Safeguarding policy

Shout Network Limited
Company Number: 08024112
Units 1 & 2, Edward VII Quay, Navigation Way, Ashton-on-Ribble, Preston, PR2 2YF

Policy owner: Shout Network Limited
Approved by: Managing Director
Last reviewed: September 2026
Next review: September 2027

Shout Network Limited ("Shout") is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people who attend our events, visit our premises, undertake work experience with us or otherwise participate in activities organised by Shout.

For the purposes of this policy, a child or young person is anyone under the age of 18.

Shout's activities include business exhibitions, apprenticeship and careers events, business networking, conferences, coworking and other business events.

Our North West Apprenticeship & Careers Expo and similar careers activities may be attended by young people from approximately 11 years of age upwards.

We also provide work experience opportunities at our premises and may work with apprentices, students, schools, colleges, training providers and other organisations supporting young people.

We recognise that everyone who comes into contact with children and young people has a responsibility to safeguard their welfare.

Shout will take reasonable and proportionate steps to:

• provide a safe environment for children and young people;
• prevent children and young people from being exposed to avoidable harm;
• identify and respond appropriately to safeguarding concerns;
• ensure staff understand their safeguarding responsibilities;
• operate appropriate arrangements for work experience;
• work effectively with schools, colleges, parents, carers and relevant authorities;
• ensure appropriate arrangements are made for contractors, exhibitors and other third parties where necessary; and
• create an environment in which young people feel able to raise concerns.

The welfare and safety of the child will be a primary consideration in safeguarding decisions.

This policy applies to:

• directors;
• employees;
• apprentices;
• temporary workers;
• contractors;
• volunteers;
• work experience students; and
• other individuals acting on behalf of Shout.

Relevant provisions also apply to exhibitors, suppliers, speakers, sponsors and other organisations participating in Shout activities involving children and young people.

This policy covers safeguarding in connection with:

• apprenticeship and careers exhibitions;
• business exhibitions attended by young people;
• educational and careers activities;
• work experience placements;
• visits to Shout premises;
• events organised by Shout;
• online or electronic communications connected with these activities; and
• other circumstances in which Shout personnel have contact with children or young people through their work.

Shout will have regard, where applicable, to relevant legislation and guidance including:

• Children Act 1989;
• Children Act 2004;
• Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006;
• Protection of Freedoms Act 2012;
• Equality Act 2010;
• Data Protection Act 2018;
• UK General Data Protection Regulation;
• Working Together to Safeguard Children;
• Keeping Children Safe in Education, where relevant to our work with schools and colleges;
• Disclosure and Barring Service guidance; and
• Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and associated health and safety requirements.

Shout recognises that statutory safeguarding responsibilities applying directly to schools and colleges are not necessarily identical to those applying to Shout. Nevertheless, we aim to work in a manner consistent with good safeguarding practice when working with educational establishments and young people.

Shout's approach is based on the following principles:

The safety and wellbeing of children and young people will be given appropriate priority when making safeguarding decisions.

Every person working for or on behalf of Shout has a responsibility to identify and report safeguarding concerns.

Staff are not expected to investigate allegations themselves.

Children and young people should be treated with respect and should feel able to raise concerns without fear of embarrassment or retaliation.

Safeguarding concerns must not be ignored because they appear minor, uncertain or difficult to substantiate.

Staff should report concerns to the appropriate person so that they can be considered properly.

Confidentiality is important, but it must not prevent appropriate information being shared where this is necessary to protect a child from harm.

Shout will take sensible precautions appropriate to the nature of the activity, age of the young people and level of risk involved.

Shout will appoint a Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) with responsibility for overseeing safeguarding arrangements.

The DSL's responsibilities include:

• acting as the principal contact for safeguarding concerns;
• receiving and assessing safeguarding reports;
• maintaining appropriate safeguarding records;
• determining whether concerns need to be referred externally;
• liaising with schools, colleges, parents, carers and relevant agencies where appropriate;
• supporting staff dealing with safeguarding concerns;
• ensuring safeguarding procedures are reviewed;
• ensuring appropriate safeguarding information is provided to staff; and
• helping ensure appropriate arrangements are in place for events and work experience.

Shout should also nominate a Deputy Safeguarding Lead who can act where the DSL is unavailable.

