Safeguarding Policy - Wildfires Festival

CONTENTS

Information – Points of Contact
Introduction – Safeguarding Principles, Positions of Trust, Culture
Understanding abuse and neglect, and how to respond
Recruitment, Training, Code of Conduct, Role of Safeguarding Lead
Responding to allegations of abuse

Terminology

Safeguarding

Our duty of care is to protect both children and adults from harm and this comes under the term ‘Safeguarding’.

Children and Young Persons

Definition: In England, a child is legally defined as someone under 14 years of age, while a young person is someone aged 14 or over, but under 18. (Children and Young Persons Act 1933). For ease of this document, any person under 18 will be referred to as a child.

Adults at Risk

An adult that requires safeguarding is one that is considered to be over the age of 18 who has need of care and support, is experiencing, or at risk of, abuse or neglect; and as a result of those care and support needs is unable to protect themselves from either the risk of, or the experience of abuse or neglect. Care Act 2014

‘A person is considered vulnerable if, as a result of their situation or circumstance they are unable temporarily or permanently to protect themselves from harm or exploitation’. College of Policing.

An adult is any person who is over the age of 18.

For the purposes of this policy, we will refer to adults who need help as ‘vulnerable adults’ which takes into accounts adults with additional care and support needs.

INFORMATION

Wildfires Festival event:

Wildfires Festival, PO Box 1563, Woking, GU21 6BG

Wildfires Festival Landline: 01483 306627

General information: info@wildfiresfes ti val.com

Operational Lead: Steve Morris

Email: steve@wildfiresfestival.com

Telephone: 01483 306627

Safeguarding Lead: Clare McKnight

Email: safeguarding@wildfiresfestival.com

Mobile: 07415 708484 (during event only)

Charity/Company Number: 24-7 Prayer, 1091413

Insurance Company – Allianz

Wildfires Festival is an annual three-day Christian event that draws together all ages, from all denominations for fellowship, music, and worship in England. It was launched in 2018 as a place to encounter God. Daily meetings are held for different age groups which include games, bible teaching, music, and prayer. At the Wildfires Festival each year more than 5,000 people from all over the UK, gather in Sussex. 4,000 of those people will be camping. It reaches out to both those inside and outside the church. It is a not-for-profit event and take place at the Wiston Estate, Steyning, West Sussex, BN44 3DZ. This year the event will be held near the end of July.

Wildfires Festival is led by a core team of leaders from 24-7 Prayer, Emmaus Road Church, Pioneer Network and Open Heaven, St Paul’s Hammersmith Church, KXC Church, and Gas Street Church, with legal and financial responsibility of the event held by the trustees of 24-7 Prayer. 24-7 Prayer is an international movement of prayer, mission, and justice. 24-7 Prayer is a UK registered charity (no. 1091413) and company limited by guarantee (no. 04176643). The registered address is The Lighthouse, 8-10 High Street Woking, GU21 6BG.

2. INTRODUCTION

Wildfires Festival believes that abuse of any kind is unacceptable. We recognise our responsibility to safeguard all children, young people and adults at risk in line with national legislation and local policy.

The Wildfires Festival safeguarding policy establishes the roles and responsibilities of all Wildfires volunteers and staff in relation to the protection of children, young people and adults at risk with whom they may have contact during the event.

Wildfires Festival is committed to reviewing this policy and its good practice annually.

The Purpose of the Safeguarding Policy:

To provide protection for the children, young people, and adults at risk across the Wildfires Festival event
To provide staff and volunteers with guidance on procedures to follow if they suspect a child, young person or adult may be experiencing or be at risk of harm
This policy applies to all staff, whether paid or voluntary, and anyone working on behalf of the Wildfires Festival.

We will endeavour to safeguard children, young people, and adults by:

Valuing, listening to, and respecting them
Adopting appropriate guidelines for the safety and well-being of children, young adults, and vulnerable adults through procedures and a code of conduct for staff and volunteers
Committing to a thorough and safe recruitment process for all its activities
Sharing relevant information about child and adult protection and good practice with children, young people, parents, carers, staff, and volunteers
Making relevant agency referrals and involving the individual and other relevant parties appropriately always adhering to the Wildfires Confidentiality Policy and to the boundaries of the Data Protection Act 2018
Providing effective management for staff and volunteers through supervision and support.

