Safeguarding policy

Biliki is committed to creating a safe environment for everyone who comes into contact with its work.

Our programmes create opportunities for young people and, over time, may also involve young adults and other participants who may be at increased risk of harm.

This policy sets out Biliki's overarching approach to safeguarding. It explains:

• who is responsible for safeguarding;
• the standards expected of everyone working with Biliki;
• how safeguarding concerns must be raised;
• how Biliki will respond to concerns and allegations;
• how safeguarding will be considered when designing and delivering programmes; and
• how this policy connects with Biliki's other safeguarding procedures.

This is an overarching policy. Detailed operational requirements are set out in Biliki's related procedures and guidance.

This policy applies to anyone working for, with or on behalf of Biliki, including:

• the Founder and CEO;
• employees and contractors;
• facilitators and teaching staff;
• mentors;
• volunteers;
• programme staff;
• members of the Advisory Board when acting on behalf of Biliki;
• partner organisations and their representatives when delivering Biliki activities; and
• anyone else whose work brings them into contact with Biliki participants.

The policy applies to Biliki activities delivered:

• in schools and other physical settings;
• online;
• through one-to-one or group activities;
• through mentoring or other participant relationships; and
• through activities delivered jointly with partners.

Biliki's safeguarding responsibilities include children and young people under 18.

They also extend, where relevant to the circumstances, to:

• young adults;
• adults who may be at increased risk of harm;
• programme participants and beneficiaries;
• parents and carers;
• staff, volunteers, mentors and facilitators;
• partner representatives; and
• others who may come into contact with Biliki's activities.

Biliki recognises that safeguarding needs can differ between children and adults. Where an adult safeguarding concern arises, Biliki will respond in accordance with the circumstances and the relevant local safeguarding arrangements.

Biliki believes that:

• everyone has the right to be treated with dignity and respect;
• no one involved in Biliki's work should experience abuse, harm, neglect or exploitation;
• safeguarding is everyone's responsibility;
• concerns should be raised promptly rather than ignored or assumed to be someone else's responsibility;
• the welfare and best interests of children must remain central when safeguarding children;
• people should be able to speak up about concerns without fear of retaliation;
• safeguarding should be considered when programmes are designed, not added afterwards;
• safeguarding arrangements should be proportionate to the activities and risks involved;
• Biliki should work openly and appropriately with schools, parents, carers, partners and statutory agencies; and
• safeguarding decisions should be recorded clearly and handled sensitively.

Biliki has its Advisory Board who provides strategic advice and is not responsible for Biliki's operational safeguarding decisions.

Safeguarding responsibility is therefore structured as follows.

Founder and CEO

The Founder and CEO has overall organisational responsibility for ensuring that appropriate safeguarding arrangements are established, maintained and reviewed.

This includes ensuring that:

• Biliki has appropriate safeguarding policies and procedures;
• safeguarding risks are considered in programme planning and organisational risk management;
• appropriate people are appointed to safeguarding roles;
• staff, volunteers, mentors and facilitators receive appropriate information and training;
• safeguarding concerns are acted on appropriately; and
• Biliki works with relevant external agencies where required.

Biliki Safeguarding Lead

For each programme held, Biliki will appoint an organisational Safeguarding Lead.

The Safeguarding Lead is responsible for maintaining Biliki's safeguarding framework and providing safeguarding advice and oversight across programmes.

The Safeguarding Lead will:

• maintain the safeguarding policy and related procedures;
• support the appointment and briefing of Programme DSLs;
• advise on safeguarding risks and controls;
• support safeguarding training and awareness;
• maintain appropriate safeguarding records and learning;
• advise on safeguarding concerns and escalation;
• support programme teams when safeguarding issues arise; and
• ensure that safeguarding arrangements are reviewed and improved when necessary.

The Biliki Safeguarding Lead may also act as the Programme DSL for an individual programme where appropriate.

Programme Designated Safeguarding Lead

Each Biliki programme or activity involving participants will have a named Programme Designated Safeguarding Lead (Programme DSL).

The Programme DSL is the primary safeguarding contact for that programme.

The Programme DSL may be:

• Biliki's Safeguarding Lead;
• another appropriately trained Biliki employee or contractor;
• an appropriately trained safeguarding professional; or
• where formally agreed, an appropriately trained safeguarding lead from a delivery partner.

