Our Safeguarding Policy

Last updated: 1st December 2025

At inyourroots®, your safety and wellbeing are our top priority. We’re here to help you discover your strengths and connect with opportunities; always making sure you feel safe, respected, and supported along the way. This guide explains how we keep everyone protected, what you can expect from us, and what to do if you ever have a worry or need support.

1. Our promise to you

At inyourroots®, your safety, wellbeing, and right to be yourself come first. We work with young people aged 16-25; including those who have accessibility needs, are neurodivergent, or have long-term health conditions, and take extra care to make sure everyone feels welcome, respected, and safe.

What this means:

  • We treat you as a partner, not just a user.
  • We listen to your ideas, feedback, and concerns.
  • We never tolerate bullying, discrimination, or unsafe behaviour – online or offline.

2. Who this policy is for

This policy is for:

  • Young people using inyourroots®
  • Parents, carers, and supporters
  • Employers, mentors, and anyone working with us
  • Our team, freelancers, and volunteers

3. Who to contact

If you ever feel unsafe, worried, or have a question about your safety, you can contact our Safeguarding Lead (the founder) directly at frankie@inyourroots.co.uk. You will also be able to use the “Report a Concern” button on our website or platform.

4. How we keep you safe

a) Online safety

  • Everyone agrees to a code of conduct before joining. This means:
    • No bullying, harassment, or hate speech
    • No sharing of personal contact details in public spaces
    • Respecting everyone’s boundaries and privacy
  • If someone breaks these rules, we will step in quickly. You can report anything that makes you uncomfortable.
  • Your personal information is private. We won’t share it without your permission (unless there’s a serious risk of harm).

b) Who we work with

  • All adults (mentors, employers, anyone working directly with young people) are checked and trained to make sure they are safe and supportive.
  • We do background checks (like DBS) where needed and give everyone training in safeguarding and inclusion.
  • We work only with employers and partners who share our values and agree to follow our safety rules.

c) Events, workshops and mentoring

  • Every event or workshop has ground rules and a named person you can talk to if you’re worried.
  • If you’re meeting someone 1-to-1 (like a mentor), we make sure it’s safe. This could mean meeting in public, having a parent/carer involved, or using secure online tools.
  • We always ask what you need to feel comfortable (like accessibility adjustments or extra support).

d) Wellbeing and accessibility

  • Our platform is designed to be accessible for everyone, including neurodivergent and disabled users.
  • We check regularly to make sure it stays that way and listen to your feedback.
  • We provide wellbeing resources and can signpost you to extra help if you need it.

5. If something goes wrong

  • If you or someone else feels unsafe, you can tell us, no concern is too small.
  • We will listen, support you, and take action if needed. Sometimes we may need to involve other professionals, but we’ll keep you informed.
  • Your privacy matters. We only share information if someone is at risk of harm.

6. Learning and improving

We review this policy every year (or sooner if needed) and update it based on your feedback and best practice.

We want to hear from you; what works, what doesn’t, and how we can do better

7. Where we are right now

inyourroots® is still in its early stages and some features are being developed or tested.

What this means:

  • Some functions (like forums, mentoring, or job matching) may not be live yet, or might be in beta.
  • Some checks and moderation are done manually by our team while we build automated systems.
  • We are working hard to make sure every part of the platform is safe, accessible, and inclusive from day one.
  • If you’re unsure whether a feature is live or how we keep it safe, just ask us.

Your questions and feedback help us build a better, safer inyourroots® for everyone.

8. Need help or want to talk?

If you ever feel unsafe, have a worry, or just want to ask a question about safety or wellbeing, please get in touch. You can email Frankie (our founder and safeguarding lead) directly at frankie@inyourroots.co.uk. Every concern is taken seriously, and you’ll always be listened to and supported. If you’re not sure whether something is a safeguarding issue, it’s always okay to ask.

Why this matters to us

Safeguarding is everyone’s business. We’re here to help you grow, connect, and feel safe, so you can focus on building your future.