Safeguarding

Wellspring Development Foundation is committed to protecting the safety, dignity, rights and wellbeing of every person who comes into contact with our programmes. We take reasonable steps to prevent abuse, exploitation, neglect, harassment, discrimination and other forms of harm, and we respond promptly to concerns, whoever is involved.

Who this applies to

Our directors, staff, volunteers, interns, consultants, contractors and partners. It covers our education support and school visits, water projects, apprenticeships for young women, fundraising and publicity, digital communications, and events and travel.

Our principles

• Do no harm
• Dignity and respect for every person
• The best interests of the child
• A response that puts the person who was harmed first
• Prevention and accountability
• Appropriate confidentiality
• Easy-to-use ways to raise a concern
• Community participation
• Protection for anyone who speaks up

What we do not tolerate

We do not tolerate assault, threats, intimidation or humiliation of participants, sexual activity with a child, grooming, asking for sexual favours or unofficial benefits in exchange for education support, water access, training, placement or employment, harassment or discrimination, publishing inappropriate images or personal information, or hiding or interfering with complaints and investigations.

Working with children

• We obtain appropriate parent or guardian permission, and the child’s own agreement where suitable.
• We work through approved schools, caregivers and community structures.
• We avoid being alone with a child in hidden or isolated places, and we use visible, accountable arrangements for tutoring, mentoring, meetings and transport.
• We use approved communication channels, not personal social media or disappearing-message services.
• We never promise secrecy about abuse or immediate danger.

Apprenticeships for young women

Admission, training, placement and completion criteria are transparent. No participant may be asked for sexual favours, gifts, unofficial payments or personal services to gain admission, equipment, certification, placement or employment. Participants know their rights and how to complain, and making a complaint does not cost anyone their place or support. Workplace placements are assessed before approval and monitored.

Water projects

We consult women, children, people with disabilities and other residents when designing water points, and consider privacy, lighting, accessibility, safe routes and location. Contractors must meet our safeguarding standards, and we monitor risks such as unsafe travel or exclusion of marginalised groups.

Photographs, stories and online safety

We explain how images, videos and personal stories will be used and obtain consent first. For children we obtain guardian permission, and we ask for the child’s agreement where appropriate. Help is never conditional on agreeing to publicity, and we do not publish material that could expose a child or vulnerable person to harm.

Safe recruitment of staff and volunteers

Before anyone takes a role with participants, we define the risks of the role, verify identity and qualifications, take references, carry out lawful and proportionate background checks where available, ask for a signed acknowledgement of our policy, and provide role-specific induction. Volunteers must be 18 or over. See volunteering.

Raising a concern

Anyone can raise a concern: a participant, parent, community member, employee, volunteer, contractor or member of the public. You do not need proof, and you can report anonymously, although that can limit our follow-up.

If someone is in immediate danger, contact your local emergency services or police first.

To tell us about a safeguarding concern, use our contact page and choose “Safeguarding concern” as the topic. We keep reports confidential as far as the law and the person’s safety allow.

What happens next

We listen respectfully, deal with any immediate danger, assess safety and support needs, refer to child-protection, social welfare or law-enforcement services where required, and follow up. We do not confront an alleged perpetrator if that could put someone at risk or compromise an investigation. Retaliation against anyone who raises a concern in good faith is prohibited.

Training and review

People working with us receive safeguarding induction suited to their role, and we review our approach at least once a year, after any serious incident, and when the law or our programmes change.