What is harm and abuse?

Harm is when someone gets hurt and it has an impact on that person. This includes being physically hurt, but it could also include a person’s feelings or mental wellbeing being hurt.

Although most people are kind and safe, abuse happens when another person (usually an adult) hurts another person, usually on purpose or by being careless.

Examples…

Violence

Hitting you or being violent. This is an example of **physical abuse.**

Emotional Abuse

when someone makes you feel bad about yourself through saying hurtful things. This is an example of **emotional abuse**.

Sexual Abuse

An adult touching private parts of your body. This is an example of **sexual abuse**.

Neglect

Someone who is supposed to care for you not providing you with things you need, like food, love or affection when they could provide it. This is an example of **neglect**.

Exploitation and Trafficking

When someone moves you to a different country and as ‘payment’ you have to work for them. This is an example of **exploitation** and is also known as **trafficking**.

What is Safeguarding?

Safeguarding is doing things which:

1) Prevents you or others from being harmed or abused.

2) Stops someone being harmed again or helps them recover.

3) Overall supports people to be safe, happy and healthy.

What is Safe Passage’s approach to safeguarding?

At Safe Passage, we want to make sure that everyone is safe. Most importantly, we will try to make sure no one from Safe Passage harms you, or that you are not harmed in any way because Safe Passage works with you.

At Safe Passage, we have a responsibility to make sure you are not harmed and that you feel safe. This means Safe Passage representatives (staff, volunteers and partners) have rules to follow:

Safe Passage representatives must:

✅ Try to make any place you are meeting with them safe.

✅ Show you respect and care.

✅ If you are telling them about any worries or times you have been hurt, they must listen and talk with you, but only if you want to talk about it.

✅ Involve you in decisions being made about you if it is possible.

✅ Keep information about you safe.

Safe Passage representatives must never:

❌ Hit you or physically hurt you in any way.

❌ Shout at you, call you hurtful names or say things that make you feel bad about yourself.

❌ Make you do things you don’t want to do, take money or anything else from you. All services you receive from Safe Passage are free.

❌ Touch you or talk to you in a sexual way. They must not develop any romantic relationships with you.

❌ Link with you on social media (Instagram, Facebook) or message you about things not related to their work with you.

❌ Come to your home, or invite you to their home.

In most situations you will not be alone with a Safe Passage representative, and if you are this will be in a public place.

If a Safe Passage representative does something wrong, what do I do?

If they break any of the rules or do something else to hurt you or make you feel unsafe, its important you tell someone else at Safe Passage. There are different ways to tell us and you can choose which one you’re most comfortable with.

You can email donoharm@safepassage.org.uk and tell us what has happened and someone will be back in contact with you to discuss.
You can speak to Phil or Beth:

Phil

Its Phil’s job at Safe Passage to make sure everyone is safe. You can contact him by emailing donoharm@safepassage.org.uk, call, message or whatsapp him on +447761740598.

Beth

Beth is the CEO (the boss) at Safe Passage, so you can let her know about any worries too by emailing her at beth@safepassage.org.uk.

You may not know Beth or Phil, or do not feel comfortable talking to them, instead you can talk to someone else at Safe Passage you feel comfortable to talk to. For example, this might be your caseworker, or their manager.
If you do not know who to tell, you can also tell us on our website here. This form is available in multiple languages:

Safeguarding Form

What else can I tell Safe Passage staff about?

We are here to help you. Therefore its not only when a Safe Passage representative does something wrong that you can talk to us. If you are not feeling good or if someone else is harming you then you can tell us this too. We may not always have a solution, but we will always try to help, or connect you with someone who can.

What will happen after I tell a Safe Passage Staff member something?

If you have told us a Safe Passage representative has done something wrong, we will investigate what you have told us. This will probably mean someone will need to talk to you again about what has happened. We will also try to make changes to make sure other people are not hurt.

If you have told us someone else is harming you, we will probably have to speak to other people. Firstly, Phil or Beth at Safe Passage will always be told, but they may also have to tell people outside of Safe Passage - this may be a social worker or someone else who can help keep you safe. We will never share information with someone who will harm you or make the situation worse.

Is what I tell you a secret?

No it isn’t. If someone has been hurt or abused, we cannot keep this a secret. However, we will be very careful about who will tell, and only tell those who need to know. This might sound scary and you may want to keep it a secret, but we still hope you will tell us so we can try and help.