Safeguarding Policy

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to protect people, particularly children, at risk adults, research subjects and beneficiaries of assistance, from any harm that may be caused due to their coming into contact with THIRST.  This includes harm arising from:

• The conduct of staff or personnel associated with THIRST – The International Roundtable for Sustainable Tea (hereafter referred to as THIRST).
• The design and implementation of THIRST’s research and activities

The policy lays out the commitments made by THIRST, and informs staff and associated personnel[1] of their responsibilities in relation to safeguarding.

This policy does not cover:

• Safeguarding concerns in the wider community not perpetrated by THIRST or associated personnel

What is safeguarding?

In the UK, safeguarding means protecting peoples’ health, wellbeing and human rights, and enabling them to live free from harm, abuse and neglect[2]

In our sector, we understand it to mean protecting people, including children and at risk adults, from harm that arises from coming into contact with our staff or activities.

 Further definitions relating to safeguarding are provided in the glossary below.

Scope

• All staff contracted by THIRST
• Associated personnel whilst engaged with work or visits related to THIRST, including but not limited to the following: consultants; volunteers; contractors.

Policy Statement

THIRST believes that everyone we come into contact with, regardless of age, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation or ethnic origin has the right to be protected from all forms of harm, abuse, neglect and exploitation.  THIRST will not tolerate abuse and exploitation by staff or associated personnel.

This policy will address the following areas of safeguarding [as appropriate]:  child safeguarding, adult safeguarding, and protection from sexual exploitation and abuse.  These key areas of safeguarding may have different policies and procedures associated with them (see Associated Policies).

THIRST is a small organisation with limited resources, but – to the extent that it is able to do so – it commits to addressing safeguarding throughout its work, through the three pillars of prevention, reporting and response, working with specialist local organisations wherever possible.

Prevention

THIRST responsibilities

THIRST will:

• Ensure all staff and associated personnel have access to, are familiar with, and know their responsibilities within this policy
• Design and undertake all its activities in a way that protects people from any risk of harm that may arise from their coming into contact with THIRST.  This includes the way in which information about individuals in our research and other activities is gathered and communicated
• Implement stringent safeguarding procedures when recruiting, managing and deploying staff and associated personnel
• Ensure staff and associated personnel receive training on safeguarding at a level commensurate with their role in the organization
• Follow up on reports of safeguarding concerns promptly and according to due process (see THIRST Safeguarding Protocol)

Staff responsibilities

Child safeguarding

THIRST staff and associated personnel must not:

• Engage in sexual activity with anyone under the age of 18
• Sexually abuse or exploit children
• Subject a child to physical, emotional or psychological abuse, or neglect
• Engage in any commercially exploitative activities with children including child labour or trafficking

Adult safeguarding

THIRST staff and associated personnel must not:

• Sexually abuse or exploit at risk adults
• Subject an at risk adult to physical, emotional or psychological abuse, or neglect

Protection from sexual exploitation and abuse

THIRST staff and associated personnel must not:

• Exchange money, employment, goods or services for sexual activity. This includes any exchange of assistance that is due to beneficiaries of assistance
• Engage in any sexual relationships with beneficiaries of assistance, since they are based on inherently unequal power dynamics

Additionally, THIRST staff and associated personnel are obliged to:

• Contribute to creating and maintaining an environment that prevents safeguarding violations and promotes the implementation of the Safeguarding Policy
• Report any concerns or suspicions regarding safeguarding violations by an THIRST staff member or associated personnel to the appropriate staff member

Enabling reports

THIRST will ensure that safe, appropriate, accessible means of reporting safeguarding concerns are made available to staff and the communities we work with.

THIRST will also accept complaints from external sources such as members of the public, partners and official bodies. 

