Our Safeguarding Commitment

• Social Enterprise 18 Academy is fully committed to safeguarding all children and young people in our programmes.

• We create a welcoming, secure environment where every child’s well-being is our top priority.

• We have a zero-tolerance approach to any form of bullying, abuse or neglect in any of our activities.

• All staff and volunteers at Social Enterprise 18 Academy are trained in child protection and understand their duty to keep children safe.

Reporting Concerns

• Social Enterprise 18 Academy has clear steps for reporting any safeguarding or child protection concerns.

• If a child, parent, or staff member is concerned about a child’s safety, they can report it to any staff member or directly to the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL).

• We take all concerns seriously and respond quickly and confidentially to protect the child.

• Children and parents are encouraged to speak up about anything that makes them feel unsafe.

Safer Recruitment Practices

• Social Enterprise 18 Academy follows strict safer recruitment practices to keep children safe.

• We carefully vet and select staff and volunteers, including conducting thorough background checks and taking up references.

• All new team members complete safeguarding training and agree to follow our safeguarding policies.

• We only employ people who share Social Enterprise 18 Academy’s commitment to child safety and well-being.

Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)

• Social Enterprise 18 Academy has a named Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) who oversees all safeguarding and child protection issues.

• The DSL is responsible for making sure our policies are followed and that any concerns are dealt with appropriately.

• The DSL is the main point of contact for safeguarding matters and is available for children, parents, and staff who have any concerns.

• Our DSL keeps up to date with safeguarding best practices and works with external agencies if needed to keep children safe.

Online and In-Person Safety

• Social Enterprise 18 Academy ensures safety in all our online and face-to-face activities.

• Online sessions are run on secure platforms with appropriate controls and supervision to protect young participants.

• For in-person programmes, we provide safe venues, follow health and safety guidelines, and maintain appropriate adult supervision at all times.

• We teach and encourage young people to act safely and responsibly both online and offline.

The full safeguarding policy is available on request.