Safeguarding Commitment
We are dedicated to protecting all children and young people participating in Business Launchpad programmes and activities, and our safeguarding commitment to them is built on the following principles:
• That safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. We recognise our duty to safeguard children and young people, and we recognise that working in partnership with other organisations, children and young people and their parents and carers is essential to this
• That children and young people’s safety and welfare is, and must always be, the paramount consideration
• That all children and young people, regardless of their background, have the right to be protected from abuse, exploitation or harm
• That all safeguarding concerns and allegations of abuse must be taken seriously, reported, and responded to appropriately
We will:
• Not tolerate any form of abuse or neglect within Business Launchpad/Tooting Works
• Take all reasonable steps to protect children, young people and adults at risk who visit our sites, take part in our activities or engage with us online
• Give equal priority to keeping all children, young people and adults at risk safe from harm, regardless of their age, disability, gender, race, beliefs, sex, or sexual orientation
• Provide our staff, volunteers and trustees with the knowledge and tools to guide them in protecting children, young people and adults at risk from abuse and neglect
Putting our commitment into practice:
We have a series of measures in place to help create safe and inclusive environments for children and young people participating in BLP programmes and activities. These include:
• Recruitment and selection processes to assess the suitability of staff, volunteers and delivery partners to work safely with children and young people
• The provision of a safeguarding induction to all members of staff and volunteers
• Listening to and hearing the voice of children, young people and adults at risk and respecting their views
• In-depth safeguarding training for staff and volunteers with additional safeguarding responsibilities
• A clear, accessible reporting mechanism that supports all staff, volunteers, children and young people to safely report safeguarding concerns or allegations
• Guidance for all staff, contractors, volunteers and other representatives of BLP on the behaviour expected for any programme and activity with children and young people, whether it’s online or face-to-face
• Ensuring that we provide a safe physical environment for children, young people, adults at risk, staff, contractors and volunteers, by adhering to health and safety measures in accordance with the law and regulatory guidance
We're here for you
Our number one priority is your safety and wellbeing.
We’ll be here to support you throughout your time with us and want you to feel comfortable enough to let us know if you think there’s a problem. If you’re worried or concerned about something, read our guidance on how to contact us.
Need to speak to someone now?
Always remember – if you, or someone else, is in immediate danger call 999 and ask for the police.
The services listed below are accessible 24/7, either over the phone or online to access information and support about a range of subjects.
Childline: 0800 1111
Childline is a free, private and confidential service where you can talk about anything. Childline are contactable online, on the phone, anytime.
The NSPCC Child Protection Helpline
The NSPCC Child Protection Helpline offer a 24-hour phone service, where they provide counselling, information and advice to anyone concerned about a child at risk of ill treatment or abuse.
Phone number: 0808 800 5000
Let us know about a worry or concern
We’re committed to challenging any attitudes or behaviours that don’t meet our expectations of staff, volunteers or young people. If you think your safety or welfare, or someone else’s safety or welfare is at risk while participating in a Business launchpad’s activities/Programmes, you can:
• Speak to the BLP/Tooting Works member of staff you’ve been working closely with first, as they already know you and are often best placed to help.
• If you don’t wish to contact this member of staff, for whatever reason, or if they’re not available, you can contact our Safeguarding Team directly on safeguarding@businesslaunchpad.org.uk
Please note that the Safeguarding Team email inbox is monitored from 9 am to 5 pm Monday to Friday. We will respond to you only between these times.
We'll never ignore or make light of your concerns or worries. So, if you see or hear anything that doesn't feel right, please make sure to report it to a member of our team as soon as possible. And remember, if we're worried about your safety or wellbeing (or someone else’s) we might need to share what you've told us to make sure the right actions are taken to resolve the situation.