Safeguarding Statement

We are committed to the safeguarding of children, young people and adults at risk, ensuring their well-being. We believe in the necessity of creating a healthy culture in our organisation where the value of all people is recognised and where we respond appropriately when this value is undermined.

In particular:

• We believe that all children and young people have the right to be treated with respect, to be listened to and to be protected from all forms of abuse.
• We believe every child should be valued, safe and happy. We want to make sure that children we have contact with know this and are empowered to tell us if they are suffering harm.
• We recognise that we all have a responsibility to help prevent the physical, sexual, spiritual, emotional abuse and neglect of children and young people and to report any abuse that we discover or suspect.
• We undertake to exercise proper care in the appointment and selection of those who will work with children and young people
• We believe all those who attend our activities should enjoy and thrive within the life of Scripture Union Scotland

We are committed to:

• Nurturing, protecting and safeguarding children and young people and respecting their rights.
• Following and keeping up to date with statutory guidelines and requirements set out in Scottish legislation in relation to safeguarding children and young people.
• Ensuring that all staff and volunteers working on our behalf adhere to the agreed procedures and guidelines in our Safeguarding Policy, Volunteers Handbook and Code of Conduct.
• Ensuring all SU Scotland staff and volunteers who work with children and young people (that is they carry out a regulated role) are PVG Scheme members. Volunteer and staff recruitment is subject to a satisfactory PVG Scheme Disclosure.
• Supporting, resourcing, training, monitoring and providing supervision to all those who undertake work on our behalf with children and young people.

We recognise that:

• Where there are concerns about a child, then SU Scotland will refer all allegations or concerns of abuse to the appropriate authorities. Any investigation will be undertaken by these authorities (eg Social Work, Police Scotland).
• Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility and SU Scotland will seek to encourage this mindset amongst staff and volunteers.