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Safeguarding & Child Protection

YouMeWe NPO is committed to providing a safe, respectful, and protective environment for all children, young people, and adults at risk who engage with our programmes, projects, and services.

We have zero tolerance for abuse, exploitation, neglect, harassment, or discrimination of any kind.

Who this applies to

This policy applies to everyone involved with YouMeWe, whether paid or unpaid, including:

  • Board members / trustees

  • Managing Director / senior leadership

  • Staff (full‑time, part‑time, fixed‑term, temporary)

  • Interns and volunteers

  • Activity facilitators, mentors, and trainers

  • Contractors, consultants, and service providers

  • Partner organisations and their staff when working on YouMeWe‑supported activities

Compliance with our safeguarding standards is a condition of engagement with YouMeWe.

Key definitions

  • Child: Anyone under 18 years old.

  • Adult at risk: An adult who, due to age, disability, health, or social circumstances, may be unable to protect themselves from abuse, exploitation, or neglect.

  • Safeguarding: Ensuring our people and programmes do no harm, do not expose people to risk of harm, and that any concerns are reported and acted upon.

Our safeguarding principles

YouMeWe’s safeguarding work is guided by these principles:

  • Zero tolerance of abuse and exploitation

  • Best interests of the child / adult at risk always come first

  • Do no harm in our programmes, communications, and fundraising

  • Prevention first through safer recruitment, training, and clear codes of conduct

  • Proportionality and non‑discrimination in all responses

  • Confidentiality and data protection on a strict need‑to‑know basis

  • Accountability and learning from incidents to improve practice

Expected behaviour

Everyone representing YouMeWe must:

  • Treat children, young people, and adults at risk with respect, dignity, and fairness

  • Maintain clear professional boundaries, avoiding unnecessary one‑to‑one unsupervised situations

  • Ensure any physical contact is appropriate, non‑sexual, and in the person’s best interests

  • Get appropriate consent before taking photos, videos, or collecting personal stories, and follow our guidelines for safe use of images and social media

  • Use digital and online platforms responsibly and securely when communicating with children or adults at risk

  • Encourage and respect the voices and choices of children and beneficiaries in our activities

  • Immediately report any safeguarding concern, suspicion, disclosure, or allegation

Prohibited behaviour

The following are strictly prohibited and may lead to immediate suspension, termination, and referral to authorities:

  • Any form of sexual activity or relationship with anyone under 18, regardless of local law or claimed consent

  • Any sexual or exploitative relationship with a beneficiary, or misuse of a position of power or trust

  • Physical abuse (e.g. hitting, shaking, pushing, violence of any kind)

  • Emotional abuse (e.g. humiliating, shaming, threatening, or verbally abusing)

  • Any harassment, discrimination, or bullying

  • Requesting or accepting sexual services or favours in exchange for assistance, goods, services, or promises of support

  • Giving or receiving gifts, money, or favours that create dependency, obligation, or exploitation

  • Possessing, viewing, or distributing child sexual abuse material or other abusive content

  • Being under the influence of alcohol or illegal substances while responsible for children or adults at risk

  • Developing relationships with beneficiaries that could be seen as exploitative or which blur professional boundaries (e.g. secret meetings, excessive personal communication)

Safer recruitment and training

To reduce the risk of abuse by people in positions of trust, YouMeWe:

  • Uses fair, transparent recruitment processes, including references and, where lawful and appropriate, background checks

  • Provides safeguarding induction to all new staff, interns, and volunteers before they start activities with children or adults at risk

  • Offers regular refresher training and updates

  • Includes safeguarding responsibilities in contracts, volunteer agreements, and partner MoUs

Working with partners

Partners, contractors, and external activity providers who have contact with children or adults at risk through YouMeWe‑supported activities must:

  • Comply with YouMeWe’s Safeguarding & Child Protection Policy and Code of Conduct, or show they have equivalent standards

  • Report any safeguarding concern related to YouMeWe’s programmes or beneficiaries without delay

  • Cooperate fully with any safeguarding investigation

YouMeWe may suspend or terminate partnerships where safeguarding breaches are serious, repeated, or not adequately addressed.

Reporting a concern

Everyone involved with YouMeWe has a duty to report any concern, suspicion, disclosure, or allegation involving:

  • A child, young person, or adult at risk engaged with YouMeWe, or

  • A YouMeWe representative whose behaviour may pose a risk

You do not need to be certain that abuse has occurred. If in doubt, report.

If someone is in immediate danger

  • Contact local emergency services or authorities first

  • Then inform the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) as soon as it is safe to do so

How to report

You can report:

  • In person

  • By phone

  • By email

Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)
Name: Michael Clemons
Role: Founder
Email: [email protected] / [email protected]

Confidentiality and records

  • All safeguarding information is handled on a strict need‑to‑know basis.

  • Concerns and cases are accurately recorded, stored securely, and retained in line with data protection laws and best practice.