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Introduction
Safeguarding is the responsibility that an organization has to ensure that their members and
volunteers, operations and programmes do no harm to children, young people or vulnerable adults
(together referred to as ‘vulnerable people’ under this policy); that they do not expose them to the
risk of discrimination, neglect, harm and abuse; and that any concerns the organization has about
the safety of vulnerable people within the communities in which they work, are dealt with and
reported to the appropriate authorities. It is also the responsibility that the organization has for
protecting its employees and volunteers when they are vulnerable, for example, when ill or at risk of
harm or abuse.
Child protection is a central part of but not separate to safeguarding. It is the process of protecting
individual children identified as either suffering or at risk of significant harm as a result of abuse or
programme of work. It also includes measures and structures designed to prevent and respond to
abuse.
Over recent years, there has been increasing recognition of the way in which children, young people
and vulnerable adults can be at risk of discrimination, neglect, abuse and exploitation by those who
are in positions of trust and power over them, including through international development
activities.
As a consequence, there has been a significant increase in the efforts made by development
organizations to ensure that no harm results from the contact their employees, volunteers and other
representatives have with their target populations or communities.
Caldicot events committee members have an obligation to put in place all reasonable safeguarding
measures to ensure, as far as possible, the safety and protection of children, young people and
vulnerable adults, including those with whom we work and those in the communities.
Purpose
The purpose of this policy and associated procedures is to provide clarity to ALL on how they should
engage with children, young people and vulnerable adults. It is also to help us make sure that
employees, volunteers and other representatives are protected.
It is intended to help us to have a common understanding of safeguarding issues, develop good
practice across the diverse and complex areas in which we operate and thereby increase
accountability in this crucial aspect of our work.

Definitions
Abuse - a violation of an individual’s human and civil rights by any other person or persons. It can
take the form of physical, psychological, financial or sexual abuse, neglect or negligent treatment or
commercial or other exploitation, resulting in actual or potential harm to the health, survival,
development or dignity of a child, young person or vulnerable adult.
Abuse can be a single act or repeated acts and can be unintentional or deliberate. Abuse often
involves criminal acts.
Discriminatory abuse – abuse motivated by a vulnerable person’s age, race, nationality, sex, sexual
orientation, disability, or other personal characteristic.
Financial or material abuse - including theft, fraud, exploitation, pressure in connection with wills,
property or inheritance or financial transactions, or the misuse or misappropriation of property,
possessions or benefits.
Neglect - the persistent failure to meet a vulnerable person’s basic physical and/or psychological
needs, likely to result in the serious impairment of his/her health or development. Examples include
failure to provide adequate food, clothing and shelter, failure to protect them from physical or
psychological harm or danger; failure to ensure adequate supervision (including the use of
inadequate caregivers); or failure to ensure access to appropriate medical care or treatment. It may
also include neglect of, or unresponsiveness to, a vulnerable person’s basic emotional needs.
Physical abuse – includes hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning or scalding, drowning,
suffocating or otherwise causing physical harm, misuse of medication, restraint, or inappropriate
sanctions.
Psychological abuse - includes emotional abuse, threats of harm or abandonment, deprivation of
contact, humiliation, blaming, controlling, intimidation, coercion, harassment, verbal abuse, isolation
or withdrawal from services or supportive networks. Examples include not giving a vulnerable
person opportunity to express their views, deliberately silencing them or ‘making fun’ of what they
say or how they communicate. It may feature age or developmentally inappropriate expectations
being imposed on a vulnerable person, which may include interactions that are beyond a vulnerable
person’s developmental capability. It may involve serious bullying (including cyber bullying), or the
exploitation or corruption of a vulnerable person.
Sexual abuse - involves forcing, enticing or coercing someone to take part in sexual activities,
whether or not the vulnerable person is aware of what is happening. The activities may involve
physical contact, including assault by penetration (for example, rape or oral sex) or non-penetrative
acts such as masturbation, kissing, rubbing and touching outside of clothing. They may also include
non-contact activities, such as involving a vulnerable person in looking at, or in the production of,
sexual images, watching sexual activities, encouraging children to behave in sexually inappropriate
ways, or grooming a child in preparation for abuse (including via the internet). Sexual abuse can be
carried out by adults or other children.
Child – a child is anyone under the age of 18 years, irrespective of the age of majority in the country
in which the child lives or in their home country. It is widely recognized that children are generally

