Safeguarding Policy

Purpose

‍

Allegr Ltd is committed to safeguarding adults and promoting their wellbeing in all aspects of our work. This policy sets out how we prevent harm, respond to safeguarding concerns, and uphold safe practice across our digital community platform and related activities.

Ann Craft Trust
‍Tel: 0115 951 5400
Email: Ann-Craft-Trust@nottingham.ac.uk
‍Website: www.anncrafttrust.org

Scope

For independent safeguarding advice, individuals may also contact:

This policy applies to:

External Advice and Support

• Directors, contractors, and anyone working on behalf of Allegr Ltd
• Adults who engage with or are affected by our services and digital platform
• Partner organisations, community clients, and groups using the platform, insofar as safeguarding responsibilities intersect

Allegr Ltd will not investigate safeguarding matters beyond its remit but will support appropriate referral and cooperation with relevant authorities.

Allegr Ltd’s platform is not intended for children, and platform users must be aged 18 or over.

1. Listen carefully and take the concern seriously
2. Assess the level of risk and urgency
3. Take appropriate action to reduce harm
4. Refer to statutory services (such as adult social care or the police) where necessary
5. Keep clear, secure records of concerns and actions taken

Policy Statement

When a safeguarding concern is raised, Allegr Ltd will:

Allegr Ltd recognises its responsibility to take all reasonable steps to safeguard adults who may be at risk of harm, abuse, neglect, or exploitation.

Responding to Concerns

We operate a digital community platform serving the UK Armed Forces community. While our community clients (all registered charities) are responsible for moderating their own community content and activities, we are committed to:

All reports will be treated seriously and handled confidentially, in line with data protection requirements.

• Providing a safe digital environment
• Enabling effective reporting and escalation of safeguarding concerns
• Working collaboratively with partners and external agencies where safeguarding issues arise

• Direct contact (email or phone), or
• The platform’s reporting or contact mechanisms. These include: The Pinboard Contact function; The ‘FLAG’ tool embedded within app new or support articles, events, groups and chat.

We have a zero-tolerance approach to abuse and are committed to acting promptly, proportionately, and transparently when concerns are raised.

Concerns should be reported as soon as possible to the Safeguarding Lead using:

Definitions

• Platform users.
• Community clients or group organisers.
• Contractors or members of the public

An adult at risk is a person aged 18 or over who:

Safeguarding concerns may be raised by:

• Has needs for care and support, and
• Is experiencing, or is at risk of, abuse or neglect, and
• Is unable to protect themselves because of those needs

Reporting Safeguarding Concerns

Abuse may include, but is not limited to: physical, emotional, sexual, financial, discriminatory abuse, neglect, coercive control, or online harm.

Small, localised activity groups (such as walk-and-talks or coffee clubs) supported via the platform are required to follow the specific safeguarding policies and procedures provided to each walk leader or group admin.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Escalating safeguarding concerns that present risk of harm beyond routine moderation
• Taking appropriate action where platform terms or safeguarding standards are breached

• Safeguarding Lead:
  Rachel Mitchell (Director)
  Email: rach@allegr.org
  Tel: +44 () 7779 323220

Ensuring that Armed Forces community clients are COBSEO members, guided by best practice

The Safeguarding Lead is responsible for:

• Providing platform tools to report concerns, inappropriate behaviour, or harmful content
• Supporting community clients in managing and moderating their own spaces

• Receiving and assessing safeguarding concerns
• Ensuring appropriate action and escalation
• Liaising with external agencies where required
• Maintaining secure safeguarding records

Allegr Ltd recognises the specific risks associated with online and community-based environments. We address these by:

All directors, contractors, and partners are responsible for:

Safeguarding in a Digital Community Setting

• Being alert to safeguarding concerns
• Acting in line with this policy
• Reporting concerns promptly