top of page
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube

Safeguarding Children Policy

​Policy Statement

This policy sets out Northern Heartlands CIO’s commitment to safeguarding and child protection. The Charity is committed to the protection of children from all forms of harm and abuse. This policy applies to all staff, freelancers, trustees, volunteers, students, or anyone else working on behalf of the Charity that comes into contact with children and young people through the work of Northern Heartlands.


The Charity will meet the commitment to keeping children safe by:

  • Recognising that all staff and volunteers who come into contact with children through the work of Northern Heartlands, have a commitment to keeping children safe.

 

  • Recognising that all children regardless of race, gender, religious belief, disability, age, sexual orientation, or identity have a right to equal protection from harm; and that some children are more vulnerable to harm because of their circumstances, prior experiences, communication needs or level of dependency.

 

  • listening to children and respecting them.

 

  • appointing a nominated child protection lead and a member of the trustee board who takes lead responsibility for safeguarding at the highest level in the organisation.

 

 

  • making sure all staff and volunteers understand and follow the safeguarding and child protection procedures and understand their role with regard to safeguarding children.

​

This safeguarding policy aligns with the following policies and resources of the Charity:

  • Safeguarding Adults at Risk Policy

  • Health and Safety Policy

  • Safe Recruitment Policy

  • Social Media Policy

  • Trustee Code of Conduct

 

 

1. Policy Guidance and Review

This policy was last updated in: October 2026.

This policy will be reviewed and updated annually by the Charity’s staff and trustees, and has been drawn up in accordance with all relevant and applicable legislation and guidance available to the Charity including the following:

 

 

2. Definitions

 

For the purpose of this policy and accompanying procedures we have set out the following definitions: 

Safeguarding is the action you take to promote the welfare of children and protect them from harm. Safeguarding means:

  • protecting children from abuse and maltreatment

  • preventing harm to children's health and development

  • providing support to meet children's needs when problems emerge

  • ensuring children grow up with safe and effective care, within their family where possible

  • taking action to make sure that all babies, children and young people have the best outcomes.
     

Child protection is part of the safeguarding process. It focuses on protecting individual children identified as suffering, or likely to suffer, significant harm. This includes child protection procedures detailing how to respond to concerns about a child.

​

Children or Child refers to anyone under the age of 18 years old.

 

Staff and Volunteers refers to all staff, freelancers, trustees, volunteers, students, or anyone else working on behalf of the Charity.

 

3. Organisational Safeguarding Roles and Contact Information

 

The staff and trustees within the organisation that take a lead on Safeguarding are as follows:

 

  1. Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO) – Lyndsey Middleton, Creative Communities Coordinator

    1. E: Lyndsey.middleton@northernheartlands.org

    2. M: 07948 349369

    3. T: 01833 200220

  2. Safeguarding Deputy – Katy Milne, Senior Manager

    1. E: katy.milne@northernheartlands.org

    2. M: 07951 939830

    3. T: 01833 200220

  3. Trustee Safeguarding Lead – Ben Tinkler

    1. E: ben@bridgecreative.org

 

The NSPCC Helpline can also offer general advice and guidance on safeguarding concerns in the workplace, from child protection specialists, available between 10am and 4pm Monday to Friday:
Phone number: 0808 800 5000
Email: help@nspcc.org.uk

​

Policy Review Date: April 2026

Board Approved Date: 15th May 2026

Next Review Date: April 2027

bottom of page