Child Safeguarding Policy
Create a Space CIC
Policy version: 1.0
Approved by: Emily McElroy and Carol Stevenson, Directors
Approval date: 12 October 2026
Next review: 12 October 2027
1. Our commitment to safeguarding
Create a Space CIC is committed to promoting the welfare and safeguarding of every child and young person who takes part in our activities.
Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility. We believe all children and young people have the right to feel safe, valued, respected and listened to.
Create a Space provides creative programmes for neurodivergent children and young people using a Creative Health approach. We recognise that participants may experience additional vulnerabilities due to communication differences, anxiety, sensory needs or previous negative experiences.
Our aim is to create an inclusive, supportive environment where participants can develop confidence, creativity and wellbeing.
We want our spaces to feel welcoming and safe, where participants, parents, carers, staff and volunteers are treated with respect and dignity, and everyone feels able to share their thoughts or raise concerns.
This policy applies to all directors, employees, volunteers, trainees, freelance artists, contractors and anyone working on behalf of Create a Space CIC.
2. Our safeguarding principles
We are committed to making safeguarding part of everything we do, from planning activities to supporting participants and reviewing our work.
We will:
Put children's safety and wellbeing at the centre of our activities.
Create an environment where concerns can be raised without fear.
Listen to children and take their views seriously.
Treat every child fairly, with dignity and respect.
Work in partnership with parents, carers and relevant organisations.
Consider safeguarding in our decisions, activities and partnerships.
Recruit staff, volunteers and freelancers safely.
Provide appropriate safeguarding training.
Respond promptly and appropriately to concerns.
Maintain confidentiality while sharing information when necessary to protect a child.
Review our safeguarding arrangements, risk assessments and procedures regularly.
Encourage openness, accountability and learning.
3. Legal framework
This policy is informed by the following legislation and guidance:
Children Act 1989
Children Act 2004
Working Together to Safeguard Children
Data Protection Act 2018
UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR)
Human Rights Act 1998
4. Roles and responsibilities
Directors
The Directors have overall responsibility for safeguarding at Create a Space CIC.
They will:
Make safeguarding a core organisational responsibility.
Appoint a suitably trained Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL).
Ensure safeguarding policies and procedures are effective and up to date.
Provide appropriate resources for safeguarding and training.
Review safeguarding arrangements annually.
Encourage openness, accountability and continuous improvement.
Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)
The Designated Safeguarding Lead is responsible for:
Receiving and responding to safeguarding concerns.
Keeping accurate and confidential records.
Contacting Children's Social Care, the Police and other agencies when appropriate.
Supporting staff, volunteers and participants.
Making sure safeguarding procedures are followed.
Keeping safeguarding knowledge and training up to date.
Staff, volunteers, freelancers and trainees
Everyone working with Create a Space must:
Put children's welfare first.
Follow this policy and associated procedures.
Complete appropriate safeguarding training.
Report any safeguarding concerns immediately.
Maintain professional boundaries.
Never promise confidentiality when a child may be at risk.
Help create an inclusive, respectful and emotionally safe environment.
All Create a Space staff members have an Enhanced DBS check and have undertaken safeguarding training.
Staff understand how to identify, report and respond to safeguarding concerns in accordance with our procedures.
All team members will be made aware of their responsibilities, the objectives of activities, our Code of Conduct and relevant emergency procedures.
5. Recognising abuse
Abuse can take different forms, including:
Physical abuse
Emotional abuse
Sexual abuse
Neglect
We also recognise other safeguarding risks, including:
Child sexual exploitation
Child criminal exploitation
Grooming
Online abuse
Domestic abuse
Radicalisation
Self-harm
Bullying and cyberbullying
Safeguarding concerns may become apparent through changes in behaviour, attendance, appearance, communication or emotional wellbeing.
A child may also tell someone directly about something that has happened or is worrying them.
6. Responding to safeguarding concerns
If a child tells us about abuse or a safeguarding concern arises, we will:
Stay calm.
Listen carefully.
Reassure the child that they have done the right thing by speaking up.
Avoid asking leading or investigative questions.
Never promise to keep the information secret.
Record what was said as soon as possible, using the child's own words wherever possible.
Report the concern immediately to the Designated Safeguarding Lead.
If a child is in immediate danger, call 999.
7. Safer recruitment
We are committed to recruiting and working with people who understand their responsibility to keep children safe.
Our safer recruitment procedures include:
Obtaining appropriate DBS checks where required.
Taking up suitable references.
Providing safeguarding induction and guidance.
Making sure everyone understands their safeguarding responsibilities.
Providing appropriate supervision.
Ensuring freelance artists and visiting practitioners receive safeguarding guidance before working with participants.
8. Working safely with children
All adults working with Create a Space must:
Treat children with dignity and respect.
Promote equality, diversity and inclusion.
Maintain appropriate professional boundaries.
Avoid being alone with a child unless necessary and risk assessed.
Never use inappropriate language or behaviour.
Never exchange personal contact details without organisational approval.
Follow our procedures for photography, social media and online communication.
Report concerns about another adult's behaviour immediately.
Model respectful, inclusive and safe behaviour.
Staff will provide appropriate supervision during activities and individual support where needed.
No participant or their artwork will be photographed without appropriate permission and consent.
9. Safeguarding in our creative spaces and studio
Create a Space delivers activities in dedicated creative spaces, including a private studio room within a building shared with other practising artists.
Although our studio is a private space for our activities, we recognise that other artists and building users may be present in communal areas and may not have undergone DBS checks through Create a Space.
We therefore maintain clear safeguarding arrangements when children and young people use the studio.
Our arrangements include:
Aiming to have a Create a Space staff member with an appropriate Enhanced DBS check present when children or young people attend.
