The Community Engage Foundation Designated Safeguarding Lead is Hayley Haughton 

and the Deputy is Donna Haughton.

The trustee to oversee Safeguarding is Caroline Clarke.

The Community Engage Foundation strives to make a positive contribution to the local community and recognises that it is imperative that we maintain a safe space where every individual can visit and live in safety, free from abuse and neglect. This policy seeks to ensure that the Community Engage Foundation undertakes its responsibilities with regards to protection of any vulnerable users and will respond to concerns appropriately. This policy establishes a framework to support volunteers, staff, trustees and external facilitators in their practices and clarifies the organisation’s expectations.

 The Community Engage Foundation Safeguarding Statement 

Everyone at the Community Engage Foundation including volunteers, staff and trustees understand that at times guests who engage with the Community Café, The Good Food Club or one-off events may need protecting from harm, abuse, exploitation or neglect. We believe that our organisation has a responsibility for safeguarding the people we work with and each other as a team. We want to be proactive and responsive towards safeguarding concerns and therefore work closely with volunteers, staff and trustees to ensure mandatory Safeguarding training is completed thus creating a collaborative and standardised approach to recognising, recording and reporting concerns relating to abuse or neglect. 

As we operate from St Ambrose Barlow RC Church (Lakey Lane, Hall Green, Birmingham B28 8QU) it has been requested that we follow the safeguarding protocols of the Archdiocese of Birmingham. 

The Archdiocese Safeguarding number is 0121 230 6240

The Parish Safeguarding lead is Bernadette O’Driscoll (07855 998 702)

The Archdiocese of Birmingham Safeguarding statement

The Archdiocese of Birmingham has a zero-tolerance approach to all Abuse.

 Reporting abuse If you are concerned about the welfare of a child or adult at risk, do not delay in contacting the police, using 999 if a child or adult is believed to be in immediate danger. 

It is the policy of the Catholic Church in England and Wales to report all allegations of abuse to statutory authorities, regardless of whether the abuse occurred recently or in the past, or whether the accused person is living or deceased.

 As per the code of conduct, if you are in any role within the Catholic Church in England and Wales, you must refer allegations directly to the Safeguarding Team in your diocese or religious congregation, or directly to the police. 

If you are a member of the public, please refer allegations directly to the police and to the Diocesan Safeguarding office on 0121 230 6240 (safeguarding@rcaob.org.uk).  Outside of diocese office hours we have to report our concerns directly to adult social care/children's services.

All Church activity should provide a safe environment which promotes and supports the wellbeing of everyone and protects them from harm. 

The Catholic Church in England and Wales has committed to a common set of National safeguarding standards to help protect children and adults who may be vulnerable or at risk. Each Diocese has a Safeguarding Team and a Trustee Sub Committee, which has oversight of that work. Each parish has a Safeguarding Representative who provide the link between the parish and the safeguarding team, promotes safe practice in all activities involving children and adults and advice on safeguarding matters in the parish. 

The Diocesan Safeguarding Team 0121 230 6240, safeguarding@rcaob.org.uk They provide advice to safeguarding representatives and parish priests and manage more serious safeguarding concerns.

Reporting 

Everyone at the Community Engage Foundation including volunteers, staff, trustees and external facilitators can act as ‘alerters’ and notify the Community Engage Foundation’s Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)  if they are concerned. The DSL will then notify the relevant Safeguarding Team who will assess the concern to determine if a safeguarding enquiry is needed. It is not the responsibility of Community Engage Foundation to lead on the investigation of the safeguarding concern, this is the duty of the relevant Local Authority.