Safeguarding policy 2025

Context

• IGD is committed to safeguarding all beneficiaries – with particular focus on those who may be vulnerable.  In relation to IGD’s current programmes, this relates in particular to children under the age of 16 – but also in exceptional instances relate to an adult who is or may be in need of community care services by reason of mental or other disability, age or illness

• The beneficiaries of IGD’s charitable programmes in the majority of cases are individuals who are employed within the food and grocery industry e.g. free learning programmes.

• In some cases e.g. IGD’s Employability Programmes , the primary beneficiaries are children, some of whom may be under the age of 16.  In most cases, the programme is delivered virtually and workshops are broadcast to students in their classrooms.

• IGD’s Employability Programmes are facilitated by a 3^rd party with expertise in delivery of virtual workshops to schools age children (Hark).

• In the case of IGD’s Partnership Toolkit , IGD provides online resources for companies to deliver in schools as part of their own school engagement programmes and under the supervision of the school.

Policy

• IGD commits to ensuring that all those involved in IGD programmes on IGD’s behalf (e.g. staff, trustees, volunteers) adhere to the safeguarding policies of the host organisation e.g. school, university, food and grocery industry business.

• In the case of IGD’s Employability Programmes delivered virtually and where the events are held physically:

  • IGD uses a third party (Hark) to carry out many of the administrative tasks:

    • IGD chose the third party with care, and conducted initial due diligence and a pilot programme before launching full programme

    • IGD’s contract with Hark contains robust contractual assurances, including that all relevant staff have enhanced CRB (or DBS) checks, Hark is in compliance with health and safety, data protection

    • Best practice is to renew these checks every three years or when the individual in question changes organisation.  IGD’s policy is to renew in line with this best practice and Hark has confirmed that they comply with our policy.

  • IGD does the following to ensure it fulfils its duty of care towards beneficiaries:

    • Regularly monitors the work undertaken by Hark:

      • All sessions delivered virtually are attended by IGD

      • Regular phone calls and meetings with Hark

  • IGD ensures that guidance is provided to volunteers prior to the virtual workshop session, and further guidance provided verbally by the qualified Hark facilitator ahead of this session.  This covers such aspects as:

    • Appropriate use of language

    • Avoidance of sharing any contact details

  • IGD staff (as appropriate) have been DBS checked, and have safeguarding training, so that they can effectively monitor Hark

• In the case of the Partnership Toolkit and where Feeding Britain’s Future is held virtually, we provide online best practice advice on safeguarding and responsibilities, confirming that they are there under the supervision of the school.

• On the occasion that IGD takes photographs of students taking part in our school programme (for marketing and communication purposes), this is only done with the permission of the school and where the school has necessary parental consent. We do not keep any record or publish the names of the students. Photographs are deleted when no longer required, and those which are stored, are only accessible by the appropriate IGD staff. 

• Should any member of IGD staff, trustees, or volunteers become aware of issues or potential issues relating to safeguarding of vulnerable individuals during the course of an IGD programme, they will notify immediately the responsible individual of that school/university/ company, for them to investigate and follow-up.

Review and monitoring

This policy was approved by the Board of Trustees on November 2023.