Safeguarding Policy

1. Introduction

Mentoring For Youth (trading as The Mentoring Lab) is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children, young people, and vulnerable adults who use our services. We recognise that everyone has a responsibility to safeguard children and young people from harm and abuse.

This policy applies to all staff, mentors, volunteers, contractors, and anyone working on behalf of Mentoring For Youth, whether in a paid or unpaid capacity.

2. Policy Statement

We believe that all children and young people have the right to be protected from harm and abuse. We are committed to:

• Valuing, listening to, and respecting children and young people
• Appointing a Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) with clear responsibilities
• Recruiting staff and mentors safely, ensuring all necessary checks are made
• Providing effective management through supervision, support, and training
• Sharing information about safeguarding with children, parents, and guardians
• Sharing concerns with agencies who need to know and involving children and parents appropriately

3. Safer Recruitment

All youth mentors on our platform undergo a rigorous vetting process that includes:

• Enhanced DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks
• Verification of identity documents
• Two professional references
• Qualification and experience verification
• Face-to-face or video interview
• Mandatory safeguarding training

Youth mentors are not permitted to work with young people until all checks have been completed and verified.

4. Code of Conduct

All youth mentors must adhere to our Code of Conduct, which includes:

• Treating all young people with dignity and respect
• Maintaining appropriate professional boundaries at all times
• Never engaging in inappropriate physical contact
• Reporting any concerns about a young person's welfare immediately
• Never sharing personal contact details with young people outside the platform
• Conducting all sessions through our secure, monitored platform

5. Reporting Concerns

If you have any concerns about the safety or welfare of a young person, you should report them immediately to our Designated Safeguarding Lead via:

In case of immediate danger, please contact the emergency services on 999.

6. Online Safety

All mentoring sessions take place via our secure online platform. We implement the following measures:

• End-to-end encrypted video sessions
• Session recording options for safeguarding purposes
• Real-time monitoring systems
• Secure messaging through the platform only
• Regular platform security audits
• Clear online safety guidelines for all users