Safeguarding Policy

Scope

This policy applies to all Founderland staff, contractors, volunteers, facilitators, and partners — anyone acting on behalf of Founderland in any capacity. It covers all Founderland activities, including in-person events, online programmes, community spaces, and partner-delivered sessions.

Our programmes primarily serve adult women founders. Where participants may include young people aged 16 to 17, this policy ensures appropriate safeguards are in place.

Designated Safeguarding Lead

Founderland's Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) is the Managing Director. All safeguarding concerns should be reported to: hello AT founderland.org

The DSL is responsible for receiving and acting on safeguarding concerns, maintaining records, liaising with external agencies where necessary, and ensuring this policy is reviewed annually.

Recognising Concern

Abuse can take many forms, including physical, emotional, sexual, and financial harm, as well as neglect. Anyone representing Founderland who witnesses or suspects harm to a participant — particularly a young person — should not ignore it, investigate it themselves, or promise confidentiality. They should report it to the DSL promptly.

If there is immediate risk of harm, emergency services should be contacted first.

Responding to a Concern

On receiving a concern, the DSL will:

• listen and record what has been shared, accurately and without interpretation

• assess whether the concern requires referral to statutory authorities (police or child protection services in the relevant country)

• take action within 24 hours

• maintain confidentiality, sharing information only with those who need to know

All concerns will be documented and kept securely.

Safer Recruitment and Induction

Founderland takes reasonable steps to ensure that anyone working with participants on our behalf is suitable to do so. This includes reviewing references for staff and key contractors, and ensuring all team members and facilitators are briefed on this policy before engaging with participants.

Behaviour and Code of Conduct

Everyone representing Founderland is expected to:

• treat all participants with dignity and respect

• maintain appropriate professional boundaries at all times

• never engage in behaviour that could be construed as grooming, harassment, or exploitation

• avoid being alone with a young person (aged 16 to 17) in a private or unobserved setting

• use only official Founderland channels to communicate with participants

• not share personal contact details with participants outside of programme contexts

Photography, Film, and Communications

Founderland documents its programmes for communications, reporting, and educational purposes, including the production of resources such as playbooks and case studies.

Where participants are photographed or filmed, we obtain explicit consent in advance. For participants aged 16 to 17, written consent is required. No images or identifying information will be shared without consent, and consent can be withdrawn at any time.

Online Safety

Where Founderland delivers programming in digital environments, we apply the same standards of conduct as in person. Facilitators will not communicate with young participants via personal accounts or private channels. Group communications will be visible to at least one other Founderland team member.

Concerns About Founderland

If anyone has a concern about the conduct of a Founderland staff member, contractor, or partner, they can contact the DSL at hello AT founderland.org. If the concern relates to the DSL directly, it should be raised with a Founderland board member or submitted to the relevant statutory authority.

Linked Policies

This policy should be read alongside Founderland's Privacy Policy and Equal Opportunities Policy.

Review

This policy will be reviewed annually by the Managing Director, or sooner if there is a significant change in Founderland's programming, team, or legal context.