SAFEGUARDING Policy
Windmill Youth Group
Operated by Windmill Youth Development Group – Registered Charity No. 1100933
Last updated: September 2026
Our commitment
The Windmill Youth Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk who come into contact with the charity.
We believe that everyone has the right to be treated with dignity and respect and to be protected from abuse, exploitation, neglect, discrimination and avoidable harm.
Safeguarding is a responsibility of the trustees of Windmill Youth Development Group and forms part of the charity’s governance and decision-making.
This reflects Charity Commission guidance that safeguarding should be a governance priority for charities and that trustees retain overall responsibility even where aspects of safeguarding are delegated.
Our role
The Windmill Youth Group primarily operates as a charitable funding and youth-development organisation.
We assess applications from young people and may provide financial and practical support to enable them to participate in approved opportunities, particularly Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award expeditions and residential programmes.
The Windmill Youth Group does not itself organise, supervise or deliver those expeditions or residential activities.
Activities funded by Windmill are delivered by independent third-party providers responsible for the operational delivery of their programmes.
Our safeguarding responsibilities
Within our own activities, we will:
take reasonable steps to protect children, young people and adults at risk who come into contact with the charity;
maintain appropriate safeguarding procedures;
consider safeguarding when designing our application and selection processes;
ensure trustees and volunteers understand how safeguarding concerns should be reported;
respond appropriately to concerns or disclosures;
maintain appropriate confidentiality while recognising that safeguarding information may need to be shared;
report concerns to statutory authorities or regulators where appropriate;
manage safeguarding risks associated with online communication and personal information; and
periodically review our safeguarding arrangements.
The welfare of an individual will take priority over reputational or organisational considerations when responding to a genuine safeguarding concern.
Third-party providers
Before funding participation with an external provider, the Windmill Youth Group will take reasonable steps to satisfy itself that the provider is appropriate for the activity concerned.
Depending upon the activity, this may include consideration of:
safeguarding policies and procedures;
appropriate insurance;
relevant licences or accreditations;
instructor or staff qualifications;
appropriate checks on staff where required;
risk-management arrangements;
emergency procedures; and
experience in delivering the relevant activity.
Once a participant is undertaking an expedition, residential or other funded programme, the delivery provider is responsible for operational safeguarding during that programme, including its staffing, supervision and procedures.
This does not remove the Windmill Youth Group’s responsibility to respond appropriately to any safeguarding concern that is reported directly to us or otherwise comes to our attention.
Contact with young people
Our application process may involve direct communication with young people.
We will seek to ensure that such communication is appropriate, transparent and proportionate.
Where appropriate because of a young person’s age or circumstances, a parent or guardian will be involved.
Trustees, volunteers or representatives should not use their position with the charity to establish inappropriate private relationships or communications with beneficiaries.
Responding to concerns
Anyone who has a safeguarding concern relating to the Windmill Youth Group should raise it as soon as possible.
Email: info@windmillyouthgroup.org
If a concern relates to an activity currently being delivered by a third-party provider, it should also be reported to that provider’s designated safeguarding contact where appropriate.
Where somebody is in immediate danger, the emergency services should be contacted on 999.
Where required, safeguarding concerns may be referred to the police, local authority safeguarding services, the Charity Commission or another appropriate statutory body.
Information will be shared on a need-to-know basis and in accordance with safeguarding and data protection requirements.
Trustee oversight
The trustees of Windmill Youth Development Group retain overall responsibility for safeguarding within the charity.
Safeguarding arrangements will be reviewed periodically and following a significant incident or material change to the way the charity operates.