Safeguarding Policy

1. Policy statement

Revive Community Center is run by Revive Community Centre CIC (company number 17187472). We believe that every child, young person and adult has the right to be safe from harm, abuse and neglect, whatever their age, disability, gender, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.

We have a duty of care to everyone who takes part in our activities. We will take all reasonable steps to protect them, and we will act quickly and appropriately on any concern.

2. Scope

This policy applies to the director, staff, volunteers, teachers, guest speakers, contractors and partner organisations working at or on behalf of Revive Community Center, at our centre, on trips and camps, and online.

A child is anyone under the age of 18. An adult at risk is anyone aged 18 or over who has care and support needs and, because of those needs, cannot protect themselves from abuse or neglect.

3. Law and guidance

This policy is based on the law and guidance that applies in England, including:

• The Children Act 1989 and the Children Act 2004
• Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023
• The Care Act 2014
• The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006
• The Data Protection Act 2018 and UK GDPR
• The Greater Manchester Safeguarding Procedures and the guidance of the Manchester Safeguarding Partnership

4. Our commitments

• Appoint a Designated Safeguarding Lead and make sure everyone knows how to contact them
• Recruit staff and volunteers safely, including DBS checks where required
• Give every staff member and volunteer safeguarding training at induction, refreshed at least every three years
• Follow a clear code of conduct and keep appropriate adult-to-child ratios
• Listen to children and young people and take their concerns seriously
• Share concerns with the right agencies promptly and work with them
• Keep records securely and share information only when needed to keep someone safe
• Make this policy available to parents, carers, volunteers and partners

5. Designated Safeguarding Lead

Our Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) is responsible for receiving concerns, deciding on next steps, making referrals and keeping records.

Designated Safeguarding Lead	Dr Abdullah Nouh
Deputy Safeguarding Lead	Ahmed Hussein Sabee, Director
Phone	07393 004678
Email	info@revivemanchester.uk

If the DSL is not available, contact the Deputy. If neither is available and a child or adult may be at risk, do not wait: contact Manchester City Council or the police directly.

6. Safer recruitment

• Everyone who works with children or adults at risk completes an application and provides two references
• Staff and volunteers in regulated activity have an enhanced DBS check with barred list check, renewed every three years
• New volunteers complete an induction covering this policy and the code of conduct
• Volunteers without a DBS check only take on roles that do not involve working directly with children, and are never left alone with a child
• Guest speakers are agreed in advance by the director and are supervised during sessions

7. Code of conduct

Everyone working with us must:

• Treat every child and adult with respect and dignity
• Avoid being alone with a child out of sight of other adults; if one-to-one time is needed, keep it in an open, visible space
• Keep at least two adults present at every children’s session
• Never contact children privately by phone, social media or messaging apps; use group channels that include parents or the organisation
• Never use physical punishment, humiliating language or inappropriate physical contact
• Never give lifts to children alone without written consent from a parent or carer
• Report any concern, however small, to the DSL

8. Recognising abuse

Abuse can be physical, emotional, sexual or neglect. Children and adults may also be at risk from bullying, domestic abuse, criminal or sexual exploitation, online abuse, female genital mutilation, forced marriage, radicalisation or financial abuse.

Signs can include unexplained injuries, changes in behaviour, fear of a particular person, poor hygiene, missing sessions without explanation, or a child telling you something worrying. You do not need to be certain that abuse is happening to report a concern.

9. Responding to a concern

If a child or adult tells you something, or you notice something worrying:

• Stay calm and listen. Let them speak freely and do not ask leading questions.
• Reassure them. Tell them they were right to tell you.
• Do not promise to keep a secret. Explain that you need to tell someone who can help.
• Act quickly. If they are in immediate danger, call 999.
• Tell the DSL the same day. Do not investigate yourself or confront anyone.
• Write it down. Record what was said, in their words, with the date, time, your name and signature.

10. Who to contact

Our centre is at Discovery House in Stockport, and most of our activities serve families in Manchester and across Greater Manchester. We report concerns to the council where the child or adult lives. If they live in another Greater Manchester borough, we contact that council.

Emergency, someone in immediate danger	999
Revive Designated Safeguarding Lead	07393 004678
Manchester City Council social care, children and adults (24 hours)	0161 234 5001
Manchester City Council by email (not for emergencies)	mcsreply@manchester.gov.uk
Stockport Council, children (Monday to Friday, office hours)	0161 217 6028
Stockport Council, adults (Monday to Friday, office hours)	0161 217 6029
Stockport Emergency Duty Team (out of hours)	0161 718 2118
Oldham Council, for people living in Oldham	0161 770 7777
Police, non-emergency	101
NSPCC helpline for adults worried about a child	0808 800 5000
Childline for children and young people	0800 1111

11. Allegations against staff or volunteers

Any concern about the behaviour of a member of staff, volunteer or speaker must be reported to the DSL straight away. The DSL will contact the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) through Manchester City Council within one working day and follow their advice. If the concern is about the DSL, report it to the Deputy Safeguarding Lead or directly to Manchester City Council.

We support anyone who raises a concern in good faith. Nobody will be treated unfairly for reporting a safeguarding concern.

12. Online safety and photographs

• We ask for written consent from a parent or carer before taking or sharing photographs or video of children
• We do not publish children’s full names or personal details alongside their images
• Online sessions and live streams are supervised, and children’s personal contact details are never shared

13. Records and confidentiality

Safeguarding records are kept confidential and stored securely, with access limited to the DSL and those who need to know. Information is shared with other agencies only when it is necessary to keep someone safe, in line with data protection law.

14. Review

This policy was adopted in October 2026 and will be reviewed every year, or sooner if the law, guidance or our activities change. Next review: October 2027.

Signed: Ahmed Hussein Sabee, Director, Revive Community Centre CIC
Designated Safeguarding Lead: Dr Abdullah Nouh