Safeguarding.
1. Policy Statement
Tackling Anxiety Together (“the Charity”) is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare, wellbeing, and dignity of all people who come into contact with its work.
We recognise that our activities focus on anxiety and mental wellbeing and that some individuals engaging with our materials may be emotionally vulnerable or experiencing mental health difficulties. We are committed to taking reasonable and proportionate steps to reduce the risk of harm, abuse, or distress arising from our work.
This policy sets out how the Charity fulfils its safeguarding responsibilities in line with Charity Commission guidance for charities and trustees. [gov.uk]
2. Scope of the Policy
This policy applies to:
Charity trustees
Employees and volunteers of Tackling Anxiety Together
Contractors and consultants
Partner organisations (including churches, youth groups and schools) delivering the Tackling Anxiety Together course
Anyone acting on behalf of the Charity
It covers safeguarding in relation to:
Adults, including adults who may be at risk due to anxiety, mental health difficulties, or personal circumstances
Children and young people, where they may come into contact with the Charity’s work
3. Definitions
Safeguarding means protecting people’s health, wellbeing, and human rights, and enabling them to live free from harm, abuse, and neglect. [oscr.org.uk]
A child is anyone under the age of 18.
An adult at risk is a person aged 18 or over who may be unable to protect themselves from harm, abuse, or exploitation due to factors such as mental ill-health, disability, illness, or life circumstances.
4. Safeguarding Principles
The Charity is guided by the following principles:
Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility
The welfare of children and adults at risk is paramount
Mental health and emotional wellbeing are integral to safeguarding
We take all concerns seriously and respond appropriately
We work in partnership with delivery organisations and statutory agencies
These principles reflect recognised good practice within the charity sector. [ncvo.org.uk]
5. Context of Our Work and Mental Health Risks
Tackling Anxiety Together develops course materials focused on understanding and addressing anxiety. Courses are typically delivered by churches, youth groups and schools using our resources.
We recognise there is a potential for related mental health safeguarding risks:
Participants may disclose personal or distressing experiences
Participants may experience emotional distress during or after sessions
Some individuals who are experiencing suicidal ideologies or self-harm may continue to with these thoughts and symptoms.
Facilitators may feel pressure to provide support beyond their role or competence
Safeguarding within Tackling Anxiety Together therefore includes responding to abuse or risk of abuse and taking a responsible and proportionate approach to managing risk and harm within the charity.
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6. Responsibilities
6.1 Trustees
The trustees have overall responsibility for safeguarding and for ensuring that safeguarding risks, including mental-health-related risks, are identified, reviewed, and managed appropriately. [gov.uk]
6.2 Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)
The Charity will appoint a Designated Safeguarding Lead responsible for:
Receiving safeguarding concerns connected to the Charity’s work
Advising on concerns involving emotional distress or mental health risk
Liaising with partner organisations where appropriate
Escalating concerns to statutory agencies when required
6.3 Staff and Volunteers
All staff and volunteers must:
Follow this policy
Maintain appropriate professional and pastoral boundaries
Avoid acting as counsellors, therapists, or clinicians
Report safeguarding or mental health concerns promptly
7. Working with Partner Churches & Schools/Youth groups
Churches, youth groups & schools delivering the Tackling Anxiety Together course are independent organisations and retain responsibility for safeguarding participants locally.
The Charity requires partners to:
Have an up-to-date safeguarding policy and procedures
Appoint a named safeguarding lead
Ensure facilitators understand how to respond to distress or disclosures
Follow their safeguarding procedures if concerns arise
The Charity will provide guidance to support partners in recognising mental-health-related risks within course delivery.
8. Safer Course Design and Delivery
The Charity seeks to minimise safeguarding and mental health risks by:
Designing materials that promote safe discussion and reflection
Clearly stating that the course is not a therapeutic or clinical intervention
Encouraging facilitators to set clear boundaries (provide pre course training)
Including guidance on responding to distress and disclosures
Encouraging signposting to appropriate professional, pastoral, or medical support
9. Recognising and Responding to Concerns
Safeguarding concerns may include:
Disclosure of abuse or neglect
Significant emotional distress
References to self-harm or suicidal thoughts
Inappropriate behaviour by facilitators or participants
Concerns should be:
Taken seriously and responded to calmly
Reported promptly to the appropriate safeguarding lead
Recorded factually and confidentially
Referred to statutory agencies where required
If someone is at immediate risk of harm, emergency services must be contacted without delay. [charitysaf...cms.gov.uk]
10. Confidentiality and Information Sharing
Confidentiality will be respected wherever possible. Information will be shared only where necessary to protect an individual from harm or to comply with legal or regulatory duties.
11. Training and Awareness
The Charity will ensure that trustees, staff, and volunteers receive appropriate safeguarding awareness, including:
Understanding mental-health-related safeguarding risks
Appropriate boundaries and role clarity
How to respond to distress or disclosures
Pre course training
12. Review
This policy will be reviewed at least annually and updated in response to changes in guidance, legislation, or the Charity’s activities.
Here is the updated safeguarding statement, with a clear and proportionate reporting procedures section added, written so churches can easily adopt it without it becoming overly technical or legalistic.
Safeguarding Statement for Churches, Youth groups and Schools
Tackling Anxiety Together
Tackling Anxiety Together is committed to the safeguarding and wellbeing of all people who engage with our course materials.
Courses are delivered locally by churches, youth groups & schools and safeguarding responsibility for participants rests with the delivering church. All partners using Tackling Anxiety Together materials are therefore expected to:
Have an up-to-date safeguarding policy and procedures
Appoint a named safeguarding lead
Ensure facilitators are appropriately recruited, trained, and supported
Follow their safeguarding procedures if any concern, disclosure, or allegation arises
Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing
The Tackling Anxiety Together course addresses anxiety and mental wellbeing and may involve personal reflection and discussion. Partners should recognise that some participants may be emotionally vulnerable, distressed, or experiencing mental health difficulties.
Facilitators should:
Create a safe, respectful, and non-judgemental environment
Maintain clear and appropriate boundaries
Avoid acting as counsellors, therapists, or clinicians
Respond calmly and sensitively to emotional distress or disclosures
Be alert to signs of increased risk, including severe distress, panic, or references to self-harm or suicidal thoughts
Signpost participants to appropriate pastoral, medical, or professional support where needed
Reporting Procedures
If a safeguarding or mental health concern arises during a course, facilitators and leaders should:
Take the concern seriously and listen calmly without judgement or promise of confidentiality.
Follow the church’s safeguarding procedures, reporting the concern promptly to the church’s Safeguarding Lead.
Record the concern factually, using the church’s agreed recording process.
Refer to external agencies (such as the local authority or emergency services) where required, in line with the church’s safeguarding policy.
If a participant is believed to be at immediate risk of harm to themselves or others, emergency services should be contacted without delay.
Safeguarding concerns should not be investigated by course facilitators but passed on to those responsible for safeguarding within the church.
By delivering the Tackling Anxiety Together course, churches confirm their commitment to providing a safe, supportive, and appropriately-bounded environment for all participants.
