About our safeguarding policy

JournoTECH works with communities through technology, artificial intelligence, digital security, journalism, education, research, digital creativity and emerging technologies.

Our programmes may involve children, young people and adults, including people who may be at greater risk of abuse, exploitation, neglect or harm because of their circumstances or support needs.

We are committed to creating environments where people feel safe, respected, listened to and able to participate.

This policy explains how JournoTECH approaches safeguarding and what we expect from our staff, volunteers, trainers, specialists, partners and anyone else representing the organisation.

Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility at JournoTECH.

We follow relevant UK legislation and safeguarding guidance, including the Department for Education’s Working Together to Safeguard Children 2026 and relevant guidance concerning adults at risk.

Our commitment

JournoTECH believes that everyone has the right to be treated with dignity and respect and to participate in our activities without experiencing abuse, exploitation, harassment, discrimination or avoidable harm.

We will:

take safeguarding concerns seriously;
listen to people who raise concerns;
act promptly when we become aware of a risk;
provide appropriate safeguarding training and guidance;
make reasonable efforts to prevent harm;
maintain appropriate safeguarding and reporting procedures;
work with relevant organisations and authorities when necessary;
protect personal and safeguarding information appropriately;
regularly review our safeguarding arrangements.

We will not ignore, minimise or cover up concerns about abuse or harm.

The Charity Commission recommends that organisations working with children or adults at risk have appropriate safeguarding policies, trained staff and volunteers, a safeguarding lead and clear arrangements for responding to concerns.

PART A — CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE

Who is a child or young person?

For safeguarding purposes, JournoTECH considers anyone under 18 to be a child or young person.

Our activities may include young people of different ages and levels of experience. We will adapt our safeguarding approach to the age, needs and circumstances of participants.

Protecting children and young people

We recognise that children and young people may experience harm in different ways.

This may include:

physical abuse;
emotional abuse;
sexual abuse;
neglect;
bullying;
cyberbullying;
discrimination;
grooming;
child sexual exploitation;
criminal exploitation;
coercion;
domestic abuse;
peer-on-peer abuse;
harmful online contact;
exposure to inappropriate online content;
manipulation or scams;
radicalisation or extremist influence;
abuse or exploitation through digital platforms.

We will take concerns about any of these issues seriously.

Listening to children and young people

If a child or young person tells a member of our team that something is wrong, we will listen and take them seriously.

Staff should:

remain calm;
listen carefully;
allow the child to explain in their own words;
avoid blaming or judging them;
avoid asking unnecessary or leading questions;
never promise to keep a safeguarding concern secret;
explain, where appropriate, that the information may need to be shared with someone who can help;
report the concern to the Safeguarding Lead.

Online and digital safeguarding

Digital safety is particularly important to JournoTECH because much of our work involves technology.

Children and young people may use:

computers;
tablets;
mobile devices;
artificial intelligence tools;
online platforms;
digital media tools;
coding platforms;
immersive technologies;
websites and online learning resources.

We will take reasonable steps to protect participants from inappropriate content, unsafe online contact and other digital risks.

We will encourage young people to understand:

how to protect personal information;
safe passwords and account security;
scams and suspicious messages;
online manipulation;
inappropriate contact;
cyberbullying;
harmful content;
how to report concerns;
how to ask for help.

Artificial intelligence and emerging technologies

JournoTECH recognises that AI and emerging technologies create both opportunities and risks.

When children and young people use AI or emerging technology through our programmes, we will consider:

age appropriateness;
privacy;
personal information;
inappropriate content;
misinformation;
harmful or unexpected outputs;
online safety;
responsible use.

Activities will be supervised and adapted according to the age and needs of participants.

PART B — ADULTS AND ADULTS AT RISK

Safeguarding adults

JournoTECH also works with adults through training, community programmes, research, technology projects and other activities.

We recognise that some adults may be particularly vulnerable to abuse or exploitation because of their circumstances, disability, illness, care and support needs, isolation or other factors.

For safeguarding purposes, JournoTECH will consider the specific circumstances of the individual rather than making assumptions based solely on age or disability.

What is an adult at risk?

In England, safeguarding duties concerning adults at risk apply to adults who:

have needs for care and support, whether or not those needs are being met;
are experiencing, or are at risk of, abuse or neglect; and
because of those care and support needs, are unable to protect themselves from the risk or experience of abuse or neglect.

JournoTECH will take appropriate action where we become concerned that an adult may be experiencing abuse, neglect or exploitation.