How to report a safeguarding concern

Staff members or associated personnel who have a complaint or concern relating to safeguarding should report it immediately to THIRST CEO.  If the staff member does not feel comfortable reporting to THIRST CEO (for example if they feel that the report will not be taken seriously, or if that person is implicated in the concern) they may report to the Safeguarding point of contact on THIRST’s Board of Trustees.

THIRST’s CEO is currently: Sabita Banerji. She can be contacted at sabita@thirst.international

THIRST’s Safeguarding Point of Contact on our Board of Trustees is Stirling Smith. He can be contacted at stirlingsmith52@gmail.com.

Response

THIRST will follow up safeguarding reports and concerns according to policy and procedure, and legal and statutory obligations.

THIRST will apply appropriate disciplinary measures to staff and associated personnel found in breach of policy.

THIRST will work with local organisations to offer support to survivors of harm caused by staff or associated personnel, regardless of whether a formal internal response is carried out (such as an internal investigation).  Decisions regarding support will be led by the survivor.

Confidentiality

It is essential that confidentiality is maintained at all stages of the process when dealing with safeguarding concerns.  Information relating to the concern and subsequent case management should be shared on a need to know basis only, and should be kept secure at all times.

Signed

This policy has been approved by THIRST’s Board of Trustees

Signed

Jane Nyambura, Chair of Trustees

Date 26^th March 2025

Glossary of Terms

Beneficiary of Assistance

Someone who directly receives goods or services from THIRST.  Note that misuse of power can also apply to the wider community that the NGO serves, and also can include exploitation by giving the perception of being in a position of power.

Child

A person below the age of 18

Harm

Psychological, physical and any other infringement of an individual’s rights

Psychological harm

Emotional or psychological abuse, including (but not limited to) humiliating and degrading treatment such as bad name calling, constant criticism, belittling, persistent shaming, solitary confinement and isolation

Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA)

The term used by the humanitarian and development community to refer to the prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse of affected populations by staff or associated personnel.  The term derives from the United Nations Secretary General’s Bulletin on Special Measures for Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (ST/SGB/2003/13)

Research subject

Anyone participating in THIRST’s research by participating in workshops, surveys, focus groups, interviews etc.

Safeguarding

In the UK, safeguarding means protecting peoples’ health, wellbeing and human rights, and enabling them to live free from harm, abuse and neglect[3]

In our sector, we understand it to mean protecting people, including children and at risk adults, from harm that arises from coming into contact with our staff or activities.  One donor definition is as follows:

Safeguarding means taking all reasonable steps to prevent harm, particularly sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment from occurring; to protect people, especially vulnerable adults and children, from that harm; and to respond appropriately when harm does occur.

This definition draws from our values and principles and shapes our culture. It pays specific attention to preventing and responding to harm from any potential, actual or attempted abuse of power, trust, or vulnerability, especially for sexual purposes.

Safeguarding applies consistently and without exception across our activites, staff and associated personnel. It requires proactively identifying, preventing and guarding against all risks of harm, exploitation and abuse and having mature, accountable and transparent systems for response, reporting and learning when risks materialise. Those systems must be survivor-centred and also protect those accused until proven guilty.

Safeguarding puts beneficiaries and affected persons at the centre of all we do.

Sexual abuse

The term ‘sexual abuse’ means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions.

Sexual exploitation

The term ‘sexual exploitation’ means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another.  This definition incudes human trafficking and modern slavery.

Survivor

The person who has been abused or exploited. The term ‘survivor’ is often used in preference to ‘victim’ as it implies strength, resilience and the capacity to survive, however it is the individual’s choice how they wish to identify themselves.

At risk adult

Sometimes also referred to as vulnerable adult.  A person who is or may be in need of care by reason of mental or other disability, age or illness; and who is or may be unable to take care of him or herself, or unable to protect him or herself against significant harm or exploitation.

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[1] See ‘Scope’ for definition of associated personnel

[2] NHS ‘What is Safeguarding? Easy Read’ 2011

[3] NHS ‘What is Safeguarding? Easy Read’ 2011