more vulnerable to abuse and exploitation due to factors such as age, gender, social and economic
status, developmental stage, and dependence on others.
Vulnerable person/people – for the purposes of this policy this is an umbrella term which covers
children, young people and vulnerable adults.
Vulnerable adult - a person, 18 years and above, who by reason of disability, age, gender, social and
economic status, or illness, the context they are in, may be unable to take care of or to protect him
or herself against abuse, harm or exploitation.
Scope
This policy demonstrates how the committee members will meet its legal obligations and reassure
volunteers, partners and members of the public:
a) On what they can expect members to do to protect and safeguard vulnerable people.
b) That they are able to safely voice any concerns through an established procedure.
c) That all reports of abuse or potential abuse are dealt with in a serious and effective manner.
d) That there is an efficient recording and monitoring system in place.
e) That employees, volunteers, subcontracted agencies receive appropriate information on
safeguarding
There are additional procedures in place that apply to those that work or have contact with, either
directly or indirectly, children, young people or vulnerable adults or who live in communities
alongside them.
Policy Statement
Caldicot events committee has zero tolerance against abuse and exploitation of vulnerable people.
Members also recognise that safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility and that it has an obligation
to put in place reasonable measures to ensure, as far as possible, the safety and wellbeing of
vulnerable people with whom we work and those in the communities in which we live.
Caldicot events committee works to the following key principles to protect vulnerable people:
• Everyone has an equal right to protection from abuse and exploitation regardless of age,
race, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy or having a child,
gender reassignment, language, religion, political or other opinion, national, ethnic or
social origin, property, disability, birth or other status.
• The best interests of the vulnerable person are paramount and shall be the primary
consideration in our decision making.

All
All community members, volunteers, consultants, partner organizations are obliged to follow this
policy and maintain an environment that prevents exploitation and abuse, and which encourages
reporting of breaches of this policy using the appropriate procedures.

• Place the safety and welfare of children and vulnerable people above all other
considerations
• Report any concerns they may have about the welfare of a child or vulnerable person
• In a one-to-one situation with a child or young person, where privacy and confidentiality
are important, try to make sure that another adult knows the contact is taking place and
why. If possible, ensure another adult is in sight and that the child or young person
knows another adult is around.
Designated Safeguarding Officers
Designated safeguarding officers are responsible for handling reports or concerns, about the
protection of vulnerable people, appropriately and in accordance with the procedures that underpin
this policy.
The lead designated safeguarding officer is responsible for:
 monitoring and recording safeguarding concerns
 ensuring referrals to the relevant authorities happen without delay
 ensuring this policy is reviewed every 3 years or earlier if necessary
 ensuring it is implemented throughout the organization and safeguarding training given
 ensuring monitoring and recording procedures are implemented
Procedure Overview
Induction and Support:
Advice, support and training on safeguarding will be provided to all members and volunteers on:
* What they should do in the event of a disclosure
* What to do if they have concerns about the welfare of a child
* How to recognize signs of abuse
* Where to go for advice and support within the organization
* Ensure that clear processes for reporting and dealing with safeguarding concerns and incidents
are carried out
Data Protection
Ensure that personal information is kept confidential unless we have the agreement of the individual
and/or their parent/guardian, except where it is necessary to pass this to a specialized child welfare
or law enforcement agency in relation to a safeguarding incident. (For more detailed guidance, refer
to the Data Protection Policy and Statement).
Caldicot events committee has a format for carrying out and implementing risk assessments at all
levels of the organization.
Train and support the designated safeguarding officers in their work and in any action, they may
need to take in order to protect vulnerable people.

Designated Safeguarding Officers are responsible for ensuring that the reporting procedure is
followed so that suspected or actual cases of abuse are responded to appropriately and consistently
and referred to the relevant statutory authority.
To ensure that all such situations are handled appropriately and effectively:
• Reports must be made, and decisions and actions taken
• Caldicot events committee members are not an investigative authority. It is essential
that referrals are made to the relevant law enforcement agency to ensure that
appropriate protection and support is given to the vulnerable individual, and that any
evidence is collected in accordance with the law.
• All sensitive and personal data must be kept confidential (including the names of anyone
who makes a report of abuse) and be shared on a strictly ‘need to know basis’, that is,
access must be necessary for the conduct of one’s official duties.
• Including to children, young people or other community members as necessary
• Clear responsibilities for a Designated Safeguarding Officer at appropriate level