Safeguarding policy

• for children and young people

• for adults at risk

• for staff and volunteers

1. PURPOSE AND SCOPE

Dream Lab Foundation (“DLF”, “the charity” or “we”) is a charity registered in England and Wales that works in the UK and internationally. We aim to advance the education and development of young people, helping them develop the skills, capacities and confidence to realise their potential and participate fully in society. Our work includes the development, delivery and evaluation of research-informed personal development programmes, working with schools, universities and other partner organisations.

Our activities may bring DLF trustees, staff and volunteers, and personnel of partner organisations, schools and other institutions, into contact with children, young people and adults.

This policy sets out our commitment to protect from harm everyone who benefits from, works with, or comes into contact with DLF, especially children, young people, and adults at risk. It applies to DLF trustees, staff and volunteers, partner organisations, and DLF activities in the UK and overseas.

This policy should be read alongside DLF’s other relevant policies, procedures and guidance.

2. DEFINITIONS

Adults at risk means a person aged 18 or over who has care and support needs, is experiencing or at risk of abuse or neglect, and is unable to protect themselves because of those needs.

Child means anyone under 18 for the purposes of this policy.

Partner or partner organisation means an organisation, school, institution or other body that works with DLF to deliver or support its activities.

Safeguarding means the measures we take to protect people who benefit from, work with, or come into contact with DLF from harm, abuse, neglect or exploitation.

Staff means paid employees of DLF.

Trustee means a member of DLF’s Board of Trustees.

Volunteer means anyone who provides time or services on an unpaid basis to DLF.

Young person means anyone aged 25 or under for DLF programme purposes. This does not alter the legal definition of a child.

3. OUR SAFEGUARDING COMMITMENT

We believe that:

• We have a responsibility to promote the welfare of all individuals, keep them safe, and practise in a way that protects them from harm.

• No one should experience abuse of any kind.

• Everyone, regardless of age, disability, gender, sex, sexual orientation, race, religion or belief, has an equal right to protection from harm or abuse.

We recognise that:

• Extra care is needed when working with children, young people, and adults at risk. Some individuals may be additionally vulnerable because of their circumstances, health, previous experiences, level of dependency, communication needs or other factors.

• We have a duty to protect those who benefit from or come into contact with DLF from harm and abuse, and to protect staff and volunteers from situations that may lead to allegations of abuse.

We will seek to keep people safe by:

• Promoting a safe and open culture in which the welfare, dignity and safety of individuals are paramount and concerns can be raised without fear of repercussions.

• Identifying and managing safeguarding risks and taking appropriate action to prevent or minimise harm.

• Recruiting and selecting DLF staff and volunteers safely and carrying out proportionate safeguarding due diligence on partner organisations.

• Providing DLF staff and volunteers with appropriate safeguarding information, training, supervision and support, and obtaining proportionate assurance about the safeguarding arrangements of partner organisations.

• Making sure people know how and where to report safeguarding concerns and responding promptly and appropriately when concerns are raised.

• Keeping appropriate safeguarding records securely and sharing information where necessary and lawful to protect people from harm.

• Learning from safeguarding concerns and incidents and improving our policies, practices and risk management where appropriate.

4. RECRUITMENT, TRAINING AND SUPERVISION

We will take reasonable and proportionate steps to ensure that DLF staff and volunteers are suitable for their roles and that partner organisations have appropriate arrangements for ensuring the suitability of their personnel. Depending on the role, these steps may include applications, interviews, references, identity and qualification checks, criminal record and safeguarding checks, and other checks required or permitted by applicable law.

Where individuals delivering or supporting DLF programmes are employed, engaged or provided by a partner organisation, school or other institution, that organisation will normally be responsible for the recruitment, criminal record, safeguarding and other suitability checks applicable to its own personnel. DLF will obtain proportionate assurance that appropriate safer recruitment and safeguarding arrangements are in place and that required checks are undertaken. DLF will not normally duplicate checks appropriately undertaken by the employing or responsible organisation.

Where DLF directly employs or engages an individual, DLF will ensure that recruitment and safeguarding checks appropriate to the role are undertaken in accordance with applicable law. In England, this may include an appropriate Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and, where the role is eligible, a barred-list check. In South Africa, appropriate criminal record and safeguarding checks will be undertaken by DLF or the responsible organisation, as applicable, where required or appropriate under local law.

Where relevant, appropriate overseas checks may also be obtained for individuals who have lived or worked in other countries. Criminal record and safeguarding checks are only one part of safer recruitment and will not be relied upon as the sole measure of suitability.