Safeguarding Principles

The safeguarding of children, young people and adults attending Wildfires Festival and using the premises and services which are part of the event is one of the main priorities for the organisation.
Wildfires Festival is committed to working with everyone to ensure that every child, young person, and adult receives the appropriate care and support needed to safely attend and enjoy the event.
Wildfires Festival Core Team, staff, contractors and volunteers will at all times behave in a way that reflects the principles, ethos and values of the organisation.
Wildfires Festival operates a Safeguarding Team which will be in place for the duration of the event.
The Safeguarding management team are comprised of suitably trained and briefed individuals who have proven experience of working with children, young people and adults with care and support needs. There will be one overall safeguarding team lead, and several deputy team leaders, which make up the safeguarding management team. A minimum of two safeguarding officers will be on duty between the hours of 0800-2300 hours throughout the event.
The Safeguarding Team lead will be on duty throughout the duration of the event and will be contactable via control for situations arising outside of the event’s daytime hours (so 24/7).
The Safeguarding Team are responsible for people within the geographical boundaries of the event, as outlined in the relevant maps.

Positions of Trust

Position of trust’ is a legal term defined in section 22 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003. It is explained as an adult “caring for, training, supervising or being in sole charge” of a child under the age of 18.

All adults working with children, young people and vulnerable adults are in a position of trust. All those in positions of trust need to understand the power this can give them over those they care for and the responsibility they have because of this relationship.

It is vital that all workers, whether that be paid or voluntary, ensure they do not, even unknowingly, use their position of power and authority inappropriately. They should always maintain professional boundaries and avoid behaviour which could be misinterpreted.

As of April 2022, it is illegal in England for those in Positions of Trust in a faith setting to engage in sexual activity with a 16- or 17-year-old under their care or supervision.

Culture

Key to safeguarding is the culture of the organisation and the event. This starts at the top, and threads throughout the whole team and event. As an organisation, we aim to build an open culture where:

those who lead, do so by example
are committed to the safeguarding of all
those that work or volunteer are safely recruited and trained for their roles
there are accountability structures
with a code of conduct
and there is open communication.

3. UNDERSTANDING ABUSE AND NEGLECT

At Wildfires Festival we define safeguarding as having a duty of care to look after those who may be more vulnerable within the community or who are involved in a situation where they are at immediate risk of significant harm or may pose a significant risk to others.

At Wildfires Festival we define welfare as providing information and support to a person who is not at immediate risk of significant harm and who is not presenting an immediate risk to others. We provide this information and support to enable the person to help themselves.

‘A person is vulnerable if, as a result of their situation or circumstances, they are unable to take care of or protect themselves or others from harm or exploitation.’ College of Policing. Therefore, any person can be vulnerable at any time.

Categories of Abuse

Physical Abuse

Examples include slapping, pushing, kicking, rough handling, twisting of limbs / extremities, misuse of medication, or inappropriate sanctions or restraint.

Sexual Abuse

Examples include Rape and sexual assault or sexual acts to which the vulnerable adult has not consented, could not consent or was pressured into consenting. Non-contact abuse such as voyeurism, and involvement in pornography.

Psychological / Emotional Abuse

Examples include verbal assault or intimidation, emotional abuse, threats of harm or abandonment, humiliation or blaming, overriding of consent, choices or wishes, feeling worthless, frightened, or unloved.

NB: Psychological/emotional abuse will usually occur in conjunction with other forms of abuse.

Financial Abuse

Examples include theft, fraud, exploitation, and pressure in connection with wills, property, possessions, or benefits.

Spiritual Abuse

Spiritual Abuse is described as ‘a form of emotional and psychological abuse characterized by a systemic patter of coercive and controlling behaviour in a religious context’ (Church of England 2021 Safeguarding e-manual).

Put simply, spiritual abuse is coercion and control of a person by another in a spiritual context.

This abuse may include:

Manipulation and exploitation
Enforced accountability
Censorship of decision making
Requirements for secrecy and silence
Pressure to conform
Misuse of scripture or the pulpit to control behaviour
Requirement of obedience to the abuser
The suggestion that the abuser has a ‘divine’ position
Isolation from others, especially those external to the abusive context

Linked with emotional abuse, spiritual abuse could be defined as an abuse of power, often done in the name of God or religion, which involves manipulating or coercing someone into thinking, saying or doing things without respecting their right to choose for themselves.

Some indicators of spiritual abuse might be a leader who is intimidating and imposes his/her will on other people, perhaps threatening dire consequences or the wrath of God if disobeyed.

The leader may say that God has revealed certain things to them and so they know what is right. Those under their leadership are fearful to challenge or disagree, believing they will lose the leader’s (or God’s) acceptance and approval.

It can also involve a person forcing another person, or their children to participate in spiritual or religious practices when they don’t want to.

Neglect and Acts of Omission

Examples include ignoring medical or physical care needs, failure to provide access to appropriate health, social care or educational services, and withholding of the necessities of life, such as medication, adequate nutrition and heating.

Discriminatory Abuse

This abuse is usually motivated by discriminatory and oppressive attitudes towards race, gender, cultural background, religion, physical and/ or sensory impairment, sexual orientation, and age.

Institutional Abuse, Neglect, and Poor Practice

This may take the form of isolated incidents of poor or unsatisfactory professional practice at one end of the spectrum, through to gross misconduct.

Conversion Therapy

“Conversion therapy” is any practice aimed at a person or group of people which demonstrates an assumption that any sexual orientation or gender identity is inherently preferable, and which has the predetermined purpose of attempting to— (a) change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity, or (b) suppress a person’s expression of sexual orientation or gender identity. Any form of conversion therapy will not be tolerated by Wildfires Festival.

Appropriate/ Inappropriate Physical Contact

Physical contact with others is an important way of providing reassurance in addition to displaying appropriate affection and respect. Physical contact can be an essential form of communication.

Every individual has the right to personal space and should feel able to say ‘no’ to any offered physical contact.

Staff and Volunteers are encouraged to communicate with those who are attending and taking part in the event, however, with regards to physical contact with children, young adults and/or adults, volunteers are required to consider the boundaries of appropriate/inappropriate touch and, to avoid engaging in, encouraging, presenting or displaying physical contact which may be misinterpreted, or which is not welcomed by the child, young person or adult.

Staff and Volunteers should consider whether the type of contact that they are having with an individual is appropriate to their age, ability and/or situation. For example, a volunteer who may be supporting a specific children’s/young person’s activity should consider whether letting an individual sit on their lap whilst taking part in an activity is appropriate. Allowing a young primary-aged child to sit on your lap to support them with an activity or to engage them with storytelling may be appropriate; however, allowing a young person to do so is not.

If an individual initiates inappropriate contact i.e. full bodily hugs, staff and volunteers can change it to a more acceptable form whilst continuing to show appropriate affection and respect. For example, an arm around the shoulders, a hand on the arm or a high five is more acceptable than a hug or a kiss.

Volunteers should be aware of and sensitive to the response of the individual. Be aware of any signs of discomfort or unease and adjust your actions (and theirs if necessary) as appropriate. If you have concerns about the way that an individual may physically relate to you or others, please alert your team leader and the Safeguarding Lead.

A person must not pray on anyone under the age of 18, or deemed vulnerable without an appropriate adult present, and with the consent of the young person and adult. (Please see prayer policy)

Legislation:

The Children Act (1989 & 2004)
Working Together to Safeguard Children (2023)
The Care Act (2014)
Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act (2006)
Mental Capacity Act (2005)

Reporting and Monitoring Procedures

If any Wildfires Festival staff member or volunteers has a concern or awareness of any issue relating to the safety, care and welfare of a child, young person or adult who may be or is attending the event, it is their duty to inform Control via the communication method discussed at team briefing as soon as possible, or the safeguarding officer in the venue. This also includes the paramedics on site.
All instances of suspected abuse or neglect must be reported to Control immediately. If significant harm has occurred, is imminent or severe, the Safeguarding Team Lead will contact the appropriate external authority (i.e. Police, Health and/or Local Authority) immediately.
All information shared with and received in confidence by the Safeguarding Team Lead, or any member of the team will be recorded in writing on the relevant Safeguarding forms as issued by the Wildfires Festival and in line with the Wildfires Confidentiality Policy. The information recorded will include the date and time of any issue notified, full details of the issue and details of any other individuals who may have knowledge of the concern. The full name and role of the team member will be noted, and the method of communication and details of the actions requested and/or taken will also be recorded.
Where a Wildfires Festival member of staff or volunteer is suspected of acting inappropriately towards a child, young person, or adult, outside of the guidelines and boundaries of their role, or outside of the Wildfires Festival code of conduct for all staff and volunteers, the Safeguarding Lead should immediately be informed. The Safeguarding Lead alongside the Wildfires Festival Operational Lead will consider the appropriate action to be taken based on the concern and evidence presented. The staff member or volunteer will immediately be suspended from duty as a precautionary action and without prejudice.

