing or enticing an individual to engage in sexual activity, or observing sexual acts.

    • Signs: Difficulty walking or sitting, torn, stained, or bloody underwear, pain or itching in the genital area, unusual knowledge of sexual matters, nightmares, withdrawal or aggressive behavior, and fear of certain individuals.

  • Neglect: The persistent failure to meet an individual's basic physical or psychological needs.

    • Signs: Poor personal hygiene, inadequate clothing for weather, consistent hunger, untreated medical conditions, regularly left unsupervised, developmental delays, and truancy.

  • Online Abuse/Exploitation: Abuse occurring through digital channels, including grooming, cyberbullying, or exposure to inappropriate content.

    • Signs: Secretive use of devices, receiving gifts from unknown sources, distress after being online, reluctance to talk about online activities, and sudden changes in online friends or behavior.

  • Financial/Economic Exploitation: Misusing or stealing a vulnerable person's money, property, or possessions.

    • Signs: Unexplained withdrawals, a sudden inability to pay bills, unusual changes in bank accounts, sudden changes in living conditions, and a lack of personal items

Risks to Participants

All individuals, especially children and vulnerable adults, can face various risks within any programme. To proactively address these risks, we have implemented the following core principles and corresponding mitigation actions.

  • Online grooming or sexual exploitation: Password-protected pages; parental approval for data; minimal data collection.

  • Access to harmful or inappropriate content: Curated educational content; pop-up warnings on external links advising adult consultation.

  • Encouraging excessive risk-taking or unhealthy behaviour: Our toolkits advise participants to seek appropriate adult approval before engaging in risky actions.

  • Economic exploitation or unfair commercial pressure: We promote various forms of meaningful action beyond fundraising, including advocacy and awareness.

Working with Children and Vulnerable Adults

All staff, volunteers, and partners working with children and vulnerable adults within Enactus UK&I and NextGenLeaders programmes must adhere to the following guidelines:

  • Recognise their position of trust.

  • Use appropriate language and behaviour.

  • Avoid inappropriate physical contact.

  • Do not tolerate bullying or unkind behaviour.

  • Maintain confidentiality while prioritising welfare.

  • Avoid contact outside approved activities.

  • Do not share personal social media information.

Physical Contact Guidelines

Our personnel and volunteers should always maintain appropriate professional boundaries. The use of physical contact is to be avoided wherever possible and should only be used to prevent harm or offer aid in an emergency. Staff should avoid giving hugs or other forms of physical reassurance that could be misinterpreted, especially with young people. If a child or vulnerable adult initiates contact, staff should gently but firmly redirect to a non-physical alternative, such as a handshake or a high-five.

Safer Recruitment and Supervision

We implement rigorous safer recruitment and ongoing supervision practices for all personnel.

  • All staff working directly with children and young people must hold an enhanced DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check and complete appropriate safeguarding training.

  • All volunteers and programme delivery partners must complete our safeguarding training and sign our Code of Conduct.

  • They must be fully aware of how to report a concern.

Responding to Disclosures

If a participant discloses abuse or neglect, staff, volunteers, and partners must follow these critical steps:

  1. Listen carefully and take it seriously: Create a safe space for them to speak without interruption or judgment.

  2. Record what is said as soon as possible: Document the exact words used, the date, time, and any other relevant details.

  3. Report to the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) promptly: Do not delay in sharing the information with the designated person.

  4. Keep the individual safe and informed: Ensure their immediate safety and reassure them that you are taking their concerns seriously.

  5. Do not promise confidentiality or ask leading questions: Explain that you cannot keep secrets if it means someone might be at risk. Avoid asking questions that suggest an answer or influence their account.

Record Keeping

Accurate, factual, and timely record-keeping is essential for effective safeguarding. All concerns, disclosures, and subsequent actions must be documented on the designated reporting form provided by Enactus UK&I/NextGenLeaders.

  • Storage and Access: All safeguarding records are confidential and will be stored securely, either in a locked cabinet or on a password-protected, encrypted digital system, accessible only by authorized personnel.

Lead for Safeguarding

The Lead for Safeguarding holds a critical role in upholding this policy. Their responsibilities include:

  • Monitoring and accurately recording all safeguarding concerns.

  • Referral of concerns to statutory agencies (e.g., local authority children's services, police) promptly and appropriately.

  • Liaising effectively with external organizations involved in child protection.

  • Providing comprehensive and up-to-date safeguarding training to all relevant personnel.

  • Reviewing and updating this policy annually to ensure it remains current and effective.

The Lead for Safeguarding for Enactus UK&I is Amy Brereton, Executive Director. Email: Abrereton@enactus.org

Policy Review and Approval

This policy will be reviewed annually in September by the Lead for Safeguarding to ensure it remains effective and compliant with current legislation and best practices. Any proposed updates will be presented to and approved by the Senior Management Team and the Board of Trustees.

  • Last Updated: September 2025

Approval

This policy has been signed on behalf of the Board by: Amy Brereton Executive Director