Types of abuse affecting adults

Concerns may include:

physical abuse;
emotional or psychological abuse;
sexual abuse;
financial abuse;
neglect;
discriminatory abuse;
domestic abuse;
organisational abuse;
exploitation;
coercive or controlling behaviour;
modern slavery;
self-neglect;
abuse through digital technology;
scams and financial exploitation;
harassment or intimidation.

We recognise that abuse may be carried out by someone known to the person, a family member, a carer, another participant, a professional, a volunteer, an online contact or a stranger.

Supporting adults to raise concerns

JournoTECH will seek to create an environment where adults feel able to raise concerns without fear of judgement or retaliation.

Where an adult tells us about a safeguarding concern, we will:

listen respectfully;
take the concern seriously;
respect the person’s dignity;
explain what may happen next;
consider their wishes and views;
report the concern through the appropriate safeguarding route;
maintain appropriate confidentiality.

Where possible and appropriate, we will support adults to make informed decisions about what happens next.

However, confidentiality cannot always be maintained where there is a serious risk of harm or where information must legally be shared.

PART C — OUR PEOPLE AND SAFER WORKING

Safeguarding Lead

JournoTECH will appoint a Safeguarding Lead who is responsible for coordinating safeguarding arrangements.

The Safeguarding Lead will:

receive safeguarding concerns;
ensure concerns are recorded appropriately;
make appropriate referrals;
support staff and volunteers;
ensure safeguarding procedures are communicated;
coordinate safeguarding training;
review safeguarding arrangements;
work with relevant safeguarding authorities and partner organisations where necessary.

Where the Safeguarding Lead is unavailable, JournoTECH will identify an appropriate alternative person to respond to safeguarding concerns.

DBS and safer recruitment

JournoTECH takes the suitability of people working with children, young people and adults at risk seriously.

Our core team members who work directly with children and young people have Enhanced DBS checks.

Anyone we recruit, engage or partner with for work involving children, young people or adults at risk will be subject to appropriate safeguarding and suitability checks before beginning relevant work.

Depending on the role, responsibilities and legal requirements, this may include:

DBS checks;
Enhanced DBS checks;
Enhanced DBS checks with a Children’s Barred List check;
Enhanced DBS checks with an Adults’ Barred List check;
identity checks;
references;
qualification checks;
safeguarding training;
relevant professional or suitability checks.

JournoTECH will assess the actual duties and responsibilities of each role to determine the appropriate level of DBS check.

We will not request a DBS level for which a role is not legally eligible.

Current DBS guidance requires organisations to assess eligibility based on the nature of the role and activities, including whether the work falls within the children’s or adults’ workforce.

Where a DBS check is required, the person will not undertake the relevant work until the required checks and safeguarding requirements have been completed, unless an appropriate lawful arrangement applies.

A DBS check is one part of our safer recruitment process and does not replace references, interviews, safeguarding training, supervision or ongoing management.

Core team and safeguarding training

JournoTECH expects people who work directly with children, young people or adults at risk to have appropriate safeguarding knowledge and training for their role.

Our core team members who work with children and young people have safeguarding training and Enhanced DBS checks.

We will require new staff, volunteers, trainers, specialists and other relevant people to complete appropriate safeguarding requirements before undertaking work that involves direct contact with children, young people or adults at risk.

Professional boundaries

Everyone representing JournoTECH must maintain appropriate professional boundaries.

People working for or with JournoTECH must not:

engage in inappropriate physical contact;
use threatening, humiliating or abusive language;
form inappropriate relationships with participants;
exchange inappropriate personal messages or images;
use personal social media accounts to communicate inappropriately with participants;
misuse personal information;
favour or exclude participants inappropriately;
behave in a way that could reasonably put someone at risk.

Concerns about the behaviour of anyone representing JournoTECH should be reported.

PART D — REPORTING AND RESPONDING TO CONCERNS

What should someone do if they have a concern?

A concern may come from:

a participant;
a parent or carer;
a staff member;
a volunteer;
a trainer;
a partner organisation;
another member of the public;
something observed during an activity;
information received online.

Anyone working with JournoTECH who has a safeguarding concern should report it to the Safeguarding Lead as soon as possible.

They should not attempt to investigate the concern themselves.

Immediate danger

If someone is in immediate danger or there is an urgent risk of serious harm, emergency services should be contacted.