Responding to a child, young person, or vulnerable adult making an allegation of abuse

Stay calm.
Listen carefully to what is said.
Do not promise to keep secrets.
Advise the individual that the information given will be shared with appropriate others but will be kept confidential and will not be shared with third parties or any others without their consent.
Allow the individual to continue talking at his/her own pace.
Do not ask questions.
Tell them what you will do next and with whom the information will be shared.
Record in writing what was said using the individual’s own words as soon as possible. Also provide detail of their demeanour. Note the date, time, place, any names mentioned, to whom the information was given and ensure that the record is signed and dated.
Contact the safeguarding team/lead immediately via Control.

Lost Person Guidelines

The following steps should be taken if a volunteer or steward is notified of a child, young adult or vulnerable adult lost on site i.e. the individual is missing on site.

Notify Control AND your venue safeguarding lead immediately giving the following details over their radio: name, age, physical description, clothing, where last seen.
Take down contact details of Informant / Parent / Carer.
Control to notify all radio users of description of missing child [name, age, physical description, clothing, where last seen].
Control to notify overall Safeguarding Lead.
Informant / Parent / Carer to remain at location with team member and await arrival of Safeguarding Team.
Safeguarding Team to confirm details as of point 2.
Safeguarding Team will give instructions regarding searching of the immediate area.
If necessary, Safeguarding Team will notify the Stewarding/Security/Camping/Carparking Team Leaders to ensure a search site-wide.
Immediate contact with Control must be made upon the person being found.
Safeguarding Team where appropriate will meet the person and reunite with the parent/guardian/carer.
If the missing person is deemed high risk (at immediate risk of significant harm) by the Safeguarding Lead, then all reasonable actions will take place as determined by the Safeguarding Lead as a matter of urgency.
The safeguarding lead will consider the use of the shift team WhatsApp group for the circulation of missing person photographs. If this is used, all photographs will be deleted as soon as the person is found. The permission of the parent/carer/informant must be given.
The leadership team within safeguarding are very experienced in incident management, risk assessing and safeguarding. To that end, they will determine when the risk held by Wildfires is no longer tolerable and will inform the Police.

Found Person Guidelines

The following steps should be taken if a team member is notified of a child, young adult, or vulnerable adult found on site i.e. an individual has lost their parent, carer or guardian.

Notify Control AND the venue safeguarding lead immediately.
Control will notify the Safeguarding Team leader.
Safeguarding Team will meet the team member and find the person.
Safeguarding Team member will facilitate the reuniting of a found person with parent/carer and will take details of the child and parent.
Safeguarding Team Leader will determine whether any safeguarding issues need to be addressed with other agencies.

Confidentiality

Children, young people, vulnerable adults and anyone requiring the support of the safeguarding team can have the confidence that any information concerning them will be treated with confidentiality and respect.

The work of the Wildfires Festival safeguarding team is carried out in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018 and the General Data Protection Regulations 2023.

All personal information concerning any individual receiving support from the safeguarding team is confidential. All information shared will be received in confidence and will not be shared outside of the immediate operational Safeguarding Team or Wildfires Festival Operations Leads without the prior and explicit agreement of the Safeguarding Team Lead.

Where possible such confidential information will be shared with consent, and where possible the wishes of those who do not consent to having their information shared will be respected. However, it is acknowledged under the GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018, information may be shared without consent if there is a lawful basis to do so, such as where safety may be at risk to promote the welfare of a child or vulnerable person.

Such confidential information will not be shared with any third or external party without the prior consent of the individual whom it concerns, except in circumstances which may require the immediate safeguarding of an individual from the risk of significant harm or other situation.

All personal information recorded as part of Safeguarding Team support will be confidentially destroyed immediately following the festival, unless required for the purposes of immediate safeguarding, a criminal investigation, or in the event of ongoing concerns requiring the involvement of third and external parties.

Anti-discrimination and Valuing Diversity

Wildfires Festival is committed to valuing diversity within society, to challenging all forms of discrimination and taking positive action to ensure that staff, volunteers, and users of the service have equal opportunities in participation and access to the event. Wildfires Festival has legal responsibilities not to discriminate on grounds of disability, race, and gender.

However, beyond this legal responsibility, Wildfires Festival will oppose discrimination on the grounds of race, nationality, ethnic origin, class, gender, marital status, sexuality, age, disability, caring responsibilities, political affiliation, or religious belief/faith.

Contact after the Event

Staff and Volunteers are not permitted to maintain contact with a child, young person or vulnerable adult following the Wildfires Festival.

Wildfires Festival does not take responsibility for any such contact and does not condone it, i.e. phone calls, text messages, letters, e-mails, or visits, as we do not believe that this is good practice.

