Keeping young people safe comes first.

If a young person is at risk

• Concern about a young person on one of our programmes: email safeguarding@theambitionsfoundation.org.uk
• NSPCC helpline (for adults worried about a child): 0808 800 5000
• Childline (free for young people): 0800 1111
• You can also contact your local council’s children’s services.

Who to contact

Contact either lead at safeguarding@theambitionsfoundation.org.uk. If your concern is about the Designated Safeguarding Lead, it will go to the Chair of Trustees. Email contact@theambitionsfoundation.org.uk and mark it for the Chair’s attention.

Our principles

• The welfare of the child is paramount. Every decision is made in their best interests.
• Every child has an equal right to protection, whatever their age, disability, gender, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.
• Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. Every adult working with us must act on concerns.
• Children are listened to and taken seriously, and know how to raise a concern.
• Concerns are handled consistently, fairly and professionally.

Safer recruitment

We make sure the adults working with young people are safe to do so.

• Enhanced DBS checks for all tutors, mentors and anyone in regulated activity, renewed at least every three years
• At least two references, plus right to work and qualification checks
• Structured interviews that include safeguarding questions
• Nobody starts until every check is complete

Training

• Safeguarding induction for every new staff member, tutor, volunteer and trustee
• Annual refresher training for everyone involved in delivery
• Prevent training for anyone working directly with young people
• Enhanced training for our safeguarding leads, updated every two years

Online sessions

• Sessions run on secure, Foundation-approved platforms with password-protected links
• Tutors work from quiet, neutral, professional spaces
• Written parent or carer consent for under-16s, ideally with an adult nearby
• No personal contact details or social media are exchanged
• Sessions are not recorded unless authorised for safeguarding or training

In-person sessions

• Every venue is risk assessed in advance
• Two adults present wherever possible, and no young person alone with one adult in a closed room
• Sign-in and sign-out, registers and headcounts at every session
• Staff and volunteers wear visible Ambitions Foundation ID
• A first aider and first aid kit at every session

How we respond to concerns

If a young person tells us something worrying, or we notice signs of harm, our team will:

• Listen carefully, without judgement or pressing for details
• Reassure them they’ve done the right thing
• Explain that we can’t keep it secret, and will only share it with people who can help
• Record what was said in their own words, and report it to a safeguarding lead immediately

The safeguarding lead will decide next steps, which may include a referral to children’s social care, the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) or the police. Allegations about an adult working with us are referred to the LADO within 24 hours.

Whistleblowing

Anyone can raise a concern about the behaviour of an adult working with us, including low-level concerns such as being overly familiar or breaching boundaries. People who raise concerns in good faith are protected under the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998.

Our full policy

Our policy follows UK statutory guidance, including Working Together to Safeguard Children, Keeping Children Safe in Out-of-School Settings and Charity Commission safeguarding guidance. It is approved by our Board of Trustees and reviewed every year.