Safeguarding 

We have a new Safeguarding Policy Statement which outlines what The Boys’ Brigade does to keep children and young people safe.

We are currently reviewing and updating all of the supporting safeguarding policies, procedures and guidance. These will be available in early 2024 within a new Safeguarding Hub on our website.

View the Safeguarding Policy Statement online

Online Safety

We can all play a part in keeping children safe online, but in order to do this, we need to understand the harms that children and young people can face. The Children’s Society and NSPCC have some really useful guidance for parents/carers, which are also suitable for volunteers.

The NSPCC has been campaigning to make the internet safer for five years. Finally in October 2023 the Online Safety Bill was passed. This requires companies that operate online services (including chat and instant messenger platforms, online gaming, and photo and video sharing services) to be legally responsible for keeping people, especially children, safe online.

The Bill has been shaped by young people who have experienced child abuse online, and their families who have been impacted. You may have read in the media about the campaigning by the parents of Molly Russell. The inquest into her death ruled that self-harm and suicide content online had contributed to her death.

During the five years that the NSPCC has been campaigning, their research has shown there has been an 82% rise in online grooming crimes and a 66% increase in child abuse image crimes.

Residentials & Lifelong Medical Conditions

There are currently over one million children in schools who manage lifelong medical conditions (Diabetes UK). Around one in 11 children in the UK are living with asthma (NHS UK). 

BBHQ is working on resources/guidance to support young people with health conditions to safely attend residentials, and help leaders feel confident and able to support them.

In the meantime, the following is not an exhaustive list but gives an idea of some of the necessary steps to be undertaken. Remember planning in advance is essential.

• Meet with the parents/carers 6-8 weeks in advance of the event (and the young person if appropriate) and seek information about the health condition, how it is managed, what medications are used, how they should be stored/transported etc. Clarify signs and symptoms to indicate if the child is becoming unwell, and how to respond in an emergency 
• Clarify if the child has an individual healthcare plan, and a named medical specialist that can be contacted for guidance/advice. 
• Consider if any leaders have/need training to support the young person.
• Contact the venue/accommodation to ensure any medication can be stored in the appropriate conditions e.g. securely/in a fridge. 
• Prepare a care plan for the young person/event to include all relevant information and how to respond to the young person becoming unwell, and in an emergency. This should include named individuals responsible for particular areas or care and support. Many organisations such as Diabetes UK and Asthma UK have tool kits and guidance which would help with this. 
• Consider the care plan as part of a risk assessment process so that appropriate control measures can be put in place, to manage any risks. This will help to determine whether leaders need any additional support, such as a parent/carer attending all or part of the activity with the child or young person, or the young person attending for only part of the event.

If you would like any advice or guidance please contact us at safeguarding@boys-bigade.org.uk