Please remember that this is not only to ensure the safety and well-being of the child, young person and/or vulnerable adult but also yourself.

4. RECRUITMENT, TRAINING, CODE OF CONDUCT, ROLE OF SAFEGUARDING LEAD

Safer Recruitment

The organisation will ensure all workers will be appropriately trained, supported, and supervised in accordance with safer recruitment guidelines. This includes:

There is a person specification for the post
Those applying have completed an application form
A DBS check has been completed where necessary
Written references have been obtained and followed up where appropriate
Safeguarding awareness has been provided to volunteers and workers
Those in relevant roles have the appropriate safeguard training.

Code of Conduct

All staff and volunteers are expected to adhere to the Wildfires Code of Conduct.

The Safeguarding Lead

The Safeguarding Lead is responsible for acting as a source of advice on safeguarding matters, for coordinating relevant action across the Wildfires Festival organisation and for liaising with health, social care services and other agencies about instances or suspected concerns relating to significant harm and/or abuse. In the course of the Safeguarding Lead role and responsibilities, the Lead may:

Establish contact and liaise with social care, health and/or the Police in appropriate circumstances or situations.
Provide advice and/or information on any issues of safeguarding, or any concern relating to the care of children, young people and/or vulnerable adults.
Ensure that appropriate information is available at the time of referral to external services and that information is confirmed in writing within 24 hours of the referral being required.
Ensure that Wildfires Festival Operational staff and/or any other relevant stakeholders are informed of actions taken and/or any further action required.
Support Wildfires Festival staff, volunteers, and participants to manage the effects of any concern and/or incident should it occur.
Be the Single Point of Contact (SPOC) for any agency after the event in respect of safeguarding matters.

The Safeguarding Team is contactable via Wildfires Festival Event Control 24/7 throughout the duration of the event. The Safeguarding Lead is contactable throughout the event and outside of event times.

I have a concern about a child, young person or vulnerable adult that I have raised, and I don’t think it has been considered, what do I do?

It is the right of any member of the public to make direct referrals to Children’s Services, Adult Services and/or the Police if they have a concern about a child, young person, or vulnerable adult. Contact numbers for local services within the Wildfires Festival geographical area are provided below. However, staff members and volunteers are encouraged to follow the processes as defined within the Wildfires Festival Safeguarding Policy.

If a staff member or volunteer feels that the Wildfires Festival Safeguarding Lead has not responded appropriately to his or her concerns, they are asked to initially discuss this with a member of the Wildfires Festival Operational team who will discuss it with the Safeguarding Lead or Deputy, the concerns of the individual. This will be with a view to resolving the concern and ensuring that appropriate and timely action is taken to follow up on the concern raised during the event.

5. RESPONDING TO ALLEGATIONS OF ABUSE

Under no circumstances should a staff member or volunteer carry out their own investigation of abuse. Initial actions are listed above. The procedures to follow if you have any concerns at all is to:

Inform your team leader
Inform control
Inform the safeguarding team
Complete the relevant form is appropriate (SG team will advise). See Appendix 1.

The safeguarding team will then assess the information in relation to the threat, risk and harm posed and gain more information if needed. The safeguarding lead or deputy will then use their professional judgement to determine the course of action needed and set out the actions to be taken. These will all be recorded appropriately. Such actions may include referring to statutory agencies.

If the concern is around the safeguarding lead, then the matter should be reported to the safeguarding deputy or the event manager.

Police

If it is believed that any child, young person or vulnerable adult is at immediate risk of significant harm, please dial 999. For situations which are not an emergency and where there is a concern that is not believed to be an immediate risk, please dial the Police on 101.

Health Matters

There is a medical team on site who should be contacted in the first instance, as they are fully qualified paramedics.

West Sussex Social Care

Adult Social Care; 01243 642121

Children’s Social Care emergency duty officer number: 0330 222 6664

WSChildrenServices@westsussex.gov.uk

Children’s Social Care: 01403 229900

Multi Agency Safe Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) – LADO@westsussex.gov.uk;

Phone: 033 022 26450

Safeguarding Hub, 4th Floor, County Hall North (Parkside), Chart Way, Horsham, West Sussex, RH12 1XH

This policy was adopted by:

Wildfires – Steve Morris, Event Director

Wildfires – Clare McKnight, Safeguarding Lead

24–7 Prayer International – Keith Grafham, CEO

Date: 11/06/2025

To be reviewed: 1 year Signed: C McKnight, Steve Morris, and Keith Grafham