Making Momentum

Anti Bullying Policy. 

September 2023 

The purpose and scope of this policy statement Making Momentum CIC works with children and families as part of its activities. These include:  

Weekend Family Playdates, Academic Support, Alternative Provision, Arts and Crafts Activities, Assisted Riding and Equine Assisted Supports, Holiday provision. 

The purpose of this policy statement is:  

• To prevent bullying from happening between children and young people who are a part of our organisation or take part in our activities  

• To make sure bullying is stopped as soon as possible if it does happen and that those involved receive the support they need  

• To provide information to all staff, volunteers, children and their families about what we should all do to prevent and deal with bullying. 

This policy statement applies to anyone working on behalf of Making Momentum CIC, including senior managers and the board of trustees, paid staff, volunteers, sessional workers, agency staff and students. Separate documents set out:  

• Our code of behaviour for children, young people and adults  

• Our policies and procedures for preventing and responding to bullying and harassment that takes place between adults involved with our organisation. 

What is bullying?  

Bullying includes a range of abusive behaviour that is  

• Repeated  

• Intended to hurt someone either physically or emotionally 

There are three agreed defining features of bullying: 

• The victim is targeted by an individual or group on a regular basis 

• There is intention to harm or humiliate 

• There is a power imbalance, the victim is fearful of those targeting him or her. 

When all of the above are happening, it is highly likely that this is a bullying situation. 

Bullying can take different forms. It could include: 

• physical bullying: hitting, slapping or pushing someone 

• verbal bullying: name calling, gossiping or threatening someone 

• non-verbal abuse: hand signs or text messages 

• emotional abuse: threatening, intimidating or humiliating someone 

• exclusion: ignoring or isolating someone 

• undermining, constant criticism or spreading rumours 

• controlling or manipulating someone 

• making silent, hoax or abusive calls 

The following types of bullying are also hate crime: 

• racial, sexual, transphobic or homophobic bullying- Including Social Media interactions. 

• bullying someone because they have a disability 

This policy has been drawn up on the basis of legislation, policy and guidance that seeks to protect children in the UK. NSPCC Learning provides summaries of the key legislation and guidance on:  

• bullying and cyberbullying  

• online abuse  

• child protection in each nation of the UK. 

We believe that:  

• children and young people should never experience abuse of any kind  

• we have a responsibility to promote the welfare of all children and young people, to keep them safe and operate in a way that protects them. 

We recognise that:  

• bullying causes real distress and affects a person’s health and development  

• in some instances, bullying can cause significant harm  

• all children, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation, have the right to equal protection from all types of harm or abuse  

• everyone has a role to play in preventing all forms of bullying (including online) and putting a stop to bullying. 

We will seek to prevent bullying by:  

• developing a code of behaviour that sets out how everyone involved in our organisation is expected to behave, in face-to-face contact and online, and within and outside of our activities  

• holding regular discussions with staff, volunteers, children, young people and families who use our organisation about bullying and how to prevent it  

• providing support and training for all staff and volunteers on dealing with all forms of bullying, including racist, sexist, homophobic, transphobic and sexual bullying  

• putting clear and robust anti-bullying procedures in place.  

Our regular discussions with staff, volunteers, children, young people and families will focus on:  

• group members’ responsibilities to look after one another and uphold the behaviour code  

• practising skills such as listening to each other  

• respecting the fact that we are all different  

• making sure that no one is without friends  

• dealing with problems in a positive way  

• checking that our anti-bullying measures are working well. 

Responding to bullying  

We will make sure our response to incidents of bullying takes into account: 

• the needs of the person being bullied  

•  the needs of the person displaying bullying behaviour  

•  needs of any bystanders  

•  our organisation as a whole. 

We will review the plan we have developed to address any incidents of bullying at regular intervals, in order to ensure that the problem has been resolved in the long term. More information about responding effectively to bullying is available:  

• protecting children from bullying and cyberbullying  

• recognising and responding to abuse. 

Diversity and inclusion  

We recognise that bullying is closely related to how we respect and recognise the value of diversity. We will be proactive about:  

• seeking opportunities to learn about and celebrate difference  

• increasing diversity within our staff, volunteers, children and young people  

• welcoming new members to our organisation.  

Find out more about:  

• safeguarding children who come from Black, Asian and minoritised ethnic communities  

• safeguarding d/Deaf and disabled children and young people  

• safeguarding LGBTQ+ children and young people  

• safeguarding children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).  

Related policies and procedures This policy statement should be read alongside our organisational policies and procedures including: 

• safeguarding and child protection policy and procedures  

• managing allegations made against a child or young person  

• managing allegations of abuse made against staff and volunteers  

• code of conduct for staff and volunteers  

• equality, diversity and inclusion policies. 

