Safeguarding Policy

CoLab Worcs is committed to the safety and wellbeing of all that engage with us. We acknowledge our duty of care to safeguard all individuals who participate in our activities, including children, young people, and adults. We are committed to creating an environment where everyone feels safe, respected, and empowered.

Scope

This policy applies to all Directors, freelancers, and volunteers representing CoLab Worcs. It is effective for all activities, including educational workshops, community engagement sessions, and site-based interventions.

Core Principles

• Vigilance: We maintain a culture of “professional curiosity.” We look for signs of harm, abuse, or neglect across all our sites.
• Proportionality: Our interventions are designed to be minimally intrusive while maximizing safety.
• Accountability: Every session is assigned a Lead Safeguarding Director. Any concern, however minor, is recorded in the CoLab Incident Log.
• Safe Recruitment: All personnel in positions of trust (working with youth or vulnerable groups) must hold an Enhanced DBS check.

The Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) for CoLab Worcs is Leisa Taylor, Co-Director. The DSL holds Level 3 safeguarding training and is responsible for receiving and acting on all safeguarding concerns raised within the organisation. In the absence of the DSL, concerns should be escalated directly to another Co-Director or to the relevant statutory agency.

Online Safety and Digital Safeguarding

CoLab Worcs recognises that harm can occur in digital spaces as well as in person. Where our work involves young people or vulnerable adults, we will not make unsolicited contact with participants via personal social media accounts or messaging platforms. Any initial digital communication will be conducted through official CoLab Worcs channels. Where participants initiate contact through other channels, we will respond professionally and appropriately, and will not engage in communication that falls outside the professional boundaries of our work with them. We will not photograph or film participants without explicit informed consent, and images of children or young people will never be shared on public platforms.

Photography and Image Use

CoLab Worcs uses atmospheric, non-identifying photography — hands, textures, natural materials, backs of heads — as its primary approach to documenting sessions. Images in which no individual can be identified do not constitute personal data under UK GDPR and do not require written consent. Verbal permission will always be sought before any photography takes place.

Where identifiable images are taken, written consent will always be obtained, specifying how images will be used. For all photography involving children and young people under 18, written parental or guardian consent will be sought regardless of whether images are identifying, and young people themselves will be consulted as appropriate to their age and understanding. Images will be stored securely and deleted on request.

Raising Concerns About a Director or Member of Staff (Whistleblowing)

If a safeguarding concern relates to the conduct of a Co-Director or member of staff, this should be reported directly to another Co-Director who is not implicated in the concern. If all Co-Directors are implicated, or if the concern cannot be safely raised internally, it should be reported directly to the relevant local authority safeguarding team using the contact details provided below. CoLab Worcs is committed to ensuring no individual faces detriment for raising a safeguarding concern in good faith.

Referral Pathway

• Observe: Identify the concern (e.g., physical injury, unusual distress, extremist grooming, or harassment).
• Record: Document facts (not assumptions) in the CoLab Incident Log immediately.
• Escalate: Report to the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) within 24 hours.
• Refer: If there is a risk of immediate harm, report to the relevant local authority or emergency services, ensuring the activity site manager is informed if appropriate.

Reporting a concern about a child or young person

• In an emergency always call the police on 999
• 01905 822666 (office hours) or 01905 768020 (out of office hours)
• For safeguarding advice: 01905 843189

Reporting a concern about an adult

• In an emergency always call 999
• 01905 768053 or contact Adult Social Care — Worcestershire County Council
• For safeguarding advice: 01905 843189 (office hours) or 01905 768020 (out of office hours)