The current DSL and Deputy DSL contact details will be communicated internally and, where appropriate, made available at events involving children and young people.

Where an allegation concerns the DSL, it must be reported directly to the Managing Director or another senior director who is not involved in the allegation.

Where an allegation concerns the Managing Director, it should be reported to another director and referred externally where appropriate.

Safeguarding concerns can take many forms.

These may include concerns relating to:

• physical abuse;
• emotional abuse;
• sexual abuse;
• neglect;
• bullying or cyberbullying;
• harassment;
• exploitation;
• grooming;
• criminal exploitation;
• sexual exploitation;
• domestic abuse;
• discrimination;
• online abuse;
• inappropriate relationships;
• self-harm or threats of self-harm;
• radicalisation;
• trafficking;
• modern slavery;
• harmful sexual behaviour;
• unsafe working practices; or
• any other situation in which a child may be at risk of harm.

Staff are not expected to diagnose abuse or determine whether an allegation is true.

The responsibility of staff is to recognise, respond, record and report concerns.

If a child or young person tells a member of staff that they have been harmed, abused or are worried about something, the member of staff should:

• remain calm;
• listen carefully;
• take the child seriously;
• allow the child to explain in their own words;
• avoid asking leading or investigative questions;
• reassure them that they have done the right thing by speaking up;
• explain that the information may need to be shared with someone who can help;
• not promise confidentiality;
• make an accurate written record as soon as possible; and
• report the matter immediately to the DSL or Deputy DSL.

Where possible, records should use the child's own words.

Staff must not attempt to confront an alleged perpetrator or carry out their own investigation.

Where there is reason to believe that a child is in immediate danger or at immediate risk of serious harm, protecting the child takes priority.

Emergency services should be contacted by calling 999 where necessary.

The DSL should be informed as soon as practicable.

A safeguarding concern does not need to be proven before action is taken to protect a child.

Any member of Shout staff who:

• witnesses concerning behaviour;
• receives a disclosure;
• suspects abuse or neglect;
• becomes concerned about the conduct of an adult towards a child; or
• otherwise believes that a child may be at risk

must report the concern promptly to the DSL or Deputy DSL.

The DSL will consider the appropriate response.

Depending upon the circumstances, this may include contacting or consulting:

• the child's school or college Designated Safeguarding Lead;
• parents or carers, where appropriate;
• the relevant local authority children's social care service;
• the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO), where an allegation concerns an adult working with children;
• the police;
• the Disclosure and Barring Service; or
• another relevant safeguarding organisation or authority.

Where there is uncertainty about whether information should be referred, the DSL may seek advice from the appropriate safeguarding authority.

Safeguarding concerns must be recorded accurately and promptly.

Records should include, where known:

• the child's name;
• date and time;
• location;
• nature of the concern;
• what was observed;
• what the child said, using their own words where possible;
• names of other people present;
• action taken;
• who the concern was reported to; and
• the name of the person making the record.

The record should distinguish clearly between:

• facts;
• observations;
• information supplied by another person; and
• professional judgement or opinion.

Safeguarding records will be stored securely and access restricted to individuals who have a legitimate need to know.

Shout organises apprenticeship and careers events which may be attended by significant numbers of young people aged approximately 11–17.

These events may include employers, training providers, universities, colleges, public bodies, charities, exhibitors, speakers, contractors and other organisations.

Shout will take proportionate safeguarding measures appropriate to the nature and scale of each event.

These may include:

• completing appropriate event risk assessments;
• identifying safeguarding leads or responsible staff;
• briefing Shout staff before the event;
• providing a clear method for reporting concerns;
• ensuring emergency procedures are in place;
• considering venue layout and access;
• identifying appropriate arrangements for lost or separated young people;
• making exhibitors aware of expected standards of behaviour;
• ensuring reasonable supervision arrangements;
• considering photography and filming;
• providing identifiable Shout staff;
• working with the venue's security and safeguarding arrangements; and
• cooperating with schools, colleges and other organisations attending.

Where children attend a Shout event as part of a school, college, training provider, youth organisation or other organised group, the accompanying organisation remains responsible for the appropriate supervision and pastoral care of the children in its group unless expressly agreed otherwise.

Shout's safeguarding responsibilities operate alongside, rather than replacing, those of the school or other organisation.

