SAFEGUARDING POLICY

Bridges to Belarus works with children and families as part of its activities.  We support over 800 children, their families and the local community including schools, old people's homes and a day centre for young adults with learning difficulties, with guidance from Sails for Childhood, a charity based in Rogachev, Belarus.

The purpose of this policy statement is: 

  • to protect children and young people who receive support from our services; this includes the children of adults who use our services 

  • to provide parents, staff and volunteers with the overarching principles that guide our approach to child protection.

This policy statement applies to anyone working on behalf of Bridges to Belarus, the board of trustees and volunteers.

We believe that:

  • children and young people should never experience abuse of any kind

  • we have a responsibility to promote the welfare of all children and young people, to keep them safe and to practise in a way that protects them.

We recognise that:

  • the welfare of the child is paramount

  • all children, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation have a right to equal protection from all types of harm or abuse

  • some children are additionally vulnerable because of the impact of previous experiences, their level of dependency, communication needs or other issues

  • working in partnership with children, young people, their parents, carers and other agencies is essential in promoting young people’s welfare. 

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

  • valuing, listening to and respecting them

  • appointing a lead trustee for safeguarding

  • developing child protection and safeguarding policies and procedures which reflect best practice

  • 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

  • creating and maintaining an anti-bullying environment and ensuring that we have a policy and procedure to help us deal effectively with any bullying that does arise

  • recruiting trustees and volunteers safely, ensuring all necessary checks are made

  • using our procedures to manage any allegations against trustees and volunteers appropriately

  • ensuring that we have effective complaints and whistleblowing measures in place

  • ensuring that we provide a safe physical environment for our children, young people and volunteers

  • recording and storing information professionally and securely.

In addition to our safeguarding policy, Bridges to Belarus has the added measures in place to protect the children that we work with and ensure that we are always working in their best interests:

  • No volunteers alone with children (or vulnerable adults) at any time

  • No travelling (e.g. to Belarus from the UK) with individuals under the age of 18 years old or vulnerable adults who are unable to fully consent and understand the complexities of the trip

  • Disclosures of abuse from children and adults to follow local protocol depending on where they were made (geographical location) and to escalate along local authority guidelines to ensure safety of the person making the disclosure at all times, ensuring that local laws are abided by

  • Any concerns to be escalated to the Trustees promptly and to local leads, as soon as possible 

  • No photography of children without parental consent

  • No photography of children which fall within the remit of intimate images (see https://childlawadvice.org.uk/information-pages/sexting/)

Adopted by the Trustees: April 2021
Due for Review: April 2024