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Lead Forward Child Protection Policy

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1. Purpose

Lead Forward is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children and young people who come into contact with the organisation through its activities, projects, events, workshops, consultations, research or community initiatives.

This policy sets out the principles, responsibilities and procedures that apply to all individuals acting on behalf of Lead Forward, including board members, staff, volunteers, interns, consultants, facilitators and external collaborators.

Lead Forward recognises that every child has the right to be safe, respected and protected from all forms of abuse, neglect, exploitation and harm. The organisation applies a zero-tolerance approach to child abuse and to any behaviour that may put a child at risk.

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2. Scope

This policy applies to:

  • all Lead Forward board members, staff, volunteers, interns and consultants

  • external partners and collaborators when acting on behalf of Lead Forward

  • all activities where children may be directly or indirectly involved

  • both in-person and online environments

  • communication, photography, research and data collection involving children

 

3. Definition of a Child

For the purposes of this policy, a child is any person under the age of 18.

 

4. Core Principles

Lead Forward applies the following principles in all activities involving children:

Best interests of the child
The safety, wellbeing and dignity of the child are the primary consideration in all decisions and actions.

Zero tolerance
Lead Forward does not tolerate any form of abuse, exploitation, harassment, neglect or harmful behaviour towards children.

Respect and non-discrimination
All children must be treated with dignity and respect regardless of gender, disability, social background, nationality, ethnicity, religion or any other personal characteristic.

Safe participation
Children should be able to participate in Lead Forward activities in environments that are safe, inclusive and appropriate for their age and needs.

Do no harm
Activities must be designed and implemented in ways that minimise risks and prevent physical, emotional or psychological harm.

Confidentiality and data protection
Personal information about children must be handled responsibly and only used for legitimate purposes with appropriate safeguards.

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5. Forms of Harm

Child protection concerns may include, but are not limited to:

  • physical abuse

  • emotional or psychological abuse

  • sexual abuse

  • neglect

  • exploitation

  • grooming

  • bullying or harassment

  • online abuse

  • discriminatory or degrading treatment

 

6. Roles and Responsibilities

Organisational Responsibility

Lead Forward is responsible for ensuring that appropriate safeguarding measures are in place in all activities involving children.

Child Protection Focal Point

Lead Forward will designate a Child Protection Focal Point responsible for:

  • receiving and recording safeguarding concerns

  • advising staff and volunteers on safeguarding issues

  • supporting appropriate response actions

  • maintaining confidential records of reports and actions taken

Contact details of the Child Protection Focal Point will be communicated internally and made available where appropriate.

Staff, Volunteers and Collaborators

All persons working with or representing Lead Forward must:

  • follow this Child Protection Policy

  • behave in ways that respect the safety and dignity of children

  • report any safeguarding concern immediately

  • cooperate with any safeguarding procedures or investigations

 

7. Safer Recruitment

Where roles involve contact with children, Lead Forward may apply appropriate selection measures such as:

  • application and screening procedures

  • interviews

  • reference checks

  • verification of relevant experience

  • criminal record checks where appropriate

  • signing a Code of Conduct and Child Protection Policy

 

8. Code of Conduct When Working With Children

Individuals working with children through Lead Forward must:

  • treat children with respect and fairness

  • use appropriate language and behaviour

  • ensure activities take place in safe and transparent settings

  • respect personal boundaries and privacy

  • obtain parental or guardian consent where required

  • encourage participation without pressure

Individuals must not:

  • use humiliating, degrading or discriminatory language

  • engage in physical punishment or aggressive behaviour

  • develop inappropriate personal relationships with children

  • communicate privately with children through personal channels without safeguards

  • take or share images of children without consent

  • ignore or dismiss signs of potential harm

 

9. Consent, Photography and Data Protection

When children participate in Lead Forward activities:

  • parental or guardian consent will be obtained where required

  • children will be informed in an age-appropriate way about the activity

  • personal data will only be collected when necessary

  • photographs or videos will only be taken and used with appropriate consent

  • identifying information will not be shared publicly without permission

  • data will be stored securely and accessed only by authorised persons

 

10. Safe Activity Planning

Before implementing activities involving children, Lead Forward will consider:

  • age and needs of participants

  • supervision and safety arrangements

  • accessibility and inclusion

  • online safety where digital tools are used

  • communication and photography practices

Activities should be organised in ways that minimise risks and support safe participation.

 

11. Reporting Concerns

Any safeguarding concern must be reported immediately to the Child Protection Focal Point.

A concern may arise from:

  • a disclosure by a child

  • observation of suspicious behaviour

  • a report from another person

  • a breach of this policy or the Code of Conduct

Basic reporting steps include:

  1. Listen carefully and take the concern seriously.

  2. Do not promise complete confidentiality.

  3. Record the information as accurately as possible.

  4. Report the concern without delay.

If a child is in immediate danger, emergency services or relevant authorities should be contacted.

 

12. Response to Concerns

When a concern is reported, Lead Forward will:

  • document the report securely

  • assess potential risks

  • take appropriate protective measures

  • refer the matter to competent authorities where necessary

  • ensure confidentiality and responsible handling of information

 

13. Working With Partners

When activities involve external partners, Lead Forward will seek to ensure that appropriate safeguarding measures are respected and that responsibilities related to child protection are clearly understood.

 

14. Training and Awareness

Lead Forward will promote awareness of child protection principles among staff, volunteers and collaborators and will provide guidance or training where relevant.

 

15. Review

This policy will be reviewed periodically and updated when necessary to ensure that safeguarding practices remain effective and appropriate.

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