Schools and group organisers should:

• provide appropriate numbers of responsible adults;
• maintain suitable supervision;
• know which young people are attending;
• manage any specific medical or support arrangements for their students;
• respond to safeguarding concerns involving their students; and
• follow reasonable safety and safeguarding instructions issued by Shout or the venue.

Where Shout becomes aware of a safeguarding concern involving a child attending with a school or organised group, Shout may contact the organisation's DSL or responsible member of staff.

Organisations exhibiting at events attended by children are expected to behave professionally and appropriately.

Exhibitors must not:

• engage in inappropriate physical contact;
• make sexual, discriminatory or otherwise inappropriate comments;
• deliberately isolate a child from their group without good reason;
• invite a child into an inappropriate private area;
• request unnecessary personal information;
• photograph or film individual children contrary to event rules;
• establish inappropriate personal relationships with attendees; or
• engage in conduct which could reasonably place a child at risk.

Where an exhibitor wishes to obtain contact information from a young person, it must do so lawfully and appropriately having regard to the individual's age and applicable data protection and marketing requirements.

Shout reserves the right to intervene, remove an individual from an event or require an exhibitor to cease an activity where there is a safeguarding concern.

Serious concerns may be referred to the relevant authorities.

Shout seeks to avoid unnecessary situations in which a member of staff is alone with a child in an isolated location.

Where one-to-one interaction is reasonably necessary:

• it should wherever practicable take place in an open, visible or accessible environment;
• another responsible adult should know that it is taking place;
• physical contact should be avoided unless necessary and appropriate;
• communication should remain professional; and
• the interaction should relate to the legitimate purpose of the activity.

This does not prevent staff from helping a young person who requires immediate assistance.

Shout welcomes opportunities to provide young people with meaningful experience of the workplace.

Before a work experience placement begins, Shout will normally:

• obtain appropriate information from the school, college, placement provider or parent/carer;
• confirm placement dates and working arrangements;
• identify a responsible supervisor;
• consider the young person's age, experience and maturity;
• review relevant workplace risks;
• consider any additional needs or reasonable adjustments;
• provide appropriate induction information; and
• establish appropriate emergency contact arrangements.

Young people on work experience will receive appropriate instruction and supervision.

Shout will consider health and safety risks before a young person begins work experience.

Particular consideration will be given to:

• the young person's age;
• lack of workplace experience;
• maturity;
• physical capability;
• additional needs;
• unfamiliar equipment;
• manual handling;
• slips, trips and falls;
• electrical equipment;
• event set-up and pack-down;
• vehicles and loading areas;
• lone working;
• working hours;
• fire safety;
• emergency procedures; and
• any activity presenting an increased risk to a young person.

Young people will not be asked to undertake work which Shout considers unsuitable for their age, experience, training or level of supervision.

Every work experience student will have a nominated member of staff responsible for their placement.

Supervision should be proportionate to:

• the student's age;
• maturity;
• experience;
• activity being undertaken; and
• risks involved.

Staff supervising work experience students should:

• provide clear instructions;
• explain workplace expectations;
• ensure the young person knows how to ask for help;
• monitor their welfare;
• ensure appropriate breaks;
• avoid inappropriate one-to-one situations;
• report concerns promptly; and
• set a positive professional example.

Shout recognises that a DBS check is only one part of safeguarding and does not itself make an individual suitable to work with children.

Shout will assess roles and activities involving children to determine whether a DBS check is legally available and appropriate.

The level of DBS check requested will be based upon the duties actually undertaken and the applicable eligibility rules.

Shout will not request an Enhanced DBS check or Children's Barred List check simply because an employee may occasionally encounter children.

Where a role constitutes or may constitute regulated activity with children, Shout will assess the relevant legal requirements and obtain appropriate checks before permitting the activity where required.

Where Shout becomes a regulated activity provider, it will comply with applicable duties relating to barred persons and DBS referrals.

For work experience placements, Shout will work with the relevant school or placement organiser to determine whether the nature and frequency of supervision means any particular checks are required.

Where a Shout role involves substantial or regular work with children, safeguarding will form an appropriate part of recruitment and appointment.

