How we look after young people

The Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust’s mission is to support young people in rebuilding their confidence after cancer. We do this through running sailing and residential multi-activity trips for young people aged 8-24 years old. Different trips are organised for the two age groups 8-17 and 18-24 years.

Every year more and more young people in recovery are able to join a Trust trip and keep coming back each year. The support of our incredible volunteers and skippers are the reason that is possible. The nature of what the Trust does means we work closely with the young people on our trips. They take on a position of trust. Because of this, the Trust has a rigorous safeguarding policy in place to protect the young people who join us.

Safeguarding is an essential part of the Trust’s core goal of rebuilding young people’s confidence. The Trust’s approach aims to ensure that all our activities promote a climate of inclusive respect and dignity that is supportive, safe and free from derogatory or degrading language, attitudes and behaviour.

As well as describing ways in which the Trust will act to protect young people from harm, we also aim to positively promote their physical and mental health and wellbeing. All participants on Trust activities are considered to be young people in this context, although some elements may be adapted to suit their age and needs.

There are six elements to keeping young people safe in the Trust:

  • Using best practice in ‘safer recruitment’ and training for staff, skippers and volunteers.
  • A Code of Personal Conduct for all staff and volunteers;
  • Guidance for staff and volunteers about the use of social media and the protection of confidentiality;
  • Operating Procedures for all activities that meet or exceed industry safety standards;
  • Clear processes and responsibilities with regard to child protection and safeguarding vulnerable adults;
  • Feedback systems for listening to the Trust’s participants, volunteers and staff to improve the Trust’s work

As part of this, all staff, skippers and volunteers are *DBS or *PVG checked and undertake safeguarding training. We know, however, we cannot be complacent. We review our Polices and Code of Personal Conduct annually and implement new training with staff, skippers and volunteers when required.

We have implemented a ‘Speak Up, Speak Out’ whistleblowing policy within the charity, updating all staff and volunteers on how they can safely report any concerns or incidents, past or present. We will always report any breaches of our policies to safeguard children, or abuse vulnerable adults, to the Charity Commission and to the appropriate authorities.

If you would like any more detail about our Safeguarding approach please contact [email protected]

Frank Fletcher

Chief Executive

*DBS – The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) helps employers make safer recruitment decisions and prevent unsuitable people from working with vulnerable groups, including children. It replaces the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) and Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA)

*PVG – The Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) membership scheme is managed and delivered by Disclosure Scotland. It helps makes sure people whose behaviour makes them unsuitable to work with children and/or protected adults, can’t do ‘regulated work’ with these vulnerable groups.

© Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust