Safeguarding Policy
How IFB Gaming keeps children, young people, and adults at risk safe across our work.
If someone is in immediate danger
If a child or adult is at immediate risk of harm, call the emergency services on 999 straight away. Do not wait. For non-emergency concerns, contact our Designated Safeguarding Lead using the details below.
1. Purpose and commitment
IFB Gaming is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children, young people, and adults at risk who come into contact with our work, including our Empowering Futures programme, workshops, Data Waypoints, and volunteering. We believe everyone has the right to be safe and to be treated with dignity and respect.
This policy sets out how we prevent harm, how we respond to concerns, and what everyone connected to IFB Gaming is expected to do.
2. Who this policy applies to
This policy applies to everyone acting on behalf of IFB Gaming, including directors, staff, volunteers, Non-Executive Directors, partners, and contractors. Everyone in these roles is responsible for safeguarding and must follow this policy.
3. Key definitions
- Safeguarding means protecting people’s health, wellbeing, and human rights, and enabling them to live free from harm, abuse, and neglect.
- A child is anyone under the age of 18.
- An adult at risk is a person aged 18 or over who may be unable to protect themselves from harm or exploitation, for example due to age, disability, illness, or circumstances.
- Abuse can be physical, emotional, sexual, financial, discriminatory, or take the form of neglect, online harm, or exploitation.
4. Our Designated Safeguarding Lead
Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL): John Adewole
Email: john.a@ifbgaming.com
Phone: 07760389855
The DSL is responsible for receiving and acting on safeguarding concerns, keeping records, and liaising with statutory agencies. If the concern involves the DSL, report it to the deputy / cas@ifbgaming.com.
5. Preventing harm
We reduce risk by:
- Ensuring all volunteers are aged 18 or over and are recruited with appropriate checks.
- Carrying out DBS checks where a role involves regular contact with children or adults at risk.
- Providing safeguarding induction and guidance to everyone in a relevant role.
- Risk-assessing activities, workshops, and events.
- Avoiding situations where an adult is alone and unsupervised with a child or adult at risk, unless risk-assessed and approved.
- Promoting safe and respectful behaviour, online and in person.
6. Recognising a concern
Signs that someone may be at risk can include unexplained injuries, sudden changes in behaviour, withdrawal, fear of particular people, or disclosure of harm. You do not need to be certain. If something worries you, report it.
7. Responding to a concern or disclosure
If a person discloses harm, or you have a concern:
- Stay calm, listen, and take it seriously. Do not promise to keep it secret.
- Do not investigate, lead, or ask leading questions. Reassure the person.
- Record what was said as soon as possible, using the person’s own words where you can.
- Report to the Designated Safeguarding Lead without delay.
- If there is immediate danger, call 999.
The DSL will decide on next steps, which may include contacting the local authority safeguarding team, the police, or other agencies.
8. Online safety
Because much of our work is digital, including gaming and online sessions, we take online safety seriously. We expect respectful conduct in all online spaces, protect personal information, and act on any online harm, grooming, bullying, or inappropriate contact in line with this policy.
9. Confidentiality and information sharing
We handle safeguarding information sensitively and share it only with those who need to know, in line with our Privacy Policy and data protection law. Safeguarding always takes priority: where someone is at risk, we will share information with the appropriate agencies even without consent if necessary to protect them.
10. Records
Safeguarding concerns and actions are recorded accurately, stored securely, and kept confidential. Records are retained in line with our data retention practices and relevant guidance.
11. Training and review
Everyone in a relevant role receives safeguarding guidance appropriate to their work. This policy is reviewed at least every 12 months, or sooner if law, guidance, or our activities change.
12. Useful contacts
- Emergency: 999
- Police non-emergency: 101
- NSPCC helpline (concerns about a child): 0808 800 5000
- Your local authority safeguarding team: 020 7525 1921
- IFB Gaming Designated Safeguarding Lead: John Adewole, john.a@ifbgaming.com, 07760389855
IFB Gaming, Southwark, London. Registered in England, Company No. 12374867. info@ifbgaming.com.