Depending upon the role, this may include:

• confirming identity;
• employment history;
• references;
• appropriate interview questions;
• assessing suitability to work with children;
• DBS checks where legally eligible;
• safeguarding training; and
• appropriate probation and supervision.

Safeguarding responsibilities will be explained to relevant employees.

Shout personnel must:

• treat children with dignity and respect;
• use appropriate language;
• maintain professional boundaries;
• avoid favouritism;
• avoid unnecessary physical contact;
• challenge inappropriate behaviour;
• follow safeguarding procedures;
• report concerns;
• avoid being unnecessarily alone with a child;
• never engage in sexual or inappropriate relationships with a child;
• never exchange inappropriate messages, photographs or content with a child; and
• never use their position to intimidate, exploit or improperly influence a child.

Staff must be conscious that conduct which may appear harmless between adults can be inappropriate when dealing with a child.

Communication with children and young people should be professional and appropriate.

Where practicable, communications relating to work experience or organised events should take place through:

• the school or college;
• a parent or carer;
• an organisational email address;
• an approved business communication system; or
• another agreed professional channel.

Staff should not establish unnecessary private social-media relationships with children encountered through Shout activities.

Personal messaging should be avoided unless there is a legitimate operational need and the communication is transparent and appropriate.

Shout personnel should not normally transport an individual child alone in a private vehicle as part of a Shout activity unless this has been appropriately authorised and there is a legitimate reason.

Where transport arrangements form part of an organised activity, appropriate risk, insurance, consent and safeguarding considerations must be addressed.

Emergency situations should be dealt with according to the circumstances and the child's immediate welfare.

Photography and filming may take place at Shout events.

Where events involve children and young people, additional consideration will be given to safeguarding and privacy.

Shout will take reasonable steps to:

• make attendees and group organisers aware that photography may take place;
• identify official photographers where appropriate;
• provide a mechanism for photography concerns or opt-outs;
• respect reasonable requests not to photograph particular individuals;
• avoid inappropriate or intrusive images;
• ensure photography is undertaken for legitimate purposes; and
• handle images of children responsibly.

Schools, colleges and group organisers should notify Shout in advance where particular children must not be photographed.

Images must never be taken or used in a manner which could reasonably be considered exploitative, degrading or unsafe.

Safeguarding responsibilities extend to online activity connected with Shout.

Staff must not:

• engage in inappropriate private conversations with children;
• send sexual, offensive or otherwise inappropriate material;
• request inappropriate photographs;
• disclose confidential information about children;
• engage with children through personal social-media accounts where inappropriate; or
• use digital communications to circumvent normal safeguarding arrangements.

Any concerning online interaction involving a young person should be reported in the same way as an offline safeguarding concern.

Information concerning children will be handled carefully and in accordance with Shout's Data Protection and Privacy policies.

Safeguarding information will only be shared with people who reasonably need it for safeguarding or other lawful purposes.

However, staff must never promise a child absolute confidentiality.

Where necessary to protect a child, information may be shared with relevant organisations or authorities.

The protection of personal information should support safeguarding and should not be used as a reason for failing to share information where sharing is necessary and lawful to protect a child.

Any allegation that an adult working for Shout, representing an exhibitor, contractor or otherwise participating in a Shout activity has:

• harmed a child;
• behaved in a way that may have harmed a child;
• possibly committed a criminal offence involving a child;
• behaved towards a child in a way indicating they may pose a risk; or
• otherwise behaved in a way giving rise to a serious safeguarding concern

must be reported immediately to the DSL or appropriate senior director.

Shout will not attempt to investigate serious allegations before considering whether external safeguarding authorities should be involved.

Where appropriate, advice or referral may be made to the Local Authority Designated Officer, police, children's social care, DBS or another relevant authority.

Shout may suspend an employee or prevent an exhibitor, contractor or other person from having contact with children while a concern is considered.

Suspension or temporary restriction is a precautionary measure and does not itself constitute a finding of wrongdoing.

Shout encourages staff to report behaviour which causes concern even where it does not appear sufficiently serious to constitute abuse.

Examples could include:

• unnecessarily favouring a particular child;
• inappropriate familiarity;
• inappropriate comments;
• unnecessary one-to-one contact;
• inappropriate use of social media;
• disregarding professional boundaries; or
• behaviour inconsistent with this policy.

Reporting lower-level concerns can help identify patterns of behaviour and prevent more serious problems.

