Leadership Commitment to Safeguarding

As the Leadership†, we recognise the need to provide a safe and caring environment for children, young people and adults with additional care and support needs.  We acknowledge that children, young people and adults can be vulnerable to physical, sexual and emotional abuse, and neglect.  

We accept the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant of Human Rights, which states that everyone is entitled to “all the rights and freedoms set forth therein, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status”.  We also concur with the Convention on the Rights of the Child which states that children should be able to develop their full potential, free from hunger and want, neglect and abuse.   They have a right to be protected from “all forms of physical or mental violence, injury or abuse, neglect or negligent treatment or exploitation, including sexual abuse, while in the care of parent(s), legal guardian(s), or any other person who has care of the child.”  

As a Leadership we have therefore adopted the procedures set out in this safeguarding policy in accordance with statutory guidance.  We are committed to build constructive links with statutory and voluntary agencies involved in safeguarding.  

The policy and appendices are based on the ten ‘Safe and Secure’ safeguarding standards published by ThirtyOne:Eight (formerly the Churches' Child Protection Advisory Service (CCPAS)) and have been prepared in line with the AOG National Leadership Team’s commitment to Safeguarding.  Each section title contains a reference to the relevant standard within ‘Safe & Secure’ for further information.

The Leadership undertakes to: 

• endorse and follow all national and local safeguarding legislation and procedures, in addition to the international conventions outlined above.

• provide ongoing safeguarding training for all its workers and no less than every three years will regularly review the operational guidelines attached.

• ensure that the premises meet the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 and all other relevant legislation, and that it is welcoming and inclusive.

• support the Safeguarding Coordinator(s) in their work and in any action they may need to take in order to protect children and adults with additional care and support needs.

• undertake an annual review of the policy and its implementation

• ensure that a copy of the policy is available upon request for quality assurance purposes

• file a copy of any amendments subsequently published in the same manner.

• not to allow the document to be copied by other organisations.

The leadership remains committed to upholding the principles within this policy while making reasonable adjustments to maintain virtual contact and pastoral care for its partners and attenders in the event of national or local lockdowns caused by Covid 19.

† Throughout this policy document, ‘Leadership’ refers to any body of individuals with overall responsibility for the organisation.

Contact our Safeguarding Coordinators

If you are concerned about a vulnerable child or adult who takes part in one of Riverside’s regular clubs or is a part of the church please do not hesitate to get in touch with one of our safeguarding co-ordinators.