Emergency: 999

The Safeguarding Lead should also be informed as soon as it is safe and appropriate to do so.

Recording concerns

Safeguarding concerns will be recorded accurately and securely. Records should include:

the date and time;
what was seen or reported;
the person’s own words where possible;
who was involved;
action taken;
who the concern was reported to;
any follow-up action.

Records should be factual and should not include unnecessary speculation or personal opinions.

Information sharing and confidentiality

JournoTECH respects people’s privacy and will handle safeguarding information carefully.

However, safeguarding information cannot always remain confidential.

Information may need to be shared with appropriate professionals, safeguarding services, emergency services or other authorities where this is necessary to protect someone from harm.

We will only share information for a legitimate purpose and will handle it in accordance with applicable data protection requirements.

Concerns about a JournoTECH worker

If a safeguarding concern is raised about an employee, volunteer, freelancer, trainer, consultant, specialist, partner or any other person representing JournoTECH, it will be taken seriously.

The person who is the subject of the concern will not be responsible for investigating the concern themselves.

JournoTECH will take appropriate steps to protect participants and seek advice or make referrals to relevant safeguarding authorities where necessary.

Where a person is removed from regulated activity and the legal criteria for a DBS referral are met, JournoTECH will comply with its legal duty to refer to the DBS.

Concerns involving partners or external organisations

Where JournoTECH works with another organisation, we will consider safeguarding responsibilities as part of the partnership.

Where children, young people or adults at risk are involved, we may require partners, trainers, consultants or delivery organisations to demonstrate appropriate safeguarding arrangements and checks.

Responsibilities should be clear so that everyone knows who is responsible for responding to concerns.

PART E — INCLUSION, DIGITAL SAFETY AND WELLBEING

Equality and inclusion

JournoTECH wants everyone to feel welcome and respected.

We do not tolerate bullying, harassment or discrimination.

We recognise that safeguarding concerns may intersect with:

disability;
race or ethnicity;
religion or belief;
sex;
sexual orientation;
age;
social or economic circumstances;
family circumstances;
other personal characteristics.

We will consider people’s individual needs and make reasonable adjustments where appropriate.

People with additional support needs

Some participants may require additional support to participate safely.

Where appropriate, JournoTECH will work with the person, parent/carer or relevant professional to understand their needs.

This may include:

clearer instructions;
additional time;
breaks;
smaller groups;
alternative activities;
accessibility adjustments;
additional supervision.

We will avoid making assumptions about a person’s abilities or needs.

Online programmes and remote participation

Safeguarding responsibilities also apply when JournoTECH delivers activities online.

We will consider:

who has access to the session;
how participants communicate;
privacy;
inappropriate behaviour;
recording;
screen sharing;
online contact between participants;
inappropriate content;
reporting concerns.

Appropriate measures will be used according to the activity and age of participants.

PART F — GOVERNANCE AND REVIEW

Safeguarding records and data protection

Safeguarding information is sensitive and will be stored securely.

JournoTECH will only collect and retain information that is necessary for legitimate safeguarding, programme delivery or legal purposes.

Access to safeguarding records will be restricted to people who need the information to carry out their responsibilities.

Our GDPR and Record Keeping Policy provides further information about how JournoTECH manages personal information.

Safeguarding culture

Safeguarding is not only about responding when something goes wrong.

JournoTECH aims to create a culture where:

people feel safe raising concerns;
staff understand their responsibilities;
participants know how to ask for help;
concerns are taken seriously;
poor practice is challenged;
safeguarding is considered when planning new projects;
lessons are learned from incidents and near misses.

We will consider safeguarding when developing new programmes, partnerships, technologies and activities.

Policy review

This policy will be reviewed at least annually and sooner where necessary.

It will also be reviewed when:

safeguarding legislation or guidance changes;
JournoTECH introduces new types of activities;
there is a serious safeguarding incident;
an incident or concern identifies a need for improvement;
our work with children, young people or adults at risk changes;
a partner or funder requires an update.

The Charity Commission recommends that safeguarding policies are put into practice, kept responsive to change and reviewed at least annually and following serious incidents.

Contact us

If you have a safeguarding concern relating to a JournoTECH activity, please contact:

JournoTECH Safeguarding Lead
Name: Kevin Woke

Email: info@journotech.org

Last updated and Approved: September 16, 2026

If someone is in immediate danger, call 999.

JournoTECH will work with the appropriate local safeguarding authorities where a referral is required.

SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN, YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULTS POLICY