Safeguarding Policy

1. Introduction and Purpose

The Educational Equality Institute (TEEI) works with diverse populations including children, young people, and vulnerable adults across our educational programmes. This policy outlines our commitment to their safety and wellbeing, and the measures we take to protect them from harm.

This policy applies to all TEEI activities, including but not limited to: Language Connect for Ukraine, Mentors for Ukraine, DataCamp Scholarship Programme, Buddy Program for Ukraine, and all digital learning platforms we operate.

2. Scope of This Policy

This policy applies to:

• All TEEI personnel: Staff, board members, contractors, and consultants
• All volunteers: Mentors, language partners, buddy programme participants, and event helpers
• Partner organisations: Any organisation working on TEEI programmes
• Programme participants: Learners, mentees, and beneficiaries of all ages

This policy covers all TEEI activities regardless of location, including in-person events, online interactions, and communications through any channel.

3. Key Definitions

4. Our Safeguarding Principles

Our safeguarding approach is built on six core principles:

5. Roles and Responsibilities

6. Prevention and Safer Recruitment

We take proactive steps to prevent harm through rigorous recruitment and screening processes:

7. Safeguarding Children

When TEEI programmes involve children (persons under 18), additional protections apply:

• Parental consent: Required for all children's participation
• Enhanced screening: Additional vetting for personnel working with children
• Supervised interactions: One-to-one sessions with minors include appropriate oversight
• Age-appropriate content: All materials reviewed for suitability
• Photography policy: Explicit consent required for any images of children

8. Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults

Many TEEI beneficiaries are adults who may be vulnerable due to displacement, conflict exposure, economic hardship, or other circumstances. We recognise that:

• Vulnerability is often situational and temporary
• Adults retain autonomy and decision-making capacity unless assessed otherwise
• Support should enable independence, not create dependency
• Cultural sensitivity is essential in assessing and responding to vulnerability

Our approach balances protection with respect for adult autonomy, involving individuals in decisions about their own safety wherever possible.

9. Digital and Online Safety

As a digital-first organisation, online safety is central to our safeguarding approach. Our platforms incorporate the following protections:

10. Recognising Abuse and Harm

All TEEI personnel are trained to recognise signs of abuse. The following table provides an overview of abuse types and potential indicators:

11. Reporting Concerns

If you have a safeguarding concern, you should report it immediately. You do not need to be certain that abuse has occurred - it is not your role to investigate.

How to Report

What to Report

• Any observed or suspected abuse or harm
• Disclosures made by a child or vulnerable adult
• Concerns about the behaviour of any TEEI personnel or volunteer
• Breaches of the code of conduct
• Any situation that feels unsafe or inappropriate

12. Responding to Concerns

When a safeguarding concern is received, TEEI follows a structured response process:

Serious concerns will be referred to relevant authorities (police, social services) in accordance with local laws and international standards.

13. Confidentiality and Information Sharing

TEEI maintains strict confidentiality in safeguarding matters, with information shared only on a "need to know" basis. However, confidentiality is not absolute and may be breached when necessary to:

• Protect a child or vulnerable adult from harm
• Prevent a crime
• Comply with legal requirements
• Support a statutory investigation

Individuals reporting concerns will be informed about what information will be shared and with whom, unless doing so would compromise an investigation or put someone at risk.

14. Working with Partners

TEEI works with numerous partner organisations including Kintell, DataCamp, Oxford University Press, and local community organisations. All partners are required to:

• Demonstrate their own safeguarding policies and procedures
• Comply with TEEI's safeguarding standards as a minimum
• Report any safeguarding concerns relating to TEEI programmes
• Participate in safeguarding reviews when requested

Partner safeguarding compliance is reviewed during onboarding and monitored throughout the partnership.

15. Training and Awareness

TEEI provides safeguarding training at multiple levels:

• All personnel: Basic safeguarding awareness (mandatory before programme access)
• Programme staff: Enhanced training including recognition and response
• Designated leads: Specialist training in investigation and case management
• Board: Governance-level oversight training

Training is refreshed annually and updated when policies change or new risks emerge.

16. Policy Review

This policy will be reviewed:

• Annually by the Designated Safeguarding Lead
• Following any significant safeguarding incident
• When legislation or best practice guidance changes
• At least every three years by the Board of Directors