Policy 04

Safeguarding Children & Young People

“Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. If something doesn’t feel right, raise it.”

We work with schools, colleges, charities, youth organisations, work-experience students and community groups. A young person’s welfare comes before any production deadline, creative goal or client preference.

Download the full policy ↓ Read the detail

Version 1.0
Effective October 2026
Next review October 2027

At a glance

The short version.

1

Planned before we start

Permissions, supervision ratios, filming consent, safe spaces and risk assessments are agreed before any youth-facing activity.

2

Clear boundaries

No private relationships, private messaging, undisclosed one-to-ones or personal social-media contact with young participants.

3

A named lead

Our Designated Safeguarding Lead receives concerns, keeps records and liaises with clients and statutory agencies.

Under 18is how we define a child

2026Working Together to Safeguard Children and Keeping Children Safe in Education

In practice

What we commit to.

Identify early whether children will be present or taking part
Agree supervision, emergency contacts and permitted activities for work experience
Be clear what will be filmed or photographed, and where it will appear
Never reuse material beyond the permissions agreed
Store children’s images and details in restricted project locations
Use approved accounts and never record online sessions without permission
Seek DBS checks only where a role is eligible, and never as a substitute for supervision

Step by step

If a young person tells you something

1
Listen

Stay calm and take it seriously.
2
Don’t promise secrecy

Explain it may need to be shared with people who can help.
3
Don’t investigate

Avoid leading questions.
4
Write it down

Make a factual record as soon as possible, in their words.
5
Report it

To the Designated Safeguarding Lead, or a director or statutory service if urgent.
6
Danger? Act now

If a child is in immediate danger, contact emergency services straight away.

The detail

Everything else.

The key parts of the policy, in plain English. The downloadable PDF is the full, controlled version.

Who it covers

Directors, employees, workers, freelancers, placement students and contractors representing us in any work involving children or young people.

Working in schools and colleges

We follow the establishment’s safeguarding procedures too. Their arrangements never remove our own responsibility to act on a concern.

Responsibilities

Directors ensure governance and resources; the Designated Safeguarding Lead handles concerns and records; project producers confirm arrangements before youth-facing work; everyone reports concerns promptly and never investigates allegations themselves.

Concerns about staff

Concerns about anyone working for or with us go to the Designated Safeguarding Lead or a director, and are escalated further, including to the client’s safeguarding lead, the local authority designated officer or police where appropriate.

Information sharing

Safeguarding information is shared on a need-to-know basis, but data protection is never used as an excuse not to share information that’s needed to protect a child.

Training and review

Staff involved regularly in youth-facing work receive safeguarding briefings. The policy is reviewed every year and after any serious incident or major change in guidance.

Laws and guidance this policy follows

Working Together to Safeguard Children 2026, Department for Education
Keeping Children Safe in Education 2026, Department for Education
DBS guidance on regulated activity with children, updated September 2026
Government information-sharing guidance for safeguarding practitioners

The full document