At YDP, safeguarding is at the core of everything we do. We are fully committed to Working Together to Safeguard Children and promote and prioritise the safety, well-being, and protection of all children and young people in our care. Our safeguarding approach ensures that every child feels safe, valued, and supported in a secure environment.
By embedding safeguarding into all aspects of our work, YDP ensures that every child and young person we support can thrive in a safe, secure, and positive environment.
Child Protection is part of the safeguarding process, protecting individual children identified as suffering or likely to suffer significant harm. This includes the child protection procedures which detail how to respond to concerns about a child.
Whistleblowing is when someone raises a concern about a dangerous or illegal activity or any wrongdoing within their organisation. Our coaches are fully aware of how to handle Whistleblowing situations.
Abuse can take many forms and all YDP staff are aware of the signs associated with each. Physical abuse involves the intentional use of force against a child causing harm or injury. Emotional abuse is the persistent maltreatment of a child that damages their emotional development, including making a child feel worthless, unloved or afraid. Sexual abuse involves forcing or enticing a child to take part in sexual activity, whether or not the child is aware, including both contact and non-contact acts. Neglect is the persistent failure to meet a child’s basic needs to a level that seriously impacts their health or development.
Peer-on-peer abuse recognises that children can abuse other children – including bullying, physical assault and sexual harassment – and must always be taken seriously. Radicalisation is the process by which a child may be drawn into extremist thinking; all staff have a duty under the Prevent strategy to identify and report concerns early. Harm outside the home includes risks such as county lines, criminal exploitation and gang association, where danger exists beyond the family unit. Where concerns are emerging, but not yet at the threshold for statutory intervention, early help should be considered – indicators include poor attendance, changed behaviour, deteriorating presentation or family stress.
Where a child shows early indicators of need – including developmental concerns, signs of family stress, or additional learning or communication needs – staff will consider whether an early help assessment is appropriate, ensuring that children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) are given equal consideration, as their additional vulnerabilities may mean indicators of abuse or neglect present differently and require a heightened level of awareness and support.
Any concerns will be reported immediately to our Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL).
We all have a role to play in ensuring the well-being and safety of children, young people, their families and each other. It is NOT the responsibility of YDP staff to make judgements about whether what a child says is true or not. Our team will immediately pass on any concerns they may have about a child to the Designated Safeguarding Lead in the first instance who will then liaise with the schools Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) or local authority if an instance occurs during half term camps.
As part of our safeguarding policy YDP will:
Our sports coaches, all working on behalf of Youth Dreams Project Ltd fully comply with the 2022
DFE Guidance. Our coaches are subject to rigorous personal checks including:
We will:
Step 1 – Act immediately – If we have a concern about a child’s welfare, we will not wait. The coach will report it to the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) on the same day – verbally in the first instance.
Step 2 – Record – The concern will be written up as soon as possible by the coach – recording it on our electronic safeguarding form which is stored securely on our system. The coach will use the child’s own words where relevant. It will be factual, avoid interpretation, and note the date and time. This written record will be sent to the DSL.
Step 3 – DSL reviews and acts – Our DSL will review the concern and determine the appropriate course of action, which may include early help, a referral to children’s social care, or contacting the police in an emergency.
Step 4 – Escalation if the DSL does not act – If the coach feels their concern has not been taken seriously or acted upon, they will escalate immediately to the Deputy DSL. If they remain unsatisfied, they have a duty to refer their concern directly to children’s social care or the NSPCC without delay. They do not need the DSL’s permission to do this.
Step 5 – Allegations against staff (LADO) – If a concern involves a member of staff, volunteer or contractor, the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) will be contacted. In line with Working Together to Safeguard Children, all agencies have a shared responsibility to act – concerns of this nature will never be handled internally alone. Supporting our children is a priority and suspension will be considered. Throughout this step a record will be kept using YDPs secure system. Not all concerns will meet the threshold for a formal LADO referral. If a low-level concern is raised about a YDP coaches behaviour it will be reported and recorded by our DSL and reviewed for patterns over time. A single low-level concern may not appear significant, but a pattern of concerns can indicate a safeguarding risk.
Safeguarding information will be handled sensitively and shared only on a need-to-know basis. Where sharing information could protect a child from harm, it will be shared promptly. Both Working Together to Safeguard Children and the UK GDPR provide a clear lawful basis for this, and data protection legislation will never be used as a reason to withhold information that could keep a child safe. Staff will never promise confidentiality to a child or family member. All safeguarding records will be stored securely on YDPs secure system, in a separate folder from general files. This folder is accessed by the DSLs and those with a legitimate need.
