Safeguarding Policy
Cultivate Colindale is committed to creating a safe, respectful and inclusive environment for everyone who visits, volunteers, works or takes part in activities on site. We have a particular responsibility to safeguard children and adults at risk from harm, abuse and neglect. This policy applies to staff, volunteers, partner organisations and anyone delivering activities at Cultivate Colindale.
Our Approach
We are committed to:
treating everyone with dignity and respect;
taking safeguarding concerns seriously and responding to them promptly;
maintaining appropriate boundaries when working with children and adults at risk;
ensuring people working and volunteering on site understand their safeguarding responsibilities;
putting appropriate safeguarding arrangements in place for activities involving children or adults at risk.
Children attending Cultivate Colindale should remain under the supervision of a parent, guardian, school or responsible group unless they are taking part in an activity specifically designed and appropriately staffed to provide supervised participation.
Where a role or activity involves direct or regular work with children or adults at risk, we will put appropriate safeguarding measures in place, including supervision, risk assessment, training and DBS checks where applicable.
Responsibilities
Everyone working or volunteering at Cultivate Colindale is expected to:
treat others with dignity and respect;
maintain appropriate boundaries;
remain alert to potential safeguarding concerns;
report concerns promptly to a member of staff;
keep sensitive information confidential and only share it through appropriate safeguarding procedures;
never attempt to investigate a safeguarding concern themselves.
Partner organisations delivering their own activities at Cultivate Colindale are responsible for ensuring appropriate safeguarding arrangements are in place for their participants and activities.
Photography and Communications
We take particular care with photography, communications and personal information involving children and adults at risk. Consent will be obtained where appropriate, and personal information will be handled in accordance with our Privacy Policy and applicable data protection law.
Staff and volunteers should not communicate privately with children or adults at risk unless this forms part of an approved activity with appropriate safeguarding arrangements.
Reporting a Safeguarding Concern
If someone is in immediate danger, call 999.
If you see, hear or are told something that causes you concern about someone's safety or welfare:
Listen and take the concern seriously.
Do not promise complete confidentiality.
Do not investigate the concern yourself or confront anyone involved.
Report it as soon as possible to a member of staff.
Make an accurate record of what you saw, heard or were told if asked to do so.
You can also report a safeguarding concern by emailing hello@waywardplants.org with “Safeguarding” in the subject line.
Safeguarding concerns will be treated seriously and sensitively. Information will only be shared where necessary to protect an individual or meet our legal responsibilities. Where required, concerns will be referred to the appropriate safeguarding authority or emergency service.
Review
This policy is reviewed annually and following any significant safeguarding incident or material change to our activities.
Policy owner: Wayward London Ltd
Date adopted: 26 July, 2025
Last reviewed: 26 August, 2026
Next review: 26 August, 2027