Bullying, harassment and discrimination involving children and young people will not be tolerated at Shout activities.

This includes behaviour relating to protected characteristics such as:

• disability;
• race;
• religion or belief;
• sex;
• sexual orientation;
• gender reassignment; and
• other characteristics protected by law.

It also includes cyberbullying and harassment through digital platforms.

Concerns should be reported to a member of Shout staff.

Where a child becomes separated from their school, group, parent or responsible adult at a Shout event:

• the child should be kept in an appropriate safe and visible location;
• the event lead or safeguarding lead should be informed;
• reasonable steps should be taken to locate the responsible adult;
• the child should not normally be taken to an isolated location by one adult;
• identity should be appropriately confirmed before handing a young child to an adult where there is uncertainty; and
• security or police should be involved where circumstances give rise to concern.

Where a child requires urgent medical attention, Shout will prioritise their immediate health and safety.

First aid or emergency medical assistance should be obtained as appropriate.

Where possible, the child's responsible adult, school, college, parent or carer should be informed promptly.

A safeguarding report should also be made where the circumstances giving rise to the medical emergency raise a safeguarding concern.

Where contractors or suppliers may have significant contact with children through Shout activities, Shout will consider appropriate safeguarding requirements when appointing and managing them.

Depending upon the nature of the work, this may include:

• contractual safeguarding obligations;
• confirmation of relevant policies;
• appropriate supervision;
• DBS checks where legally eligible and necessary;
• restricting access to young people; and
• requiring concerns to be reported to Shout.

Many Shout events take place at venues operated by third parties.

Shout will work with venue operators to understand relevant:

• emergency arrangements;
• security procedures;
• first aid provision;
• evacuation procedures;
• access arrangements; and
• safeguarding considerations.

Shout's safeguarding policy operates alongside the venue's own policies and procedures.

Where responsibilities overlap, Shout will seek to cooperate with the venue to protect children and young people.

Relevant Shout personnel will receive safeguarding information or training appropriate to their role and level of contact with children.

At a minimum, relevant staff should understand:

• how to recognise a potential safeguarding concern;
• how to respond to a disclosure;
• who the DSL is;
• how to report concerns;
• appropriate professional boundaries; and
• what to do in an emergency.

Additional training may be provided to the DSL, Deputy DSL and employees with significant responsibility for young people.

Failure by a member of staff to comply with this policy may result in disciplinary action.

Serious breaches may result in dismissal and/or referral to external authorities.

Where an exhibitor, contractor, supplier or other third party breaches this policy, Shout may:

• issue instructions or warnings;
• restrict contact with children;
• remove an individual from an event or premises;
• terminate the organisation's participation;
• terminate a contract; and/or
• refer the matter to an appropriate authority.

The welfare of children will take priority over commercial considerations when responding to a serious safeguarding concern.

Employees should feel able to raise concerns about unsafe safeguarding practices within Shout.

No employee will be subjected to detrimental treatment for raising a genuine safeguarding concern in good faith.

Where an employee believes a safeguarding concern has not been dealt with appropriately internally, they should raise the matter with a senior director or appropriate external authority.

This policy will be reviewed at least annually and sooner where:

• legislation or statutory guidance changes;
• Shout's activities involving children materially change;
• a safeguarding incident identifies a need for improvement; or
• good practice indicates that amendments are appropriate.

The Managing Director and Designated Safeguarding Lead are responsible for ensuring the policy remains appropriate to Shout's activities.

Safeguarding concerns relating to Shout Network Limited should be reported to the Designated Safeguarding Lead.

Shout Network Limited
Units 1 & 2, Edward VII Quay
Navigation Way
Ashton-on-Ribble
Preston
PR2 2YF

Telephone: 01772 935930

Current contact details for the Designated Safeguarding Lead and Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead will be made available to Shout personnel and at relevant events.

If a child is in immediate danger or there is an emergency, call 999.

Shout Network Limited believes that young people should be able to experience the world of work, explore careers and participate in events in an environment in which they are safe, respected and supported.

Safeguarding is a shared responsibility.

Everyone working for or with Shout is expected to play their part in creating that environment.

Shout Network Limited
Company Number: 08024112

Last reviewed: September 2026
Next scheduled review: September 2027