SAFEGUARDING
SAFEGUARDING AT DREAMING THE IMPOSSIBLE
Dreaming the Impossible (DTI) a youth movement for young people aged 12-18 from churches and youth organisations everywhere. It is open to all streams, networks and denominations and is run by Vineyard Churches UK & Ireland (VCUKI). We take the safeguarding of children, young people, and adults very seriously. DTI have a duty to promote the welfare of children, young people, and adults. We believe that we should work together to prevent abuse from occurring and that we should seek to protect those that are at risk of being abused and respond well to those that have been abused.
The welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults at risk is always paramount and should take precedence over all other considerations. We have a dedicated safeguarding team working in partnership with the VCUKI National Safeguarding Team to help provide a safe environment in which children, young people and adults can develop physically, intellectually, and spiritually. We are committed to reviewing our policy and good practice regularly. Should you wish to have a copy of our National Safeguarding Policy and the DTI Safeguarding Event Plan please email: safeguarding@vcuki.org.uk
DTI promotes a strong safeguarding culture, from our recruitment processes right through to our site management. All team are properly vetted before being allowed to serve at DTI. We also operate a high visibility policy requiring all adults on site to wear a bright coloured lanyard clearly showing their permitted level of access to the youth. Hosts and stewards patrol the site and key areas at all times to make sure that the site is a safe and fun place for all to be.
All churches bringing young people to the event are asked to confirm that all the adults they are bringing on-site have been recruited safely and have a reference and an up-to-date Enhanced DBS check. These adults will need to have been trained in the Safeguarding Procedures of their local church. In addition, they will have to ensure that these individuals know the DTI procedures for safeguarding while on site (which will have been emailed to the church). DTI Operates a high visibility policy, requiring all adults on-site to wear a colour coded badge on their lanyard. These badges show the access level permitted to youth and restricted zones.
At DTI it is expected that:
- All allegations of child abuse will be referred to the DTI Safeguarding Lead or their deputy. If the suspicions in any way implicate both the Lead and the Deputy Lead, then Children’s Services or the sending churches’ co-ordinator should be contacted in accordance with the safeguarding policy. Thirtyone:eight could also be contacted for advice.
- The DTI Safeguarding Lead has the responsibility to action all allegations or suspicions of abuse. If the suspicions in any way involve the Lead then the matter should be reported to the Deputy Lead.
- The Lead has the authority to contact either Children’s Services local to the child's home, Children’s Services or the Police local to the Camp and/or Thirtyone: eight for advice.
- Allegations will be dealt with on a 'need to know' basis.
- If allegations involve a child or worker from a sending organisation then the leader of that church or a nominated person (i.e. their safeguarding coordinator) will be informed. It is expected they will keep confidence and not investigate the matter themselves.
If you need to raise a safeguarding concern please contact the Safeguarding team on-site or at safeguarding@vcuki.org.uk or by calling 01482 462690
If you believe a child or adult is at risk of immediate harm, please telephone the police on 999 as soon as possible.
If you are a survivor of abuse or have been affected by abuse in any way here are links to other organisations that maybe helpful:
Association of Christian Counsellors (ACC)
British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP)
A STATEMENT ON SOUL SURVIVOR
To read our statement regarding the recent allegations concerning Mike Pilavachi, head here.
Susie & Zeke, May 2023