If in doubt, report it!

This campaign builds on the strong safeguarding and data protection culture already in place across the organisation.

Its purpose is to make sure everyone, whatever their role or working pattern,  feels confident, supported and clear about recognising concerns and acting early when something doesn’t feel right.

It also helps make our good practice visible and consistent, so governors and trustees can clearly see how seriously we take safeguarding and data protection.

Teams across the organisation already do a great job keeping children and young people safe and handling information responsibly.

This campaign brings that work together under a shared, simple framework so expectations are clear, confidence is reinforced, and no one feels unsure about acting, especially in situations that are complex, subtle or time‑pressured.

It strengthens what’s already working well and supports everyone to keep doing the right thing.

This campaign is for everyone.

Safeguarding and data protection are part of many different roles , whether you:

• Work directly with children and young people
• Work on campus or shifts
• Work remotely or in hybrid roles
• Handle information, content, data or systems
• Support services, participation, fundraising, communications, HR, finance or IT

If your role touches children, young people, data, content or systems, safeguarding applies to you.

For the purposes of this campaign, data protection means information governance.

That includes:

• Personal data
• Health, care and education records
• Confidential organisational information
• Digital systems and paper files
• CCTV, images and recordings
• The use of AI and new technologies

Getting this right helps keep children and young people safe and protects the trust placed in us.

The expectation is simple and consistent:

See it.
Notice a safeguarding or data protection concern — a worry, risk, mistake or near miss.

Hear it.
Take concerns seriously when they’re raised. Listen carefully, without judgement or delay.

Act on it.
Report promptly and factually so the right support and action can follow.

And always remember: If in doubt, report it!

You don’t need to judge thresholds or decide how serious something is.

If something doesn’t feel right, or you’re unsure - report it.
Early reporting supports good decision‑making and helps protect everyone involved.

You will be supported, not blamed.

This campaign reinforces good judgement and early action. Raising concerns in good faith is always the right thing to do, even when situations feel unclear or complex.

No.

This campaign:

• Recognises the good work already happening
• Supports confidence and consistency
• Makes expectations clear and visible

It is not about fault‑finding, surveillance or catching people out.

You should still report it.

Mistakes, near misses and data protection incidents can happen. Reporting them early allows risks to be managed and lessons to be learned, which protects children, colleagues and the organisation.

No.

You should never promise confidentiality.
Protecting children and young people must always come first.

Concerns need to be shared appropriately so they can be handled safely and correctly.

Do you have a safeguarding concern? 

Do you have a data protection concern?

You won’t be on your own.

Support includes:

• Clear guidance and reporting processes
• Manager briefings and everyday conversations
• Safeguarding and data protection leads
• A culture that encourages early action and learning

Success looks like what we already strive for:

• People act without hesitation
• Concerns are raised early
• Teams feel confident and supported
• Safeguarding and data protection are part of everyday work

It also means we can clearly demonstrate to governors and trustees that safeguarding and data protection are taken seriously and embedded across the organisation.