1. Our Commitment
Kidz Konnekt is fully committed to safeguarding the welfare of all children, young people and vulnerable adults who take part in our activities.
We believe that every child has the right to feel safe, valued and protected from harm.
We take all safeguarding concerns seriously and work in partnership with families, schools, the local authority and other agencies to ensure the safety and wellbeing of every young person we support.
2. Our Safeguarding Principles
We follow these key principles:
The welfare of the child is always paramount.
All children have equal rights to protection, regardless of age, disability, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation or background.
We act quickly and appropriately when concerns arise.
Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility — all staff and volunteers share a duty of care.
We maintain clear, transparent policies and standards of behaviour.
3. What We Mean by “Harm”
Harm can take many forms. Kidz Konnekt recognises and takes seriously all types of abuse, including:
Physical abuse
Emotional or psychological abuse
Sexual abuse or exploitation
Neglect
Domestic abuse
Discriminatory abuse
Financial or material abuse
Online abuse
Exposure to alcohol/drug misuse
Radicalisation or extremist influence
Peer-on-peer abuse
Modern slavery
Self-neglect
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
Children and young people with disabilities or additional needs may be more vulnerable to harm, and we put extra safeguards in place to support them.
4. How We Keep Children Safe
Safe recruitment
We use robust recruitment checks for all staff and volunteers, including:
Application process and interview
Verified references
Identity and qualification checks
Enhanced DBS checks and use of the DBS Update Service
Mandatory safeguarding training for all staff and trustees
Clear standards of behaviour
All staff follow our Code of Conduct, which outlines safe and appropriate behaviour when working with young people.
Training
All staff receive safeguarding training appropriate to their role, refreshed regularly, including Prevent (anti-radicalisation) awareness.
Photography & images
We only use images of young people when we have written consent from parents/carers.
Use of mobile phones
Staff follow strict policies on personal and work mobile phone use to safeguard confidentiality and protect young people.
5. Reporting Safeguarding Concerns
If a child is at risk, we act immediately.
Concerns might arise from:
Something a child says
A change in behaviour
Something observed
Physical signs or injuries
Online abuse
Something disclosed by another person
Our trained Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs) review and act on all concerns, including contacting Children’s Services or the Police when necessary.
Children, parents and members of the public can raise concerns directly with our safeguarding team.
6. Designated Safeguarding Leads
If you have a concern about a child attending Kidz Konnekt, please contact our safeguarding team:
Senior Safeguarding Lead
Alan Lonsdale (Youth Development Manager)
📞 07824 883335
Designated Safeguarding Lead
Annie Harrison (Emotional Health & Wellbeing Lead)
📞 07538 766986
Alternative Senior Lead
Joseph Whittingham (Senior Outdoor Education Officer)
📞 07741 637043
Kidz Konnekt Office: 01642 433200
7. Allegations Against Staff
Any allegation or concern about the behaviour of a member of staff or volunteer is taken extremely seriously.
We follow local safeguarding partnership procedures and contact the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) when appropriate.
8. Confidentiality
We respect the privacy of children and families, but we will never promise to keep secrets where a child may be at risk.
Information is shared only with professionals who need it to keep children safe.
9. Review of Policy
This public safeguarding policy is reviewed annually and updated whenever legislation or guidance changes.
Kidz Konnekt also maintains a more detailed internal Safeguarding & Child Protection Policy containing full procedures for staff.