Safeguarding Statement

Last updated: 27 August 2026

Safeguard Foundation CIO is committed to protecting the safety, dignity and wellbeing of everyone who comes into contact with our charity.

We recognise that safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. We will take all reasonable steps to protect children, young people and adults at risk from abuse, neglect, exploitation and avoidable harm.

Our safeguarding commitment

Safeguard Foundation CIO is committed to:

• Creating an environment in which people feel safe, respected and listened to
• Putting the needs, wishes and wellbeing of the person at the centre of our decisions wherever it is safe and lawful to do so
• Taking concerns, disclosures and allegations seriously
• Responding promptly and appropriately when a safeguarding concern is raised
• Working with the police, local authority safeguarding services and other appropriate organisations
• Ensuring trustees, staff and volunteers understand their safeguarding responsibilities
• Using appropriate recruitment, selection and checking procedures
• Maintaining appropriate boundaries when working with beneficiaries
• Handling personal information carefully and sharing it only when necessary
• Learning from safeguarding incidents and reviewing our procedures regularly

Who this statement protects

This statement applies to everyone who comes into contact with the Foundation, including:

• Beneficiaries and applicants
• Children and young people
• Adults with care and support needs
• Family members, carers and representatives
• Donors and supporters
• Trustees, staff and volunteers
• Contractors, delivery partners and referral organisations
• People attending our events, activities or community sessions

Safeguarding protections apply regardless of age, disability, health, sex, gender identity, race, religion, sexual orientation, financial circumstances or any other personal characteristic.

What is safeguarding?

Safeguarding means protecting a person’s right to live safely and free from abuse, neglect, exploitation and avoidable harm.

Safeguarding concerns may include:

• Physical abuse
• Sexual abuse or exploitation
• Emotional or psychological abuse
• Domestic abuse
• Financial or material abuse
• Neglect or acts of omission
• Discriminatory abuse
• Online or digital abuse
• Organisational abuse
• Modern slavery or human trafficking
• Self-neglect
• Coercion, harassment or controlling behaviour
• Grooming, radicalisation or criminal exploitation

Abuse may happen once or repeatedly. It may be deliberate or result from a failure to act. It can take place in person, at home, in the community, within an organisation or online.

Adults at risk

An adult may be at risk where they have care and support needs, are experiencing or at risk of abuse or neglect, and are unable to protect themselves because of those needs.

When responding to an adult safeguarding concern, we will take account of the person’s wishes, feelings, mental capacity and right to make their own decisions. However, information may need to be shared without consent if:

• The person or somebody else is at immediate or serious risk of harm
• A child may be at risk
• A serious crime may have been committed
• The person may not have the capacity to make the relevant decision
• There is a legal or regulatory requirement to share the information

Children and young people

The welfare and best interests of a child or young person will always be a primary consideration.

We will listen to children and young people, take their concerns seriously and respond in an age-appropriate and sensitive way.

If we believe that a child is experiencing or is at risk of abuse, neglect or exploitation, we will report the concern to the appropriate safeguarding authority. We will not delay making a report while attempting to investigate the matter ourselves.

Trustees, staff and volunteers

Everyone working for or representing Safeguard Foundation CIO is expected to:

• Treat people with dignity, kindness and respect
• Understand and follow the Foundation’s safeguarding procedures
• Maintain appropriate professional and personal boundaries
• Report safeguarding concerns promptly
• Never promise to keep a safeguarding disclosure secret
• Record concerns accurately and factually
• Avoid investigating allegations themselves
• Complete appropriate safeguarding training
• Cooperate with safeguarding enquiries and investigations

Appropriate identity, reference and Disclosure and Barring Service checks will be completed where a role is eligible for such checks and the nature of the work requires them.

Working with other organisations

We may work with referral partners, technology providers, monitoring services, installers, community organisations and other third parties.

We expect organisations working on our behalf or directly with our beneficiaries to maintain appropriate safeguarding standards and report relevant concerns promptly.

Where appropriate, safeguarding responsibilities will be included in written agreements with delivery partners and service providers.

Personal safety technology

The technology and support provided through Safeguard Foundation CIO may help people feel safer and obtain assistance when needed. However, no device or service can remove every risk or guarantee that harm will not occur.

Our services and technology are not a substitute for emergency services, medical care, safeguarding intervention or appropriate support from health and social-care professionals.

If somebody is in immediate danger or requires urgent medical assistance, call 999.

How to raise a concern with us

If you are concerned about the safety or wellbeing of someone connected with Safeguard Foundation CIO, please contact us as soon as possible:

Email: info@safeguardfoundation.co.uk
Subject: Safeguarding Concern

Safeguard Foundation CIO
Building 41
Newport Road
Northwood
Cowes
Isle of Wight
PO31 8BX

Please provide as much relevant information as you safely can, including:

• The name of the person you are concerned about
• What you have seen, heard or been told
• When and where it happened
• Whether the person is in immediate danger
• Your contact details, if you are willing to provide them

You may report a concern anonymously. However, this may limit our ability to ask questions, investigate the circumstances or update you about what happens next.

What we will do

When a safeguarding concern is reported, we will:

• Listen and take the concern seriously
• Consider whether anyone is in immediate danger
• Make an accurate and factual record
• Refer the concern to the appropriate safeguarding service or authority when necessary
• Share only the information needed to protect the people involved
• Provide appropriate support and information where we are able to do so
• Cooperate with any external safeguarding enquiry
• Review whether further action is required within the Foundation

We will not attempt to conduct a criminal or statutory safeguarding investigation ourselves.

Concerns about someone representing the Foundation

Any allegation concerning a trustee, member of staff, volunteer, contractor or other person representing the Foundation will be taken seriously.

We may take immediate steps to manage risk while the matter is considered. This may include temporarily restricting the person’s duties or contact with beneficiaries.

Where required, we will report the concern to the police, local authority safeguarding services, the Local Authority Designated Officer, Disclosure and Barring Service, Charity Commission or another appropriate regulator.

Emergency and external contacts

Immediate danger

If someone is in immediate danger, a crime is taking place or urgent medical assistance is required, call 999.

For a non-emergency police matter, call 101.

Concern about a child or young person

Contact the Isle of Wight Council Children’s Services Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub:

Telephone: 01983 823435
Available 24 hours a day

Concern about an adult with care and support needs

Contact Isle of Wight Council Adult Safeguarding:

Telephone: 01983 823900
Email: safeguardingconcerns@iow.gov.uk

For an urgent adult social-care crisis outside normal office hours, call 01983 821105.

You do not need permission from Safeguard Foundation CIO to contact the police, Isle of Wight Council or another safeguarding authority directly.

Confidentiality and information sharing

Safeguarding information will be handled sensitively and shared only with those who need it to protect the person concerned, investigate an allegation or comply with the law.

We cannot promise complete confidentiality when somebody may be at risk. Where it is safe and appropriate, we will explain what information needs to be shared and why.

Personal information will be handled in accordance with our Privacy Notice and applicable data-protection law.

Review of this statement

This statement was prepared on 27 August 2026 and will be reviewed regularly by the trustees of Safeguard Foundation CIO.

It may be updated sooner following a safeguarding incident, a change to our activities or a change to relevant legislation or safeguarding guidance.