Child safeguarding concern records will be retained until the child’s 25th birthday. This is because concerns may be relevant to future disclosures or proceedings. Allegations against staff records will be kept until the coach reaches normal retirement age or for 10 years, whichever is longer, even if the allegation was unsubstantiated. General safeguarding training records, policies and logs will be retained for a minimum of 7 years.
When a child moves to another school or provision, all relevant safeguarding records will be transferred confidentially and securely to the designated safeguarding lead at the receiving
organisation. The receiving organisation will confirm the safe receipt.
Under the Counter Terrorism and Security Act 2015, YDP has a statutory duty to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism. All staff will be alert to signs that a child may be at risk of radicalisation, including changes in behaviour, expression of extremist views, or withdrawal from friends and family. Any concern will be reported immediately to the DSL, who will assess whether a referral to the Channel programme is appropriate and liaise with the local Channel coordinator or police Prevent team accordingly. The DSL has completed Prevent awareness training, and all staff are required to complete Prevent awareness training as part of their induction and refresh this regularly.
Luke Kennedy is YDPs Designated Safeguarding Lead and can be contacted via email luke.kennedy@youthdreamsproject.co.uk or telephone 07583 688413. If you cannot get hold of Luke Kennedy, please inform our deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads:
Jones De Sousa – jones.desousa@youthdreamsproject.co.uk – 07494 547829
Joe Serrano – joe.serrano@youthdreamsproject.co.uk – 07943 781414
All of our Designated Safeguarding Leads have had advanced Safeguarding Training.
If you need to speak to your Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO), they can be contacted using the below methods:
Telephone:
01223 727967 – Cambridgeshire
01733 864038 – Peterborough
Out of Hours Emergency Duty Team: 0345 0455203 Cambridge, 01733 864180 Peterborough
01522 554674 – Lincolnshire
| Social Care Contact details | |
|---|---|
| 0345 045 5203 | 8am–5.30pm (Mon–Thu) 8am–4.30pm (Fri) |
| 01733 234724 | Emergency Duty Team (out of hours) |
Further support or advice regarding safeguarding can be found below:
Peterborough Safeguarding Referrals
https://www.safeguardingcambspeterborough.org.uk/concerned/
Lincolnshire Safeguarding Referrals
https://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/safeguarding/report-concern
NSPCC
nspcc.org.uk or telephone 0808 800 5000
Childline
https://www.childline.org.uk/ or telephone 0800 1111
Police (non-emergency) telephone 101
This policy was ratified on 11th March 2026.
Luke Kennedy, Managing Director
Youth Dreams Project Ltd
At YDP, safeguarding is at the core of everything we do. We are fully committed to Working Together to Safeguard Children and promote and prioritise the safety, well-being, and protection of all children and young people in our care. Our safeguarding approach ensures that every child feels safe, valued, and supported in a secure environment.
At YDP, safeguarding is at the core of everything we do. We are fully committed to promoting and prioritising the safety, well-being, and protection of all children and young people in our care. Our safeguarding approach ensures that every child feels safe, valued, and supported in a secure environment.
Creating a Safe Environment – We establish a safe and welcoming space where children feel comfortable, respected, and free from harm. This includes secure facilities, thorough risk assessments, and clear safety protocols.
Strict Safeguarding Policies & Procedures – Our safeguarding policies align with national and local guidelines. All staff and volunteers adhere to strict procedures to prevent and respond to any safeguarding concerns appropriately.
Vetted & Trained Staff – All YDP staff members undergo enhanced DBS checks and receive regular safeguarding training, ensuring they can identify and respond to signs of abuse, neglect, or harm.
Code of Conduct & Behaviour Management – We have clear expectations for behaviour among both staff and children, fostering a culture of mutual respect, inclusion, and positive reinforcement.
Listening to Children – We empower children by ensuring they know their rights, feel heard, and understand how to seek help if they ever feel unsafe or uncomfortable.
Working with External Agencies – We collaborate with schools, local authorities, child protection services, and other organisations to ensure a joined-up approach to safeguarding. Any concerns are reported and handled in line with best practices.
Parental Engagement – We maintain open communication with parents and guardians, providing them with the necessary information about our safeguarding measures and encouraging their involvement in their child’s well-being.
Online & Digital Safety – We educate children on staying safe online, recognising potential risks, and making responsible digital choices in an increasingly digital world.
By embedding safeguarding into all aspects of our work, YDP ensures that every child and young person we support can thrive in a safe, secure, and positive environment.
What is Safeguarding?
