Safeguarding and Survivor Protection Policy

1. OUR COMMITMENT

PAG UK is committed to providing a safe, respectful and supportive environment for survivors of childhood abuse.

We recognise that survivors may carry the effects of abuse for many years and that coming forward, sharing an experience or asking for support can be extremely difficult.

PAG UK will treat survivors with dignity, respect and compassion.

We will listen without judgement, avoid victim-blaming and recognise that survivors should not be expected to prove or justify what happened to them in order to be treated with respect.

Our safeguarding responsibilities extend to everyone who engages with PAG UK, including survivors, supporters, volunteers, staff, contributors and members of the public.

We also recognise that information shared by survivors may sometimes indicate that a child or young person is currently at risk of abuse or harm. Where this occurs, PAG UK will take appropriate safeguarding action.

2. WHO THIS POLICY IS FOR

This policy applies to anyone acting on behalf of PAG UK, including:

• trustees

• staff

• volunteers

• moderators

• administrators

• contributors

• campaign representatives

• contractors

• anyone representing PAG UK.

It also sets out how PAG UK aims to respond when survivors, parents, carers or members of the public raise safeguarding concerns with us.

3. OUR SURVIVOR-CENTRED APPROACH

PAG UK recognises that survivors are individuals with different experiences, needs and preferences.

We will seek to:

Listen

Give people the opportunity to speak without judgement.

Believe

Take disclosures seriously without demanding proof or unnecessary detail.

Respect

Respect an individual's dignity, privacy, choices and boundaries.

Avoid blame

Abuse is never the responsibility of the child who experienced it.

Empower

Provide information and options rather than attempting to take control of someone's situation.

Signpost

Where appropriate, help people identify specialist organisations and professional services that may be able to provide further support.

Protect

Take appropriate action where information indicates that someone, particularly a child, may currently be at risk.

4. HISTORIC CHILDHOOD ABUSE

PAG UK recognises that many survivors disclose abuse that occurred during childhood, sometimes decades after the events took place.

A disclosure of historic abuse will be treated seriously and sensitively.

Survivors will not be pressured into reporting their experiences to the police or another authority.

Where appropriate, we may provide information about reporting options, specialist support and organisations that can offer professional advice.

The decision about whether and when to disclose historic abuse will generally remain with the survivor, unless there is a separate and immediate safeguarding concern requiring action to protect someone who may currently be at risk.

5. WHEN A SURVIVOR TELLS US ABOUT ABUSE

A survivor may tell PAG UK about their experiences through:

• direct contact

• email

• social media

• an online community

• a support request

• a personal story or contribution

• another representative of PAG UK.

The appropriate response is to:

• listen

• acknowledge what they have told us

• avoid judgement

• avoid asking unnecessary questions

• avoid attempting to investigate

• respect their privacy

• explain honestly what may need to happen next

• provide appropriate signposting

• consider whether there is a current safeguarding concern.

6. WE DO NOT INVESTIGATE

PAG UK is not a police force, investigative body or statutory safeguarding agency.

We will not attempt to establish whether an allegation is true or false.

We will not:

• interrogate survivors

• conduct interviews designed to establish evidence

• confront alleged perpetrators

• attempt to obtain confessions

• conduct our own investigations

• encourage survivors to confront alleged perpetrators

• publish unverified allegations against identifiable individuals.

Where an allegation requires investigation, this should be undertaken by the appropriate professional or statutory authority.

7. CURRENT RISK TO A CHILD

A particularly important distinction for PAG UK is the difference between:

Historic abuse

Information about abuse that happened in the past, where there is no indication that a child is currently at risk.

and:

Current safeguarding concern

Information suggesting that a child or young person may currently be experiencing abuse, exploitation, neglect or another serious safeguarding risk.

Where PAG UK becomes aware of a credible concern that a child may currently be at risk, the organisation will consider whether the information should be referred to the appropriate safeguarding authority or police.

The fact that information has been disclosed by an adult survivor does not automatically mean that their historic disclosure must be reported.

Each situation should be considered on its circumstances, with the safety of any child currently at risk being a primary consideration.

8. CONFIDENTIALITY

PAG UK will respect the confidentiality and privacy of survivors.

However, we cannot promise absolute secrecy.

If information suggests that a child may currently be at risk of serious harm, or there is another compelling safeguarding reason to share information, it may be necessary to involve an appropriate professional or authority.

Where possible, we will explain this to the person concerned.

We will seek to share only information that is relevant and necessary for the safeguarding purpose.