Where a partner provides the Programme DSL, Biliki will document the respective responsibilities and escalation arrangements.

Everyone working with Biliki

Everyone working with Biliki has a responsibility to:

• understand the safeguarding expectations relevant to their role;
• complete required safeguarding training;
• maintain appropriate professional boundaries;
• remain alert to signs of abuse, harm, neglect and exploitation;
• report concerns promptly;
• follow Biliki's safeguarding procedures; and
• cooperate with appropriate safeguarding enquiries.

The Programme DSL manages safeguarding arrangements within the specific programme.

The Biliki Safeguarding Lead provides organisational oversight and support.

For each programme, Biliki will clearly identify:

• who the Programme DSL is;
• how concerns should be reported;
• who acts as a deputy or alternative contact where appropriate;
• when concerns must be escalated to the Biliki Safeguarding Lead;
• how the Programme DSL will access appropriate external safeguarding advice; and
• who takes responsibility when the Programme DSL is unavailable.

The same person may hold both roles where this is appropriate for the size and nature of the programme.

Safeguarding concerns may arise from:

• a disclosure by a participant;
• an allegation made by another person;
• observed behaviour or injuries;
• changes in behaviour or presentation;
• concerns about relationships or professional boundaries;
• online activity or communications;
• concerns about another staff member, volunteer, mentor, facilitator or partner;
• concerns about exploitation or abuse;
• neglect;
• bullying, harassment or discriminatory behaviour;
• sexual abuse or sexual exploitation;
• physical abuse;
• emotional or psychological abuse;
• financial abuse or exploitation;
• self-neglect where relevant to an adult participant;
• inappropriate use of images, recordings or personal information; or
• any other situation in which someone may be at risk of harm.

A concern does not need to be proven before it is reported.

Anyone receiving a disclosure or becoming aware of a concern should:

• take the concern seriously;
• listen calmly;
• avoid leading questions or attempting to investigate;
• not promise absolute confidentiality;
• explain, where appropriate, that information may need to be shared to keep someone safe;
• make a clear and factual record as soon as possible; and
• report the concern promptly through the relevant Programme DSL or other safeguarding route.

Where someone is in immediate danger, or a crime is taking place, the emergency services should be contacted.

Safeguarding reporting procedures will provide the operational detail for making and recording concerns.

Biliki will handle safeguarding information carefully and share information only where appropriate.

Safeguarding information will not be withheld simply because it is sensitive or because data protection is misunderstood as an absolute barrier to information sharing.

Where information needs to be shared to protect someone from harm, Biliki will consider the circumstances, the relevant legal requirements and the guidance of appropriate safeguarding professionals or statutory agencies.

Safeguarding records will be kept securely and accessed only by people who need the information for legitimate safeguarding purposes.

Biliki will take seriously any concern or allegation about the behaviour of a member of staff, volunteer, mentor, facilitator, contractor, adviser or partner representative.

This includes concerns about behaviour that may:

• have harmed a child or adult;
• have placed someone at risk of harm;
• indicate that someone may be unsuitable to work with participants; or
• breach Biliki's safeguarding expectations or professional boundaries.

Such concerns must be reported promptly and must not be investigated informally by the person receiving the allegation.

Biliki will determine the appropriate response and, where necessary, seek advice from the relevant safeguarding authority, school safeguarding lead, local authority or other appropriate agency.

Biliki will take reasonable and proportionate steps to ensure that people appointed to roles involving participants are suitable for those roles.

Depending on the role, this may include:

• identity checks;
• references;
• consideration of relevant qualifications and experience;
• safeguarding training;
• right-to-work checks where applicable;
• DBS checks where legally eligible and appropriate; and
• other suitability checks appropriate to the role.

Biliki will not assume that every role working with children automatically requires the same level of DBS check. DBS eligibility depends on the duties and circumstances of the role.

Detailed requirements will be set out in Biliki's Safer Recruitment and Suitability Procedure.

Every Biliki programme involving participants will consider safeguarding during planning and delivery.

Programme teams will identify relevant risks and establish proportionate controls.

