Safeguarding

Keeping young people safe.

Lighthouse serves children, teenagers and young adults — many carrying real wounds. Safeguarding is the foundation everything else is built on. Read this carefully and re-read it every quarter.

Our safeguarding promise

Every young person who steps into Lighthouse deserves a safe, confidential, well-supported space. Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility — mentors, leaders, hosts, volunteers and admins.

Under-18 mentoring is only carried out by adults who are youth-safe approved (DBS checked and safeguarding trained), with guardian consent on record.

We do not handle safeguarding alone. We escalate to designated Lighthouse Leaders, and where required, to statutory services.

Recognising risk — what to look for

Talk of suicide, self-harm, not wanting to be here.
Disclosure of abuse — physical, sexual, emotional, online grooming.
A child or vulnerable person in danger.
Bullying or persistent peer cruelty.
Signs of exploitation, county lines, or criminal grooming.
Sudden withdrawal, secrecy around adults, unexplained gifts or money.
Substance misuse, eating disorders, severe self-neglect.
Homelessness or being made to feel unsafe at home.

How to respond in the moment

Stay calm. Your reaction is part of their safety.
Listen. Believe. Do not interrogate.
Affirm courage: 'Thank you for telling me.'
Do not promise secrecy. Say: 'I will need to share this with a Lighthouse Leader so we can keep you safe.'
If they are in immediate danger, call 999 with them — or for them.
Write down what was said (their words), date, time, location.
Escalate the same day.

How to escalate inside Lighthouse

From the mentor app, open the young person's record and use 'Escalate to Response Centre'.
Describe the concern factually. Use their words where possible.
A Lighthouse Leader is automatically notified and assigned.
All under-18 wall posts are hidden and reviewed by a leader before publishing.
High-risk wall posts are auto-hidden and routed to the Unified Inbox — leaders see them within minutes.
Never handle a critical safeguarding situation alone.

UK emergency & support contacts

Emergency (life at risk): 999
Non-emergency police: 101
NHS urgent mental health: 111 (press 2)
Samaritans (24/7, free): 116 123
Childline (24/7, free, under-19s): 0800 1111
Shout (text 'SHOUT' to 85258, free, 24/7)
Papyrus HOPELINEUK (suicide prevention, under-35s): 0800 068 4141
NSPCC (concern about a child): 0808 800 5000
FRANK (drugs/addiction): 0300 123 6600

After escalation

Continue to walk with them — do not disappear. The Lighthouse Leader will guide what role you play next.

Look after yourself. Hearing hard stories is heavy. Talk to your Lighthouse Leader. Pray. Rest.