Young People Safeguarding Policy

1.Foreword

1.1.Corallia works with young people aged 18+. The delivery of our programmes and activities with partners across education and entrepreneurship is designed to support young people to reach their full potential to learn, work and thrive.

1.2.Harm towards young people is a global issue, including physical and emotional abuse, neglect and exploitation, sexual abuse, and other forms of gender-based violence. We recognise that the impact of experiencing such harm has significant and long-term consequences that can create barriers to an individual reaching their full potential.

1.3. Corallia is committed to ensure the safety and protection of all young people who participate in its programmes and activities.

2.Purpose

2.1.Corallia’s Young People Safeguarding Policy (hereinafter the “Policy”) is:

• To ensure the safety and protection of all young people who participate in its programmes and activities.

• To ensure that all staff, volunteers, and representatives are aware of their responsibilities with regards to safeguarding, that they are confident in the behaviour expected of them and are supported in upholding this.

• To ensure that we have robust frameworks in place to prevent and proactively mitigate any risks of harm and know that we can respond effectively should any concerns or incidents of harm arise.

• To ensure that expectations and requirements can be clearly communicated with others, including our delivery partners, to ensure standards are upheld in all areas of work.

• To ensure that all individuals are aware of their responsibilities to report any safeguarding concerns, and how to do this.
  
  
  

3.Scope

3.1.All Corallia’s staff and representatives must act in accordance with this policy in both their professional and personal lives, without exception. This includes:

• Steering Board members,

• all Corallia staff, including employees as well as personnel under direct contracts,

• volunteers and interns,

• the staff and representatives of partner agencies, or any other individuals, groups, or organizations with a formal/contractual relationship with Corallia that brings them into contact with children and young people.

3.2.Additionally, donors, supporters, journalists, ambassadors, and other who may come into contact with young people through their involvement with Corallia, or its partners, must act in accordance with the Policy whilst visiting programmes or offices or engaging in campaigns or events.

4.Commitment

4.1.We are committed to ensuring that all our programmes, activities and interventions are safe and provide supportive environments for young people.

4.2.We will work proactively to prevent harm, including abuse or exploitation, being caused to young people as a result of their interaction with our organisation.

4.3.We will respond quickly and robustly if any incidents or allegations of harm do occur.

4.4.We clearly communicate our expectations, and work with our network of partners to ensure they also implement their own safeguarding measures.

5.Principles

5.1.Our approach to safeguarding is built on the following principles:

• Safeguarding must be considered at all stages of any programme or activity, from conception and design, throughout implementation and delivery and review.

• Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. All staff and representatives must work to actively promote the safety and well-being of young people.

• All young people have an equal right to protection from harm, abuse, or exploitation, regardless of age, race, gender, disability, culture, language, religious beliefs, or sexual orientation.

• We will always respond to any safeguarding concerns or allegations. They will always be taken seriously and responded to appropriately. This includes historic allegations.
  
  
  

6.Framework

6.1.Corallia is committed to following law and guidance that seeks to protect and promote the safety and well-being of young people, namely:

• The Greek Constitution (articles 4-25).

• The Greek Civil Code (code 65).

• The Greek Criminal Code.

• The Greek statutory legislation (Law 3064/2002 as amended, and Presidential Decree 233/2005).
  
  
  

7.Rules

7.1.No staff member or other representative must have sexual intercourse or engage in any sexual activity with anyone under 18 years of age, regardless of age of consent locally. Mistaken belief in the age of a child is not a defence.

7.2.All staff and representatives must act in line with the Policy and Corallia’s Code of Conduct which ensures that the protection and promotion of the safety and wellbeing of young people and other vulnerable groups is prioritised at all times.

7.3.Corallia shall recruit staff and volunteers safely, ensuring all necessary checks are in place prior to any travel and/or work with young people.

7.4.All staff and volunteers must undertake induction and safeguarding training, appropriate to their position.

7.5.All staff and representatives must comply with Corallia’s image guidelines that include never showing images which would allow a young person to be identified, particularly ensuring that a young person’s full name, specific location and image are never combined.

7.6.Staff, volunteers, and other representatives must maintain professional boundaries with young people and do not form any personal relationships whatsoever (including contact via social media).

7.7.All young people have an equal right to protection, regardless of their age, sex, gender, sexuality, nationality, ethnicity, religion, disability, socio-economic background, or any other characteristic. This especially applies to those who are in vulnerable circumstances or less able to protect themselves.

7.8.No staff member or other representative will use their position of power or authority, their position or relationship within Corallia or Corallia’s reputation to exploit others.

8.Responsibilities

8.1.Corallia will seek to continuously improve its safeguarding culture and practice, and support partner organisations to do the same.

8.2.Corallia shall recruit staff, contractors, and volunteers safely, ensuring all necessary checks are in place prior to any travel and/or work with children and young people.

8.3.Corallia will provide accessible routes for staff, partners, and volunteers to raise any concerns and ensure these are dealt with thoroughly and sensitively.

8.4.Corallia’s Head of Unit has responsibility for ensuring the organisation’s statutory and ethical responsibilities for safeguarding and promoting the safety and welfare of young people are met and that there is appropriate resource to do this.

8.5.Corallia’s Head of Unit has delegated the day-to-day responsibility for leadership on safeguarding to Corallia’s Chief Officers.

8.6.Corallia’s Chief Officers have delegated responsibility to Corallia’s Unit Coordinator for ensuring that the day-to-day operations of Corallia are managed and delivered in a way, which ensures that safeguarding, protecting, and promoting the safety and welfare of young people, is prioritised.

All staff are responsible for:

8.7.Ensuring that safeguarding implications have been thoroughly considered and appropriate measures put in place to minimise any risk to children and young people. This includes at the start of any area of work and throughout the delivery cycle.

8.8.Seeking advice and guidance on these measures where required.

8.9.Following any programme or activity specific guidance, in addition to this policy.

8.10.Ensuring that any concerns are raised in accordance with the process set out in this policy.

9. Reporting

9.1.All staff and representatives of Corallia must be aware that under the Policy, any allegation of abuse or exploitation of young people or other vulnerable groups, made against them will be investigated and/or referred to the relevant statutory authority. Members of staff and representatives will be obliged to co-operate with any such investigation. The outcome of an investigation or referral may result in a disciplinary procedure, ending of voluntary roles and/or termination of partnership agreements.

9.2.Corallia staff and volunteers must report any concerns they have about the welfare of a young person as soon as possible and ideally within 24 hours, via the following channels:

• Email: safeguarding@corallia.org

• Tel: +30.210.63.00.778.

This information was updated on 01.09.2022.