Child Protection Policy
MACSAIL recognises its duty of care to protect all children and young people from abuse,
neglect, and exploitation in all forms, including online environments.
Last updated: January 2026
1. Definition of a Child
For the purposes of this policy, a child is defined as anyone under the age of 18, in accordance with the Children Act
1989 and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).
2. Types of Abuse
MACSAIL staff and volunteers are trained to recognise the four main categories of abuse: physical abuse, emotional
abuse, sexual abuse, and neglect. Additionally, given our focus area, we address online-specific risks including
grooming, sextortion, cyberbullying, and exposure to harmful content.
abuse, sexual abuse, and neglect. Additionally, given our focus area, we address online-specific risks including
grooming, sextortion, cyberbullying, and exposure to harmful content.
3. Prevention
MACSAIL takes proactive steps to prevent abuse by implementing rigorous recruitment and vetting procedures,
providing regular child protection training, establishing clear codes of conduct, conducting risk assessments for all
activities involving children, and maintaining safe digital practices.
providing regular child protection training, establishing clear codes of conduct, conducting risk assessments for all
activities involving children, and maintaining safe digital practices.
4. Responding to Disclosures
When a child makes a disclosure, staff must listen carefully without interrupting, reassure the child that they are
believed, explain that the information will need to be shared with someone who can help, record the disclosure
accurately using the child’s own words, and report immediately to the Designated Safeguarding Lead.
believed, explain that the information will need to be shared with someone who can help, record the disclosure
accurately using the child’s own words, and report immediately to the Designated Safeguarding Lead.
5. Information Sharing
MACSAIL follows the principle that information will be shared on a need-to-know basis, with the child’s safety and
welfare being the primary consideration. All information is shared in accordance with GDPR and data protection
legislation.
welfare being the primary consideration. All information is shared in accordance with GDPR and data protection
legislation.
6. Working with External Agencies
MACSAIL cooperates fully with local authority children’s services, law enforcement, and other statutory agencies in
the investigation of child protection concerns and in the development of multi-agency safeguarding arrangements.
the investigation of child protection concerns and in the development of multi-agency safeguarding arrangements.
If you have any questions about this policy, please contact us at info@macsail.org