Adult Safeguarding Policy

Final 25 October 2025

1. Policy Statement

  • The Gay Outdoor Club is committed to safeguarding adults at risk and ensuring their safety and well-being in all club activities.
  • We recognise that LGBTQ+ individuals may face specific safeguarding risks, including but not limited to discrimination, hate incidents, or breaches of confidentiality relating to their sexual orientation or gender identity. Our safeguarding approach is inclusive and affirming of LGBTQ+ identities.
  • We believe that everyone participating in club activities, regardless of age, gender, religion or beliefs, ethnicity, disability or sexual orientation should have a positive and enjoyable experience at Gay Outdoor Club activities in a safe environment protected from abuse, neglect, and exploitation.

2. Purpose

  • To outline the responsibilities of board members, other volunteers, and participants in safeguarding adults.
  • To provide clear procedures for identifying and responding to safeguarding concerns.

3. Scope

  • This policy applies to all board members, other volunteers (such as group coordinators and walk leaders), club members and participants involved in all of the Gay Outdoor Club’s activities.
  • Gay Outdoor Club membership and guiding principles for club activities:
    • All members of the club are over the age of 18.
    • No one under the age of 18 will participate to club events.

4. Definitions

  • Adult at Risk: An individual aged 18 or over who may be unable to protect themselves from harm due to age, disability, or other factors.
  • Abuse: Includes physical, emotional, sexual, financial, and neglect, being subjected to hate crime, outing, misgendering.

5. Key Principles

  • Empowerment: Supporting individuals to make their own decisions.
  • Prevention: Taking proactive measures to reduce risks.
  • Proportionality: Responding appropriately to the level of risk.
  • Protection: Ensuring support and safety for those in need.
  • Partnership: Working with other organizations and agencies to better manage risks.
  • Accountability: Being transparent and responsible in safeguarding practices.

6. Roles and Responsibilities

  • Board of Trustees: Must complete safeguarding training (“An introduction to Safeguarding Adults in Sport, Activity & Leisure”, 1.5 hrs eLearning course by Ann Craft Trust), appoint a Safeguarding Lead, report concerns, ensure the policy is implemented and reviewed regularly.
  • Chair: Supports the Safeguarding Lead, Group Coordinators, Event Leaders and members with response to safeguarding concerns.
  • Safeguarding Lead: Oversees safeguarding practices, acts as the main point of contact, advises the board and supports the chair and promotes Safeguarding amongst the wider membership.
  • Members (including Group Coordinators, Walk/Event Leaders): Report concerns to the Event lead or Safeguarding lead. Should group coordinators, walk/event leaders of members wish to attend safeguarding training a request via email can be made to the Club Chair, who will review request with the Club Board of Trustees and if appropriate approve the safeguarding training request.

7. Procedures

  • Refer to the Gay Outdoor Club Procedure for Reporting and Responding to Concerns (Appendix 1).

8. Training and Awareness

  • Everyone at the Gay Outdoor Club has access to the safeguarding policy and procedure and is expected to follow the policy and procedure.
  • Regular safeguarding training arranged for board members and available to any member who requests it.
  • Awareness campaigns to promote safeguarding within the club.

9. Monitoring and Review

  • The policy will be reviewed in October 2026 and then every two years or in response to significant changes in legislation or practice. The review will

include a Lessons Learnt review from any cases which have been managed

under this policy (while maintaining anonymity of the people concerned).

10. Supporting Documents

  • Code of Conduct
  • Incidents and Complaints
  • Safeguarding Procedure
  • Reporting Form for Safeguarding Concerns
  • Contact Details for Local Safeguarding Authorities

Appendix 1 – Adult Safeguarding Procedure for The Gay Outdoor Club

1. Introduction

This document outlines the Gay Outdoor Club procedure for reporting and responding to concerns related to Adult Safeguarding and provides guidance to ensure that confidential information is handled appropriately.

The procedures are to be read in conjunction with the Gay Outdoor Club Adult Safeguarding Policy.

2. Definitions

  • Adult at Risk: An individual aged 18 or over who may be unable to protect themselves from harm due to age, disability, or other factors.
  • Abuse: Includes physical, emotional, sexual, financial, and neglect, being subjected to hate crime, outing, misgendering.

3. Reporting Concerns

  • Any concerns about safeguarding of vulnerable adults must be reported to the Walk/Event leader who will report it to the Safeguarding Lead or directly to the Safeguarding Lead.
  • The Safeguarding Lead and another board member will liaise with the activity leader.

4. Responding to Concerns

  • The circumstances surrounding disclosures and/or allegations shall be reviewed by the Safeguarding Lead, a board member, the Walk/Event leader to determine the appropriate course of action.
  • The review will be undertaken as soon as practical and may be held over video call for convenience and expediency.
  • If required by the circumstances, the Safeguarding Lead will seek advice from Local Safeguarding Authorities and/or the Police.
  • The Safeguarding Lead will make a written record of the concern.
  • Written records will be made, stored and accessed in such a way to protect against accidental or unauthorised disclosure.
  • Guiding Principles for responding to concerns for Group Coordinators, Walk/Activity Leaders:
    • Seek consent from the person concerned. If you feel that they do not have capacity to consent, you can act without consent, but you must log your decision.
    • Collect all available relevant facts and appropriate information.
    • Make a written record of the concern (email) for sharing with the Safeguarding Lead.
    • Tell the person involved what you are going to do about the concern and note any views that they may have regarding how they wish the matter to be dealt with.
    • Tell only the people who need to know – such as your Safeguarding Lead and a board member as appropriate.
    • Consider the balance between listening to someone’s wishes and needing to refer information where others may be at risk.
    • Inform the person involved about the outcome of any process.
    • If someone is injured or at immediate risk, take immediate action. Seek help by dialling 999 for police or ambulance.

5. Confidentiality

All sensitive and confidential information will be handled in accordance with UK GDPR and Data Protection, 2018.

Disclosure of someone’s LGBTQ+ identity without consent is considered a breach of safeguarding in some contexts.

6. Contact Details of National and Local Safeguarding Authorities

Find Your Nearest Safeguarding Adults Board – Ann Craft Trust

Directory of Organisations and Useful Contacts

Get Support If You or Someone You Know is a Victim of Financial Abuse – Ann Craft Trust

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