Keeping the studio door open if the DBS-checked staff member temporarily leaves, so a participant is not left in a closed private room with an adult who has not undergone an appropriate DBS check through Create a Space.
Never leaving participants in the care of other artists or building users who are not authorised to supervise them.
Being aware of who is using the wider building.
Managing access to the studio appropriately.
Activities in other venues
For projects delivered in spaces that are not shared with other groups:
Only participants registered for the project will take part.
Accompanying adults will be known and accounted for before activities begin.
Access to the activity space will be appropriately managed.
These arrangements will be included in relevant venue and activity risk assessments.
10. Supporting neurodivergent children and young people
We recognise that neurodivergent children and young people may experience or communicate distress and safeguarding concerns in different ways.
Our staff and volunteers will:
Use clear, accessible communication.
Respect sensory and communication differences.
Recognise that anxiety, shutdowns and meltdowns may indicate distress.
Avoid making assumptions based on diagnosis.
Make reasonable adjustments to support participation.
Respect each person's autonomy, dignity and choices.
Create emotionally and physically safe environments.
Provide individual support where appropriate.
We gather relevant information about participants' support, communication, sensory and accessibility needs before activities so we can plan appropriate adjustments.
Where possible, a quiet or chill-out space will be available for anyone who needs time away from the main activity or feels overwhelmed.
11. When someone becomes distressed or overwhelmed
Create a Space has procedures for responding when a participant becomes significantly distressed or dysregulated.
Staff will respond calmly, respectfully and in a way that takes account of the participant's communication needs and individual circumstances.
Where appropriate, staff will:
Reduce immediate demands and sources of distress.
Offer access to a quiet or chill-out space.
Use calm, clear and familiar communication.
Allow time and space for the participant to regulate.
Follow relevant individual support information.
Ensure the safety of the participant and others.
Contact a parent, carer or emergency contact if necessary.
Seek emergency assistance if there is an immediate risk of harm.
Record significant incidents and review what happened afterwards.
Our response will always aim to be proportionate and use the least restrictive approach possible.
Following a significant incident, we will consider whether risk assessments, reasonable adjustments or individual support arrangements need to be reviewed before the next session.
12. Risk assessments and safe environments
We regularly assess risks associated with our activities, workshops, studio, other venues and equipment.
Risk assessments consider:
The activity taking place.
Materials, tools and equipment.
The physical environment.
Accessibility and evacuation arrangements.
Staffing and supervision.
Sensory and communication needs.
Individual support requirements.
Other people using shared spaces.
Emergency arrangements.
Any additional risks associated with a particular activity or participant.
We take appropriate steps to reduce identified risks and review assessments when circumstances change or following an incident where appropriate.
13. Emergency procedures
Create a Space maintains emergency procedures appropriate to its activities and venues.
Staff and relevant team members are made aware of these procedures before activities begin.
Our emergency arrangements include, where appropriate:
Fire safety and evacuation.
First aid.
Contacting emergency services.
Contacting parents, carers or emergency contacts.
Supporting a participant who becomes distressed or dysregulated.
Responding to accidents or medical emergencies.
Reporting safeguarding concerns.
Recording and reviewing significant incidents.
14. Confidentiality and information sharing
We follow UK data protection legislation and guidance to ensure personal and sensitive information is collected only where necessary and stored securely.
Safeguarding records are kept confidential and shared only with those who need the information to help protect a child.
We recognise that information may need to be shared with appropriate organisations when a child is at risk of harm.
Information about additional needs, communication preferences, sensory requirements or support arrangements is treated respectfully and used to provide appropriate support.
For more information, please see our Privacy Policy.
15. Photography and creative work
We recognise that photography and filming can cause anxiety for some participants and that everyone has a right to privacy and choice.
No participant or their artwork will be photographed or used for publicity without appropriate permission and consent.
Anyone who chooses not to be photographed will still be able to take part fully in our activities.
Photographs and films will be managed and stored in accordance with our data protection and photography procedures.
16. Reporting concerns about adults
Any concern about the behaviour of a staff member, volunteer, trainee, freelancer, visiting artist or Director must be reported immediately to the Designated Safeguarding Lead or, where appropriate, the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO).
Whistleblowing concerns will be taken seriously and handled confidentially.
17. Monitoring and reviewing our safeguarding arrangements
We are committed to continually improving our safeguarding practices.
In line with the Charity Excellence Framework, we monitor safeguarding through:
Annual reviews of this policy.
Reviews following safeguarding incidents.
Updates when legislation or guidance changes.
Regular safeguarding risk assessments.
Feedback from participants, families, staff and volunteers.
Ongoing safeguarding training and reflective practice.
Reporting safeguarding matters to Directors when appropriate.
This policy should be read alongside our other relevant policies and procedures, including:
Adult Safeguarding Policy
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy
Health and Safety Policy
Code of Conduct
Data Protection Policy
Online Safety Guidance
Whistleblowing Policy
18. Safeguarding contacts
If you have a concern about the safety or wellbeing of a child or young person, please contact the appropriate person or service.
Create a Space CIC
Email: emily@createaspace.org.uk
Emergency services: 999
Police (non-emergency): 101
Northumberland Children's Social Care (OneCall): 01670 536 400
Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO): 01670 623979
NSPCC Helpline: 0808 800 5000
If someone is in immediate danger, always call 999.
Policy approval and review
This policy was approved by the Directors of Create a Space CIC.
Emily McElroy, Director
Carol Stevenson, Director
Approval date: 12 October 2026
Next review date: 12 October 2027
This policy will be reviewed annually or sooner if relevant legislation, guidance or organisational circumstances change.