9. SURVIVOR STORIES AND TESTIMONIES

PAG UK may publish survivor stories, testimonies or lived experiences where appropriate and where permission has been provided.

Survivors will not be pressured to share their experiences publicly.

Where stories are published, PAG UK will consider:

• consent

• anonymity

• identifying information

• emotional wellbeing

• potential risks to the survivor

• potential risks to other individuals

• whether publication could identify a child.

Survivors may withdraw consent for future use of material where this is reasonably practicable.

10. ONLINE COMMUNITIES AND SOCIAL MEDIA

PAG UK recognises that survivors may use online spaces to share experiences and seek support.

PAG UK will seek to maintain environments that are:

• respectful

• non-judgemental

• survivor-centred

• free from harassment

• free from victim-blaming

• appropriately moderated.

Content may be removed where it presents a safeguarding risk, exposes personal information, targets another individual or breaches community rules.

PAG UK representatives must not use their position to develop inappropriate personal relationships with people seeking support.

11. BOUNDARIES

PAG UK support is not a substitute for professional therapy, medical care, legal advice, police investigation or statutory safeguarding intervention.

People representing PAG UK should maintain clear professional boundaries.

They must not:

• exploit a survivor's vulnerability

• pressure someone to disclose personal information

• encourage dependency

• make promises they cannot keep

• provide inappropriate professional advice outside their competence

• encourage confrontation with alleged perpetrators

• use survivor disclosures for personal purposes

• engage in inappropriate sexual or romantic relationships with people they support

• misuse confidential information.

12. CHILDREN WHO MAY BE MENTIONED IN SURVIVOR DISCLOSURES

A survivor may disclose information involving:

• their own children

• another child

• a sibling

• a relative

• another person who may currently be under 18.

Where information indicates that a child may currently be at risk, PAG UK will consider appropriate safeguarding action.

The survivor will be treated with compassion and will be informed, wherever possible, about what PAG UK believes may need to happen and why.

13. SUPPORT AND SIGNPOSTING

PAG UK will provide information and signposting where appropriate.

Depending on the circumstances, this may include:

• specialist sexual abuse support

• counselling or therapeutic services

• mental health support

• medical services

• police

• safeguarding services

• legal advice

• specialist survivor organisations.

PAG UK will not pressure survivors into using a particular service.

Our role is to help people understand their options and identify appropriate sources of professional support.

14. IF SOMEONE IS IN IMMEDIATE DANGER

If someone is in immediate danger or there is an immediate risk of serious harm, they should contact the emergency services.

Emergency

999

For non-emergency police matters:

101

PAG UK cannot provide emergency crisis intervention and should not be relied upon as an emergency service.

15. SAFEGUARDING CONCERNS ABOUT PAG UK REPRESENTATIVES

Any concern about the behaviour of someone representing PAG UK will be taken seriously.

This includes concerns involving:

• inappropriate relationships

• abuse of trust

• exploitation

• harassment

• inappropriate communication

• misuse of confidential information

• safeguarding failures

• inappropriate contact with vulnerable people.

Concerns should be reported to the appropriate person within PAG UK.

Where appropriate, matters may also be referred to an external authority.

16. DATA AND CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION

PAG UK recognises that survivor disclosures can contain highly sensitive personal information. Information will be handled carefully and securely.

PAG UK will seek to ensure that:

• information is only accessed by those who need it

• unnecessary personal information is not collected

• sensitive information is not publicly shared without appropriate permission

• safeguarding information is recorded accurately where necessary

• information is not retained longer than necessary.

17. NO BLAME

PAG UK will never blame survivors for the abuse they experienced.

We recognise that children may:

• trust people who later abuse them

• be manipulated or groomed

• comply with threats

• remain silent

• return to an abusive environment

• struggle to understand what is happening

• disclose abuse years later.

None of these things make a child responsible for their abuse.

The responsibility lies with the person who abused them.

18. OUR SAFEGUARDING APPROACH

PAG UK's approach can be summarised simply:

LISTEN

Take survivors seriously.

SUPPORT

Respond with compassion and without judgement.

PROTECT

Consider the safety of survivors and any child who may currently be at risk.

SIGNPOST

Help people find appropriate professional support.

ACT

Where necessary, ensure safeguarding concerns reach the appropriate authority.

RESPECT

Protect dignity, privacy and personal choice wherever possible.

19. POLICY REVIEW

This policy will be reviewed at least annually and whenever there is a significant change to PAG UK's activities, safeguarding responsibilities or relevant legislation and guidance.

Policy owner: PAG UK
Version: 1.0
Effective date: September 2026
Review date: September 2027