Policy Owner SHAK Board chair@shakonline.co.uk 
Responsible person SHAK CEO shakceo@shakonline.co.uk  Phone: 0300 365 2003 
Audience Trustees, Staff, Volunteers, Service users, Third-party providers and Partners.  
Legislation Equality Act 2010  
Formally approved by Board of trustees chair@shakonline.co.uk 
Approval Date 25/10/2024  
Next Review 25/10/2025  

Policy statement 

All children, young people and adults at risk1 have a fundamental right to be protected from all types of harm and abuse. They also have the right to expect adults in positions of responsibility to do everything possible to promote their welfare, keep them safe and practise in a way that protects them.  

SHAK is committed to upholding these rights as a vital part of our work to improve the wellbeing, inclusion and life chances of people living locally. We recognise that all children, young people and adults at risk have an equal right to protection, regardless of: 

  • age 
  • gender reassignment 
  • being married or in a civil partnership 
  • race including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin 
  • religion or belief 
  • sex 
  • sexual orientation 

We recognise, too, that some children, young people and adults are additionally vulnerable because of the impact of their previous experiences, their level of dependency, communication needs or other issues.  

This policy and the supporting annexes set out our arrangements for preventing abuse from happening and for responding quickly and appropriately where abuse occurs or is suspected.  

The policy covers all of SHAK’s activities including our youth provision (ARC youth club). It applies to everyone working with SHAK and ARC, including the board of trustees, paid staff, sessional workers, volunteers, and anyone else working on our behalf.  

We will seek to keep children, young people and adults at risk safe by: 

  • Building a safe culture where everyone is valued, listened to and respected and feels comfortable raising concerns.  
  • Designating a safeguarding lead, deputy safeguarding leads and a lead trustee for safeguarding and being clear about roles and responsibilities.  
  • Keeping up-to-date with safeguarding best practice and incorporating this throughout our policies and procedures.  
  • When delivering youth activities to young people we will abide by NSPCC recommendations for adult to child ratios as stated below: 

under 2 years – one adult to three children 

2 – 3 years – one adult to four children 

4 – 8 years – one adult to six children 

9 – 12 years – one adult to eight children 

13 – 18 years – one adult to ten children 

  • Practising safe recruitment of trustees, staff and volunteers, ensuring all necessary checks are made. 
  • Providing guidance, training and support so that everyone working for us understands what’s required of them in relation to safeguarding and feels equipped to make informed and confident responses to specific issues. 
  • Ensuring we provide a safe physical environment, and that all activities and services are adequately supervised. 
  • Identifying potential risks and looking at how these can be minimised. As part of this, assessing the extra safeguards needed to keep children, young people and adults who are additionally vulnerable safe from abuse. 
  • Helping those we work with to protect themselves and others, including by sharing information and good practice, by making sure they know how to report a concern or incident and through the content of our programmes.  
  • Taking all suspicions and allegations of abuse seriously and responding to them swiftly and appropriately. 
  • Working in partnership with children, young people, their parents/carers, adults at risk, the people who support them and with other agencies.  
  • Recording, storing and using information safely and securely in line with data protection legislation and guidance. 
  • Monitoring our performance and reviewing this policy annually. Reviews may also be prompted by changes in legislation and/or by the results of a significant case. 

Prevent Duty 

  • Staff respond to ideological challenges of terrorism and report concerns to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism. 
  • Staff are aware of the Prevent Duty Guidelines in England and Wales. 
  • The Prevent strategy is integrated into safeguarding and employee training. 

British Values 

  • We promote fundamental British values, including democracy, rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect, and tolerance. 
  • Staff challenge views contrary to these values and ensure a safe environment for discussion. 

Key contacts 

Designated lead for safeguarding  –  John Boyle  

Phone/email:  0207 372 9249 /  jboyle@shakonline.co.uk 

Deputy designated lead for safeguarding (ARC) – Steve Davies  

Phone/email: 0207 624 8935 /  sdavies@shakonline.co.uk 

Deputy designated lead for safeguarding (SHAK) – Elze Zymantaite 

Phone/email: 02073727021 / elze@shakonline.co.uk  

Lead trustee for safeguarding – Ruth Daniel (Adkin) 

Email: safeguarding@shakonline.co.uk 

Social Services Office and out of hours duty social worker  

Phone number: 020 7974 4444 during office hours 

Emergency out of hours number 020 7278 4444 

Address Crowndale Centre, Eversholt Street, NW1 1BD 

Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO): LADO@camden.gov.uk /  

Sonia Forbes Sonia.forbes@camden.gov.uk  0207974 4351, 07880 055223  

Local Police: West Hampstead Police Station, 21 Fortune Green Road, London NW6 1DX.    07920 233766