DLF trustees, staff and volunteers will receive safeguarding information and training appropriate to their roles and responsibilities, with refresher training provided as appropriate. DLF will obtain proportionate assurance that partner organisations provide appropriate safeguarding information, training, supervision and support to personnel involved in DLF programmes.

5. RESPONDING TO ALLEGATIONS AND INCIDENTS

We will put the safety, welfare and dignity of those affected at the heart of our response. If a safeguarding concern, complaint, allegation or incident is raised, we will:

• act promptly to protect those affected, prevent or minimise further harm, and ensure there are no repercussions for raising a concern in good faith;

• ensure appropriate action or investigation is undertaken, internally or externally as appropriate;

• work with partner organisations where relevant, while considering DLF’s own safeguarding, monitoring and reporting responsibilities;

• make appropriate referrals or reports to safeguarding authorities, law enforcement agencies and regulators, including the Charity Commission where applicable;

• communicate appropriately while respecting confidentiality, data protection and the needs of any investigation, and keep accurate and secure records;

• take appropriate action where someone has caused harm or poses a risk of harm, working with the relevant employer, partner organisation or authority where responsibility lies elsewhere. DLF will not use confidentiality or non-disclosure agreements to prevent the reporting of safeguarding concerns or to conceal safeguarding misconduct; and

• review incidents and take appropriate action to reduce the risk of recurrence.

6. WORKING OVERSEAS

We are committed to respecting the cultures, structures, and customs of the communities and countries in which we work, while maintaining consistent safeguarding principles and standards. We prioritise locally-led programmes and the development of local capacity, recognising the value of working with people and organisations that understand the local context.

We recognise that overseas activities may present additional safeguarding challenges, including different cultural practices and legal, regulatory and safeguarding systems; different operating environments and associated risks; greater reliance on partner organisations; and less direct oversight by DLF trustees or staff.

DLF applies the same core safeguarding principles and standards to its overseas work, while recognising applicable local laws, regulatory requirements and safeguarding systems. Before working in a new country, and throughout our activities there, we will consider the local safeguarding context, applicable requirements and any additional measures needed to protect those involved in our programmes.

We manage safeguarding risks associated with overseas activities by:

• Understanding the local context and risks, including applicable laws, safeguarding and reporting systems, cultural practices and risks associated with the operating environment.

• Selecting partner organisations carefully and carrying out proportionate due diligence, including satisfying ourselves that they have appropriate safeguarding policies, procedures and practices, and the capacity to fulfil their responsibilities.

• Agreeing clear safeguarding responsibilities with partner organisations, including responsibility for safer recruitment and appropriate checks, training and supervision, reporting and escalation of safeguarding concerns, and compliance with applicable local requirements.

• Maintaining clear reporting and escalation arrangements, including how safeguarding concerns will be reported to DLF and, where necessary, to relevant local authorities or other bodies.

• Monitoring safeguarding arrangements throughout the partnership, including obtaining proportionate assurance that agreed responsibilities are being fulfilled, maintaining regular contact, reviewing arrangements periodically and following significant incidents, and, where appropriate, making in-person visits.

• Reviewing and learning from safeguarding concerns and incidents, and adapting programme arrangements, partner requirements and safeguarding measures where necessary.

7. KEY CONTACTS

Any safeguarding concern, allegation or incident, or questions about DLF’s safeguarding arrangements, should be reported in the first instance to the Lead Safeguarding Coordinator. If they are unavailable or the concern relates to them, contact the Deputy Safeguarding Coordinator or Trustee Safeguarding Contact:

• Lead Safeguarding Coordinator: Karen Pluess / karen@dreamlabfoundation.org

• Deputy Safeguarding Coordinator: Michael Pluess / michael@dreamlabfoundation.org

• Trustee Safeguarding Contact: Hannah Elwyn / hannah.c.elwyn@gmail.com

Where there is an immediate risk of serious harm, the appropriate emergency services or safeguarding authorities in the country where the person is located should be contacted without delay. The concern should also be reported to DLF as soon as reasonably practicable.

8. POLICY MONITORING AND REVIEW

This policy was reviewed and approved by the Board of Trustees in October 2026. It will be reviewed at least annually (next review: October 2027), and earlier where necessary, including following a serious safeguarding incident or significant change in DLF’s activities, partner arrangements, safeguarding risks, or relevant legislation or guidance.