Foreword

Sexpression:UK is a near-peer, student-led independent UK charity that provides Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) by running informal and comprehensive RSHE in the community, with the goal of empowering young people to make decisions about relationships and sex. Our branches work predominantly in secondary schools but have been invited to work in other locations such as youth groups, community centres, and with university groups.

We understand that we have a fundamental duty of care towards the young people we work with therefore this Safeguarding Policy (formerly known as Child Protection Policy) aims to ensure that all volunteers feel capable to preserve and promote the health and wellbeing of these young people.

The review of this policy takes place regularly over a series of meetings and consultations with volunteers for Sexpression:UK as well as professionals from external organisations. As a result of this consultative process there are continual changes to how Sexpression:UK as an organisation addresses Safeguarding when compared to the initial policy presented in 2007. Consequently, there are continual changes to how our volunteers as individuals are trained in order to reflect this policy, and annual training is compulsory for all volunteers working with young people.

We recognise that as near-peer external RSHE providers delivering discussion based participatory sessions, we are often in a unique position to recognise Child Protection issues. Our volunteers require the training and skills which provide them with the ability to become aware of situations that indicate there is an issue to be addressed, which may be through direct interaction with a young person or from indirect observation and subsequent suspicion. It is in these circumstances that individuals and Sexpression:UK have a duty of care in ensuring any concerns are addressed, and that this information is shared promptly and appropriately with our partner organisations.

The renaming of this Policy in 2021 from Child Protection Policy to Safeguarding Policy aims to underline our commitment to Safeguarding as a whole and to bring our language in line with the standard in the sector.

Introduction

As defined by the Government Document ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children’ 2018, abuse and neglect are forms of maltreatment of a child by inflicting harm, or by failing to act to prevent harm. Abuse can occur in a family or an institutional or community setting by those known to them or, more rarely, by others. Abuse can also take place online. Child abuse can take many forms:

• Physical abuse may involve hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning or scalding, drowning, suffocating, or otherwise causing physical harm to a child. Physical harm may also be caused when a parent or carer fabricates the symptoms of, or deliberately induces, illness in a child.
• Sexual abuse involves making or enticing a child to partake in sexual activities, not necessarily involving a high level of violence, whether or not the child is aware of what is happening. It may involve physical contact, including assault by penetration, or non-physical contact such as having children look at or take part in the production of sexual images, watching sexual activities, or grooming. Sexual abuse can also take place online and technology can be used to facilitate offline abuse.
• Emotional abuse is the persistent emotional maltreatment of a child which can cause severe and persistent adverse effects on the child’s emotional development. It can involve conveying that they are worthless, inadequate or unloved. It may include interactions beyond a child’s developmental capability, as well as overprotection and limitation of exploration and learning. It may involve seeing or hearing the ill-treatment of another, serious bullying, causing children to feel frightened or in danger. Some level of emotional abuse is involved in all types of maltreatment of a child, though it may occur alone.
• Neglect is the persistent failure to meet a child’s basic physical and/or psychological needs, likely to result in the serious impairment of the child’s health or development. Neglect may involve a parent or carer failing to provide adequate food, clothing or shelter, protect a child from physical and emotional harm or danger, ensure adequate supervision or ensure access to appropriate medical care or treatment. It may also include neglect of, or unresponsiveness to, a child’s basic emotional needs.

Sexpression:UK believes that concern for the general wellbeing and welfare of all young people who are in contact with our charity is of paramount importance. We believe that every child has a right to feel safe and protected from any activity which may result in them being exposed to significant harm. All our volunteers will have a duty of care, should they have concerns that a child is being exposed to physical, sexual, neglect or emotional abuse.

The purpose of this document is to explain clearly, for volunteers involved in Sexpression:UK and its affiliated branches as well as affiliated organisations, the principles of Safeguarding. It is intended to cover those issues of the utmost importance in order to ensure the following:

• The protection of young people – although Sexpression:UK and its volunteers cannot guarantee the complete protection of young people, this document aims to ensure that should any evidence of a Safeguarding issue arise that it is addressed appropriately to guarantee the protection of the young person;
• The protection of volunteers – this document provides guidance and support for the volunteers who may become aware of a Safeguarding issue and aims to aid them in their response to this;
• The protection of Sexpression:UK – the dissemination and implementation of this policy illustrates our commitment to safeguarding the young people we work with.

Although it is acknowledged that this document does not necessarily provide volunteers with the complete ability to ensure the safety of young people, it does give a forum for discussion and the sharing of skills and experiences to ensure that young people are protected to the best of their abilities, and outlines the charity’s expectations, actions and policy.

Glossary