Safeguarding

Our approach

People come to Beyond Today with different lives, circumstances and experiences. We don't assume that somebody is vulnerable or at risk because of their background, and people do not need to disclose personal circumstances in order to take part.

At the same time, we recognise that safeguarding concerns can arise in any community.

Someone may tell us directly that something is happening to them. We might become concerned about something we see or hear. A participant might be worried about somebody else. A concern could also relate to the behaviour of somebody working or volunteering with Beyond Today.

Whatever the circumstances, we will take the concern seriously and consider what response is appropriate.

Wherever it is safe and appropriate, we will involve the person concerned in decisions about what happens next, listen to what they want and explain any action we believe needs to be taken.

What we mean by safeguarding

Safeguarding is about protecting a person's right to live safely and responding appropriately when there is reason to believe somebody may be experiencing, or at risk of, abuse, neglect, exploitation or other serious harm.

This can take many forms, including physical, sexual, psychological or emotional abuse, domestic abuse, financial abuse, discrimination, exploitation, neglect, self-neglect and modern slavery.

It can happen in someone's home, relationships, workplace, community or online. It may involve someone they know or somebody they have never met.

A person does not have to describe what is happening to them as "abuse" for us to take a concern seriously.

Confidentiality

We recognise that people may share personal information with us, particularly during conversations, workshops, creative activities and lived-experience projects.

We will treat that information with care and respect, and handle it in line with data protection law.

Personal and safeguarding information will only be shared where there is a legitimate reason to do so and only with people who need the information.

We cannot, however, promise absolute confidentiality.

There may be circumstances where information needs to be shared even if the person concerned would prefer us not to. This could include situations where we believe somebody is at serious risk of harm, another person may be at risk, a child may be at risk, a serious crime may have been committed, or there is another legal or safeguarding reason requiring us to act.

Wherever it is safe and appropriate, we will explain what information needs to be shared, who it will be shared with and why.

We will not share more information than is reasonably necessary for the purpose.

If you tell us something

If you tell someone at Beyond Today about something that has happened to you, our role is to listen and respond appropriately.

We will not expect you to prove what has happened before we take you seriously.

The person you speak to should:

• listen without judgement
• avoid asking unnecessary or leading questions
• explain what they may need to do with the information
• consider whether anybody is in immediate danger
• pass a safeguarding concern to our Designated Safeguarding Lead
• make an appropriate record of what has been shared

Our facilitators and volunteers are not expected to investigate allegations themselves, confront another person on your behalf or make promises about outcomes they cannot control.

Raising a concern

You can raise a safeguarding concern if you are worried about:

• something that has happened to you
• another participant
• something you have witnessed at a Beyond Today activity
• the behaviour of a director, member of staff, facilitator, contractor or volunteer
• the way Beyond Today has responded to a previous safeguarding concern

You can speak to a facilitator during an activity or email hello@beyondtoday.org.uk with Safeguarding in the subject line.

Concerns can also be raised anonymously. We will take anonymous concerns seriously, although anonymity may sometimes limit our ability to ask further questions or provide an update.

Designated Safeguarding Lead: Jason Mukisa

Safeguarding concerns can be raised by emailing hello@beyondtoday.org.uk with Safeguarding in the subject line.

If your concern relates to the Designated Safeguarding Lead, please state this in your email so that it can be handled by another director.

What happens when a concern is raised

Our Designated Safeguarding Lead will review the information and consider what needs to happen next.

Depending on the circumstances, this might include speaking with the person concerned, taking steps within Beyond Today, seeking safeguarding advice, making a referral to adult safeguarding services or contacting the police or another appropriate organisation.

Not every safeguarding concern results in an external referral.

We will consider the circumstances, the person's wishes, the level of risk, whether anybody else may be at risk and our legal and safeguarding responsibilities before deciding what action is appropriate.

Safeguarding concerns and the decisions made in response to them are recorded securely and confidentially, with access limited to people who genuinely need the information.

Concerns about people working with us

The same safeguarding standards apply to the people representing Beyond Today.

Concerns about a director, employee, facilitator, contractor or volunteer will be taken seriously and will not be dismissed or handled differently because of that person's position within the organisation.

Where appropriate, we may restrict somebody's involvement in activities while a concern is considered and may refer a matter to safeguarding services, the police or another relevant authority.

Our priority will be the safety and wellbeing of the people involved, not protecting the reputation of the organisation or an individual working with us.

If you're not happy with how a safeguarding concern was handled, you can also raise this through our Complaints process.

Our people and safer recruitment

People working or volunteering with Beyond Today are expected to understand their safeguarding responsibilities, maintain appropriate boundaries and know how to report a concern.

We use proportionate safer-recruitment practices, safeguarding induction and training appropriate to each role.

Where a role is legally eligible for a DBS check, the appropriate level of check will be considered according to the responsibilities involved. We do not assume that every role automatically requires the same level of DBS check.

Children

Beyond Today's activities are currently intended for adults aged 18 and over.

However, somebody taking part in an activity may tell us something that causes concern about the safety or wellbeing of a child.

We will not ignore that information simply because the child is not a Beyond Today participant. Concerns that a child may be at risk of abuse, neglect or serious harm will be treated as safeguarding concerns and referred appropriately.

If a child is in immediate danger, call 999.

Mental health and distress

Experiencing poor mental health or emotional distress does not automatically make something a safeguarding matter.

Beyond Today is also not a mental health treatment or crisis service.

We will, however, take action where we believe someone may be at immediate or serious risk of harm. This may include contacting emergency or appropriate specialist services.

We will not expect facilitators or volunteers to provide clinical assessment, counselling or crisis intervention unless they are appropriately qualified and specifically engaged to provide that service.

If you need help now

Beyond Today is not an emergency or crisis service, and our email address is not monitored as an emergency response line.

• If you or somebody else is in immediate danger or at immediate risk of serious harm, call 999.
• For urgent mental health support, call NHS 111 and select the mental health option.
• Samaritans are available free, 24 hours a day, on 116 123.
• If you're concerned about an adult in Luton who may be experiencing abuse, neglect or harm, contact the Luton Adult Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) on 01582 547 730 or adultsafeguarding@luton.gov.uk.

Our full policy

This page provides an overview of how safeguarding works at Beyond Today.

Our full Safeguarding and Confidentiality Policy sets out our procedures in more detail, including responding to disclosures, recording concerns, confidentiality and information sharing, allegations involving people working with us, safer recruitment, DBS checks, professional boundaries and safeguarding governance.

A copy of our full Safeguarding and Confidentiality Policy is available on request.

For a copy of the policy, or for questions about safeguarding at Beyond Today, email hello@beyondtoday.org.uk.