Safeguarding Policy

Our commitment

Youth Capacity Building Network (YCBN) works with young people, children and communities. We are committed to protecting everyone who takes part in our programmes and activities, and to creating safe, respectful environments free from harm, abuse and exploitation.

This policy sets out our approach. It will be supported by detailed procedures, training and reporting arrangements as our programmes develop.

Respect and dignity

• Every participant is treated with respect, fairly and without discrimination.
• We listen to young people and communities and take their views seriously.
• We consider gender, disability, age and vulnerability when designing and delivering activities.

Protection from abuse and exploitation

• We do not tolerate any form of physical, sexual, emotional abuse or exploitation of children, young people or adults in our programmes.
• Staff, volunteers, partners and anyone representing YCBN are expected to carry out background checks, follower agreed conduct standards and receive safeguarding orientation.
• Recruitment and selection of staff and volunteers includes safeguarding requirements.

Safe participation

• Activities involving children and young people are planned in with care to minimise risk and require guardian/parental consent where appropriate.
• Photographs and stories of participants are only used with informed consent, respecting dignity and data protection.

Reporting concerns

Anyone who has a safeguarding concern about YCBN staff, volunteers, partners or activities, should report it through confidential channels:

• Email: info@ycbn.org (marked “Confidential - Safeguarding”)
• In person: to any YCBN board member, manager or supervisor.
• Through our Complaints & Feedback process.

We will take all reports seriously, handle them confidentially and proportionately, and protect reporters from retaliation.

Responsible handling of personal information

We handle personal data of participants and staff in accordance with our Privacy Policy, using it only for programme purposes and keeping it secure.

Review

This policy will be reviewed regularly as YCBN grows, and updated to reflect our actual practices and legal requirements.