Last reviewed: September 2025

Policy Statement

Redditch Community Timebank is committed to safeguarding the wellbeing of all participants, especially those who may be vulnerable due to age, disability, health, or personal circumstances. We recognise our duty of care and will take all reasonable steps to protect members, volunteers, and staff from harm.

Aims and Objectives

We aim to:

• Create a safe, respectful environment for all Timebank activities

• Ensure volunteers and coordinators understand their safeguarding responsibilities

• Respond swiftly and appropriately to any concerns or disclosures

• Work in partnership with carers, families, and relevant agencies when needed

Who We Mean by “Vulnerable People”

• Children and young people under 18

• Adults at risk—any adult who may be vulnerable due to illness, disability, or circumstances requiring support

We recognise that vulnerability can be situational and temporary, and we treat all safeguarding concerns with care and discretion.

Types of Abuse We Take Seriously

We are alert to the following forms of abuse:

• Physical – hitting, rough handling, misuse of medication

• Sexual – unwanted sexual contact or coercion

• Emotional/Psychological – intimidation, humiliation, threats

• Financial – theft, exploitation, misuse of funds or possessions

• Neglect – failure to meet basic needs or provide appropriate care

• Discriminatory – abuse based on race, gender, disability, religion, or identity

• Institutional – poor practice or systemic neglect within services

Recruitment and Vetting

• Volunteers working directly with vulnerable people will be asked to complete a basic application and provide references

• Where appropriate, we will carry out Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks

• All volunteers will receive safeguarding guidance during induction

• Any concerns raised during recruitment will be assessed with care and transparency

Creating Safe Environments

We will:

• Conduct risk assessments for all events and exchanges

• Avoid one-to-one situations unless agreed and documented

• Encourage open communication and discourage secrecy

• Ensure volunteers are trained and supported in safeguarding practices

• Maintain clear boundaries and respectful conduct at all times

Responding to Concerns

• All safeguarding concerns should be reported to the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) or their deputy

• Concerns will be treated confidentially and shared only with those who need to know

• We will follow appropriate procedures and involve external agencies if necessary

• All incidents will be logged and reviewed to improve future practice

Record Keeping and Confidentiality

• Attendance registers and emergency contact details will be kept securely

• Disclosure information will be stored safely and only accessed by authorised personnel

• Records will be retained for a minimum of three years after a volunteer or member leaves the Timebank

Protecting Staff and Volunteers

• Volunteers are discouraged from accepting personal gifts from members

• Any concerns about inappropriate behaviour or boundary issues should be reported to the DSL

• We will support volunteers with regular check-ins and safeguarding updates

Review and Learning

This policy will be reviewed annually or in response to any safeguarding incident or legal update. We welcome feedback from members and volunteers to strengthen our approach.