Depending on the programme, this may include consideration of:

• staffing and supervision;
• participant-to-staff ratios;
• venue safety;
• arrival and collection arrangements;
• one-to-one interactions;
• mentoring;
• online activity;
• communications;
• transport and travel;
• accessibility and additional support needs;
• photography and filming;
• use of personal devices;
• emergency arrangements;
• participant information;
• contact with parents or carers;
• partner responsibilities; and
• procedures for responding to concerns.

The programme safeguarding arrangements will be recorded in a Programme Safeguarding Plan or equivalent document.

Everyone working with Biliki must maintain appropriate professional boundaries.

People working with participants must not:

• develop inappropriate personal or sexual relationships with participants;
• use their position to obtain personal, financial or other advantage;
• communicate with participants through inappropriate personal channels;
• give inappropriate gifts or promises;
• seek inappropriate secrecy or confidentiality;
• engage in conduct that could reasonably place a participant at risk; or
• ignore or conceal safeguarding concerns.

Biliki's Code of Conduct and other relevant procedures provide further detail.

Biliki recognises that safeguarding risks can arise through digital communication and online activities.

Biliki will take proportionate steps to manage risks arising from:

• online meetings;
• messaging;
• social media;
• email;
• digital learning platforms;
• group chats;
• sharing images and recordings;
• personal devices; and
• the use of artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies.

Online safeguarding requirements will be set out in Biliki's Online Safety and Digital Communications Policy.

Biliki will take appropriate steps to protect participants when photographs, video, audio or other recordings are created or used.

Particular care will be taken when recording children and young people.

Photography, filming and recording must follow Biliki's Photography, Filming and Image Use Policy and applicable data protection requirements.

Where Biliki delivers activities with a school, education provider or other partner, safeguarding responsibilities will be agreed before delivery.

Where a school has its own safeguarding arrangements, Biliki staff and representatives working on site must comply with the school's relevant requirements in addition to Biliki's own requirements.

Biliki will establish clear arrangements for:

• reporting concerns;
• identifying safeguarding contacts;
• managing allegations;
• emergency situations;
• information sharing;
• supervision;
• participant welfare; and
• escalation.

Keeping Children Safe in Education 2026 applies directly to schools and colleges in England. Biliki will therefore work within the safeguarding arrangements of partner schools when delivering activities in those settings.

Biliki will ensure that people whose roles require safeguarding training receive appropriate training and information.

Training requirements will reflect:

• the person's role;
• the age and circumstances of participants;
• the nature of the programme;
• relevant safeguarding risks; and
• any requirements imposed by a partner organisation or venue.

Safeguarding information will be provided during induction and refreshed as appropriate.

Biliki will maintain appropriate safeguarding records.

Records should be:

• factual;
• clear;
• dated;
• securely stored;
• limited to relevant information; and
• accessible only to those who need access.

Where a safeguarding concern is recorded, the record should normally identify the concern, actions taken, decisions made, reasons for decisions and relevant outcomes.

Biliki expects people to speak up where they have concerns about wrongdoing, unsafe practice or failures in safeguarding.

Safeguarding concerns should normally be raised through Biliki's safeguarding procedures.

Where someone is concerned about safeguarding practice or feels unable to raise a concern through the normal route, Biliki's Whistleblowing Policy provides an alternative route for raising concerns.

Biliki will seek to provide safeguarding arrangements that are accessible and inclusive.

Safeguarding practice should take account of relevant individual circumstances, including disability, communication needs and other factors that may affect someone's ability to understand, communicate or seek help.

Biliki will not tolerate discriminatory, degrading or abusive behaviour.

The Founder and CEO, supported by the Safeguarding Lead, will review safeguarding arrangements periodically and following significant incidents, changes to programmes, changes in relevant law or guidance, or other significant developments.

Learning from safeguarding concerns will be used to improve Biliki's policies, procedures, programme design and training.

This policy should be read alongside, where applicable:

• Code of Conduct;
• Safeguarding Concerns and Reporting Procedure;
• Whistleblowing Policy;
• Data Protection Policy.

Biliki will keep this policy under review against relevant current guidance, including:

• Working Together to Safeguard Children 2026;
• Keeping Children Safe in Education 2026, where relevant to work in education settings;
• relevant local safeguarding partnership arrangements; and
• relevant Disclosure and Barring Service guidance.

Working Together to Safeguard Children 2026 replaced the 2023 version and applied to organisations and agencies in England with functions relating to children.