Our Commitment
The Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) is dedicated to safeguarding and enhancing the wellbeing of the people we support, our staff, and volunteers. We believe everyone has the right to live free from abuse or neglect, regardless of age, background, or circumstance. We recognise that our work supports people facing complex needs, and their safety is our priority.
Policy Statement
Safeguarding is a collective responsibility across CALM's trustees, staff, and volunteers. Our commitment includes:
Zero-tolerance culture: Creating a culture of zero-tolerance for harm and encouraging prompt reporting of any concerns.
Legal compliance: Aligning our practices with all relevant safeguarding legislation and guidance.
Equality and inclusion: Safeguarding the rights and dignity of all individuals.
Open culture: Creating a safe, positive, and open environment where people feel able to share concerns without fear of retribution.
Proportionate action: Ensuring any action taken is prompt, proportionate, and includes and respects the voice of the person concerned.
Scope
This policy applies to everyone who works for or on behalf of CALM, including all staff (permanent, fixed-term, and casual), freelance contractors, volunteers, trustees, and student placements.
We also expect all partner organisations, suppliers, and sponsors to adopt and demonstrate their commitment to these safeguarding principles.
We work to safeguard children, young people, and adults at risk by:
Valuing, listening to, and respecting them.
Following agreed safeguarding procedures.
Safely recruiting staff and volunteers, ensuring all necessary checks are made.
Responding swiftly and appropriately to all suspicions and allegations of abuse.
Providing effective management, supervision, support, and training for all staff and volunteers.
Maintaining confidential, detailed, and accurate safeguarding records.
Sharing information about anyone found to be a risk to children or adults with the appropriate external bodies (e.g., Disclosure and Barring Service, police, local authority/social services).
Putting the wellbeing of those at risk first and actively supporting them to communicate their views.
Acting on Concerns
If you have a safeguarding concern about yourself or someone else who uses our services, engages with our organisation, participates in our activities, or may be affected by our work, please contact us. Our safeguarding team will review any information shared and take appropriate action where needed.
To raise a concern, complete the safeguarding contact form available on this page using the link offered: https://www.thecalmzone.net/forms/get-in-touch
If your concern is not related to our organisation or services, we may signpost you to the appropriate safeguarding agency or support service. If there is an immediate risk of harm or danger, please contact the emergency services on 999.
Roles and Responsibilities
Everyone at CALM shares a responsibility for safeguarding.
The Board of Trustees provides strategic oversight, ensures legal compliance, and allocates adequate resources for effective safeguarding.
Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs) manage all safeguarding reports, provide support and guidance to staff and volunteers, report concerns to statutory services, and ensure accurate records are maintained.
All Staff and volunteers are required to know how to recognise, respond to, report, and record any safeguarding concerns through regular training. In an emergency, they are expected to report urgent concerns directly to the relevant statutory agency.
Confidentiality and Sharing Information
We will maintain confidentiality and trust as far as possible, but all staff and volunteers must act on the basis that safety is paramount.
We are committed to sharing information safely and appropriately with due regard for data protection principles.
Records relating to safeguarding concerns must be accurate, relevant, and stored securely with restricted access.
Safer Recruitment and Whistleblowing
CALM is committed to:
Safer Recruitment: Carrying out appropriate safer recruitment practices for all roles and ensuring all staff and volunteers are suitable to work with our beneficiaries.
Whistleblowing: Promoting practical arrangements to enable all staff and volunteers to voice concerns about malpractice or abuse, made in good faith, without fear of repercussion.