Contact details  

Nominated anti-bullying lead  

Name: Leanne Northover 

Phone/email: Makingmomentum@outlook.com 

Senior lead for safeguarding and child protection (for example safeguarding and child protection trustee)  

Name: Leanne Northover 

Phone/email: Makingmomentum@outlook.com 

NSPCC Helpline 0808 800 5000 We are committed to reviewing our policy and practice at least once a year.  

This policy was last reviewed on: 22/9/23 

Making Momentum CIC

Safe Guarding Policy 2024

Making Momentum CIC abides by the duty of care to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people and is committed to safeguarding practice that reflects statutory responsibilities, government guidance and complies with best practice requirements.

• We recognise the welfare of children is paramount in all the work we do and in all the decisions we take

• All children, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation has an equal right to protection from all types of harm or abuse

• Some children are additionally vulnerable because of the impact of previous experiences, their level of dependency, communication needs or other issues

• Working in partnership with children, young people, their parents, carers and other agencies is essential in promoting young people’s welfare.

Purpose:

Making Momentum CIC will:

• Protect children and young people who receive our services from harm. This includes the children of adults who use our services

• Provide staff and volunteers, as well as children and young people and their families, with the overarching principles that guide our approach to child protection.

This policy applies to anyone working on behalf of Making Momentum CIC, including senior managers paid staff, volunteers, sessional workers, and students. Failure to comply with the policy and related procedures will be addressed without delay and may ultimately result in dismissal/exclusion from the organisation.

Definitions:

The Children Act 1989 definition of a child is: anyone who has not yet reached their 18th birthday, even if they are living independently, are a member of the armed forces or is in hospital.

Child and Adult Abuse: Children and adults may be vulnerable to neglect and abuse or exploitation from within their family and from individuals they come across in their daily lives. There are 4 main categories of abuse, which are: sexual, physical, emotional abuse, and neglect. It is important to be aware of more specific types of abuse that fall within these categories, they are:

• Bullying and cyberbullying

• Child sexual exploitation

• Child Criminal exploitation

• Child trafficking

• Domestic abuse

• Female genital mutilation

• Grooming

• Historical abuse

• Online abuse

Safeguarding children: Safeguarding children is defined in Working Together to Safeguard Children 2018 as: 

• protecting children from maltreatment. 

• preventing impairment of children’s health or development.

• ensuring that children are growing up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care.

• taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes.

Legal Framework:

This policy has been drawn up on the basis of legislation, policy and guidance that seeks to protect children in England. A summary of the key legislation is available from nspcc.org.uk/learning.

Making Momentum CIC have in place arrangements that reflect the importance of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.

The Prevent duty

Some organisations in England, Scotland and Wales have a duty, as a specified authority under section 26 of the Counterterrorism and Security Act 2015, to identify vulnerable children and young people and prevent them from being drawn into terrorism. This is known as the Prevent duty. These organisations include:

• Schools 

• Registered childcare providers

• Local authorities

• Police

• Prisons and probation services

• NHS trusts and foundations.

• Other organisations may also have Prevent duties if they perform delegated local authority functions.

Children can be exposed to different views and receive information from various sources. Some of these views may be considered radical or extreme.

Radicalisation is the process through which a person comes to support or be involved in extremist ideologies. It can result in a person becoming drawn into terrorism and is in itself a form of harm.

Extremism is vocal or active opposition to fundamental British values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs.

Training and Awareness: 

Making Momentum CIC will ensure an appropriate level of safeguarding training is available to its Employees, Volunteers and any relevant persons linked to the organisation who requires it (e.g. contractors).

For all employees who are working or volunteering with children, this requires them as a minimum to have awareness training that enables them to: 

• Understand what safeguarding is and their role in safeguarding children.

• Recognise a child potentially in need of safeguarding and take action.

• Understand how to report a safeguarding Alert.

• Understand dignity and respect when working with children.

• Have knowledge of the Safeguarding Children Policy.

Confidentiality and Information Sharing:

Making Momentum CIC expects all employees and volunteers to maintain confidentiality.  Information will only be shared in line with the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) and Data Protection.

However, information should be shared with the Local Authority if a child is deemed to be at risk of harm or contact the police if they are in immediate danger, or a crime has been committed.

Safe Recruitment & Selection:

Making Momentum CIC is committed to safe employment and safe recruitment practices, that reduce the risk of harm to children from people unsuitable to work with them or have contact with them. 

Important Contacts:

• Senior Lead for Safeguarding
  

• Name: Leanne Northover
  

• Email address: Makingmomentum@outlook.com

• Telephone: 07846374537

Police
Emergency – 999
Non-emergency – 101

NSPCC Helpline
0808 800 5000