Safeguarding Policy

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to protect people, particularly children, at risk adults and beneficiaries of assistance, from any harm that may be caused due to their coming into contact with Maesteg Ukulele Club.  This includes harm arising from:

• The conduct of members associated with Maesteg Ukulele Club.
• The design and implementation of Maesteg Ukulele Club’s programmes and activities.

The policy lays out the commitments made by Maesteg Ukulele Club, and informs members of their responsibilities in relation to safeguarding.

This policy does not cover safeguarding concerns in the wider community not perpetrated by Maesteg Ukulele Club or any of its members.

What is Safeguarding?

In the UK, safeguarding means protecting peoples' health, wellbeing and human rights, and enabling them to live free from harm, abuse and neglect.

In our activities, we understand it to mean protecting people, including children and at risk adults, from harm that arises from coming into contact with our members or activities.

Scope

All members associated with Maesteg Ukulele Club.

Policy Statement

Maesteg Ukulele Club believes that everyone we come into contact with, regardless of age, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation or ethnic origin has the right to be protected from all forms of harm, abuse, neglect and exploitation.  Maesteg Ukulele Club will not tolerate abuse and exploitation any of its members.

This policy will address the following areas of safeguarding: child safeguarding, adult safeguarding, and protection from sexual exploitation and abuse. 

Maesteg Ukulele Club commits to addressing safeguarding throughout its activities, through the three pillars of prevention, reporting and response.

Prevention

Maesteg Ukulele Club responsibilities

Maesteg Ukulele Club will:

• Ensure all members have access to, are familiar with, and know their responsibilities within this policy.
• Design and undertake all its activities in a way that protects people from any risk of harm that may arise from their coming into contact with Maesteg Ukulele Club.  This includes the way in which information about individuals in our activities is gathered and communicated.
• Ensure members understand safeguarding at a level commensurate with their membership in the club.
• Follow up on reports of safeguarding concerns promptly and according to due process.

Members Responsibilities

Child Safeguarding

Maesteg Ukulele Club members must not:

• Engage in sexual activity with anyone under the age of 18.
• Sexually abuse or exploit children.
• Subject a child to physical, emotional or psychological abuse, or neglect.
• Engage in any commercially exploitative activities with children including child labour or trafficking.

Adult Safeguarding

Maesteg Ukulele Club members must not:

• Sexually abuse or exploit at risk adults.
• Subject an at risk adult to physical, emotional or psychological abuse, or neglect.

Protection from sexual exploitation and abuse

Maesteg Ukulele Club members must not:

• Exchange money, employment, goods or services for sexual activity. This includes any exchange of assistance that is due to beneficiaries of assistance.

• Engage in any sexual relationships with beneficiaries of assistance, since they are based on inherently unequal power dynamics.

Additionally, Maesteg Ukulele Club members are obliged to:

• Contribute to creating and maintaining an environment that prevents safeguarding violations and promotes the implementation of the Safeguarding Policy.
• Report any concerns or suspicions regarding safeguarding violations by a Maesteg Ukulele Club member to the appropriate staff member.

Enabling reports

Maesteg Ukulele Club will ensure that safe, appropriate, accessible means of reporting safeguarding concerns are made available to members and the communities we interact with.

Any member reporting concerns or complaints will be held in confidence and dealt with in an appropriate manner.

Maesteg Ukulele Club will also accept complaints from the general public. 

How to report a safeguarding concern

Members who have a complaint or concern relating to safeguarding should report it immediately to the club leader. If the member does not feel comfortable reporting to their Safeguarding Focal Point (for example if they feel that the report will not be taken seriously, or if that person is implicated in the concern) they may report to any other appropriate member.

Response

Maesteg Ukulele Club will follow up safeguarding reports and concerns according to legal and statutory obligations.

Maesteg Ukulele Club will apply appropriate disciplinary measures to members found in breach of policy. Appropriate authorities may also be contacted if the incident or complaint is a major concern.

Maesteg Ukulele Club will offer support to survivors of harm caused by members, regardless of whether a formal internal response is carried out (such as an internal investigation).  Decisions regarding support will be led by the survivor.

Confidentiality

It is essential that confidentiality is maintained at all stages of the process when dealing with safeguarding concerns.  Information relating to the concern and subsequent case management should be shared on a need to know basis only, and should be kept secure at all times.