Safeguarding refers to the process of protecting children (and adults) to provide safe and effective care. This includes all procedures designed to prevent harm to a child.
What is Child Protection?
Child Protection is part of the safeguarding process, protecting individual children identified as suffering or likely to suffer significant harm. This includes the child protection procedures which detail how to respond to concerns about a child.
What is Whistleblowing?
Whistleblowing is when someone raises a concern about a dangerous or illegal activity or any wrongdoing within their organisation.
Our coaches are fully aware of how to handle Whistleblowing situations.
Key Principles
Children and young people have a right to enjoy sport, free from all forms of abuse, exploitation and poor practice.
All children and young people have equal rights to protection from harm.
All children and young people should be encouraged to fulfil their potential, and inequalities should be challenged.
Everybody has a responsibility to support the care and protection of children.
Sporting organisations have a duty of care to children and young people who take part in sport.
Roles, Responsibilities and Processes
We all have a role to play in ensuring the well-being and safety of children, young people, their families and each other. It is NOT the responsibility of YDP staff to make judgements about whether what a child says is true or not. Our team will immediately pass on any concerns they may have about a child to the Designated Safeguarding Lead in the first instance who will then liaise with the schools Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) or local authority if an instance occurs during half term camps.
As part of our safeguarding policy YDP will:
Promote and prioritise the safety and wellbeing of children and young people.
Ensure every YDP coach understands their role and responsibilities in respect of safeguarding and is provided with appropriate education/training to recognise, identify and respond to signs of abuse and other safeguarding concerns relating to children and young people.
Ensure that concerns are detailed and recorded accurately and then passed on to the schools DSL.
Ensure robust safeguarding arrangements and the schools procedures are followed by all coaches.
Ensure all coaches are up to date with any KCSIE updates.
Ensure that we support the online safety of our children and communities by regularly checking the latest guidance
Take any allegations of whistleblowing seriously and report them immediately to the Designated Safeguarding Lead.
Ensure that all staff responsible for the intimate care of children will undertake their duties in a professional manner and with respect at all times; the child’s welfare and dignity is of paramount importance. No child will be attended to in a way that causes distress or pain.
Ensure that we only share images and videos of children whose parent/guardian have given consent to use on our social media platforms and promotions. Children over the age of 16 will always be consulted about the use of their image and have the option to give consent to it being used and shared.
What does that mean for YDP coaches?
Our sports coaches, all working on behalf of Youth Dreams Project Ltd fully comply with the 2022 DFE Guidance. Our coaches are subject to rigorous personal checks including:
· An enhanced DBS certificate result which includes clearance to work in an educational environment.
· Barred List, Prohibition, Section 128 and EEA sanctions
· Satisfactory Certificate(s) of Good Conduct (overseas) received where applicable.
· Immigration and eligibility to work in the UK checks.
· Two good references relating to previous training/education/employment.
· Three verifications of identity.
We will:
Always ensure we know who the DSL is in each school we coach in.
Understand and follow each schools’ Safeguarding procedure and policy.
We will give equal priority to keeping all children and young people safe regardless of their age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation when participating in a YDP session.
We will listen to all children, respecting them and ensure they feel comfortable sharing any concerns with a member of the YDP team.
Take all suspicions, concerns or allegations of harm seriously and report them swiftly to the DSL.
Always follow safeguarding procedures.
Contact Details and Resources
Luke Kennedy is YDPs Designated Safeguarding Lead and can be contacted via email luke.kennedy@youthdreamsproject.co.uk or telephone 07583 688413. If you cannot get hold of Luke Kennedy, please inform Luke Steele 07734 253782.
If you need to speak to your Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO), they can be contacted using the below methods:
Email:
LSCP_LADO@lincolnshire.gov.uk
Telephone:
01223 727967 – Cambridgeshire
01733 864038 – Peterborough
Out of Hours Emergency Duty Team: 0345 0455203 Cambridge, 01733 864180 Peterborough
01522 554674 – Lincolnshire
Social Care Contact details
0345 045 5203 8am-5.30pm (Mon-Thu)
8am-4.30pm (Fri)
01733 234724 Emergency Duty Team
(out of hours)
Further support or advice regarding safeguarding can be found below:
Peterborough Safeguarding Referrals
https://www.safeguardingcambspeterborough.org.uk/concerned/
Lincolnshire Safeguarding Referrals
https://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/safeguarding/report-concern
NSPCC
nspcc.org.uk or telephone 0808 800 5000
Childline
https://www.childline.org.uk/ or telephone 0800 1111
This policy was ratified on 1st January 2026.
Luke Kennedy, Managing Director
Youth Dreams Project Ltd
