Safeguarding statement

Mission Statement

iNet recognises that children and young people are an important part of today’s church and when part of a cross- cultural workers’ family, are a vital part of the team.

Children and Young People have much to give as well as receive. We also recognise the important role that adults have in helping children and young people to grow in their faith and to have practical experiences of sharing their faith. We aim in this policy to provide sound guidelines for any interaction between adults, children and young people.

iNet seeks to provide a safe and secure environment within which children and young people will be treated with respect and dignity. We wish to honour God in all that we do and recognise it would be complacent to think that child abuse could not happen within our organisation. iNet interacts with children and young people on different levels.

• Our commitment to children and young people to go is to prepare them well to go overseas, to be available whilst they serve and to provide debriefing and advice to those who return to live in their passport country.

• When we support families who move to live overseas by giving up to date advice on keeping their children safe in a cross cultural environment.

• At the annual iNet conference where children and young people have their own programme.

• In open meetings where members of local churches are invited to hear about the work of cross cultural workers. This is the most likely setting where iNet will interact with adults with care and support needs.

• In encouraging, training young people to meet together to explore their faith and their response to the Great Commission at residential retreats.

• When we encourage support and train teams or individuals going overseas to work with children or vulnerable adults.

• When we engage in leading or facilitating ‘mission’ events for young people either in the UK or overseas. These events may also involve engagement with other young people not connected to our organisation as part of the project.

Our commitment

iNet Trust recognises the need to provide a safe and caring environment for children, young people and adults. We acknowledge that children, young people and adults can be the victims of physical, sexual and emotional abuse, and neglect. We endorse the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant of Human Rights, which states that everyone is entitled to “all the rights and freedoms set forth therein, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status”.

We also concur with the Convention on the Rights of the Child which states that children should be able to develop their full potential, free from hunger and want, neglect and abuse. They have a right to be protected from “all forms of physical or mental violence, injury or abuse, neglect or negligent treatment or exploitation, including sexual abuse, while in the care of parent(s), legal guardian(s), or any other person who has care of the child.” 

iNet has therefore adopted the procedures set out in this safeguarding policy in accordance with statutory guidance. We are committed to build constructive links with statutory and voluntary agencies involved in safeguarding.

The policy and any attached practice guidelines are based on the ten Safe and Secure safeguarding standards published by thirtyone: eight.

iNet undertakes to:

• endorse and follow all national and local safeguarding legislation and procedures, in addition to the international conventions outlined above.

• provide on-going safeguarding training for all its workers and will regularly review the operational guidelines attached.

• ensure that the premises meet the requirements of the Equality Act 2010 and all other relevant legislation, and that it is welcoming and inclusive.

• support the Safeguarding Coordinator(s) in their work and in any action they may need to take in order to protect children and adults with care and support needs.

• iNet agrees not to allow the document to be copied by other organisations.

If you would like to know about the iNet Safeguarding Policy, please contact the office at admin@inet-trust.org