Kondanani UK (Registered Charity in England and Wales 1113426

1. Introduction

The Trustees have adopted this safeguarding children policy and expects every adult working or helping at Kondanani UK to support it and comply with it. Consequently this policy shall apply to all persons involved in Kondanani UK, including Trustees, volunteers, representatives or anyone working on behalf of Kondanani UK. 

2. Purpose of the Policy

  • To protect children and young people who attend talks that Kondanani UK have been invited to speak at, and adults, children and young people who attend sponsored events which Kondanani UK are involved in to the extent that Kondanani UK can be held to be responsible. This includes those who are the children of adults who participate in Kondanani UK’s activities.
  • To provide all persons involved in Kondanani UK with the overarching principles that guide our approach to safeguarding and child protection. Kondanani UK believes that no child or young person should ever experience abuse or harm of any kind. We have a responsibility to promote the welfare of all children and young people and to keep them safe. We are committed to practise in a way that protects them.

3. Legal Framework

This policy has been drawn up in accordance with the following:

  • Children Act 1989Children Act 1989
  • United Convention of the Rights of the Child 1991
  • Data Protection Act 1998
  • Human Rights Act 1998
  • Sexual Offences Act 2003
  • Children Act 2004
  • Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007
  • Protection of Freedoms Act 2012
  • Children and Families Act 2014
  • Information sharing: advice for practitioners providing safeguarding services
  • Working together to safeguard children 2017
  • Special educational needs and disability (SEND) code of practice – Guidance on the special educational needs and disability (SEND) system for children and young people aged 0 to 25, from 1 September 2014
  • Children and Families Act 2014
  • Special educational needs and disability (SEND) code of practice – Guidance on the special educational needs and disability (SEND) system for children and young people aged 0 to 25, from 1 September 2014
  • Information sharing: advice for practitioners providing safeguarding services
  • Working together to safeguard children 2017

4. Other Policies

This safeguarding policy should be read together with the following policies and resources: Kondanani UK privacy policy

5. Universality of Protection

We recognise that:

  • The welfare of the child is paramount.
  • All children, regardless of race, gender, religious belief, disability, age, sexual orientation or identity have a right to equal protection from harm or abuse;
  • Some children are more vulnerable to harm as a result of their circumstances,, prior experiences, communication needs or level of dependency;
  • Working in partnership with children, young people, their parents and/or guardians, carers and agencies is essential to protecting their wellbeing.

6. Safety of children and young people

We will seek to keep children and young people safe by:

  • Valuing them, listening to and respecting them;
  • Appointing a Designated Safeguarding Officer for children and young people from within the Trustees who has undergone PVG and/or police checks under the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007;
  • Providing effective management for representatives and volunteers through supervision and support;
  • Recording and storing information professionally and securely;
  • Using our safeguarding procedures to share concerns and relevant information with agencies who need to know, and involving children, young people, parents, families and carers appropriately;
  • Recruiting representatives and volunteers safely, ensuring all necessary checks are made;
  • Using our procedures to manage any allegations against representatives and volunteers appropriately;
  • Creating and maintaining an anti-bullying environment whereby any bullying that does arise can be dealt with effectively;
  • Ensuring that we have effective complaints and whistleblowing measures in place;
  • Ensuring that we provide a safe physical environment for our children, young people, representatives and volunteers, by applying health and safety measures in accordance with the law and regulatory guidance.

7. Disclosure and barring

  • Kondanani UK participates in the following activities for children and young people: talks, sponsored activities and similar events.
  • Some of our activities may therefore require adult participants or adult leaders to undergo PVG and/or police checks under the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007. The required level of checking (if any) will broadly reflect the degree and frequency of unsupervised access given to other people’s children
  • The Trustees will take very seriously any allegation of impropriety on the part of any member of Kondanani UK. Any adult, child or young person involved with Kondanani UK who discovers anything amiss should get in touch immediately with: Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO) – Alistair Gibson – agibson@kondanani.org.uk
  • The Trustees will review the allegation and the likely risk to children or young persons and, if appropriate, will consider banning the adult, child or young person from future events and where appropriate, will report the allegation to the UK Police and any other relevant authorities.

8. Photographing children

People must expect to have their photograph taken at many of our events and we reserve the right to publish suitable photographs of those attending, along with the names of members involved.

Other contact details

  • CEOP www.ceop.police.uk
  • NSPCC Helpline 08088005000

We are committed to reviewing our policy and good practice annually. Policy Date: 1 August 2023