Safeguarding Policy

October 2025

Introduction

UCEP is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. This policy outlines our approach to ensuring the safety and well being of all beneficiaries of our scholarship programme.

Scope

This policy applies to all staff, volunteers, and partners involved in the delivery of UCEP’s scholarship programme.

Programme Delivery

UCEP delivers its scholarship programme for disadvantaged children in West Africa through its Nigeria-registered charity, UCEF. This collaboration ensures that the programme reaches those in need effectively and efficiently.

Safeguarding Principles

  • Child Protection: We prioritize the protection of children from abuse, exploitation, and neglect.
  • Training and Awareness: All staff and volunteers receive regular training on safeguarding practices.
  • Reporting and Response: Clear procedures are in place for reporting and responding to safeguarding concerns.

Specific Safeguarding Measures

  • Background Checks: All staff and volunteers undergo thorough background checks before being allowed to work with children.
  • Code of Conduct: A strict code of conduct is enforced, outlining acceptable and unacceptable behaviour.
  • Safe Recruitment Practices: Recruitment processes include safeguarding questions and scenarios to assess candidates’ understanding and commitment to child protection.
  • Supervision and Support: Regular supervision and support sessions are held to ensure staff and volunteers adhere to safeguarding practices.
  • Confidentiality: All information related to safeguarding concerns is handled with the utmost confidentiality.

Reporting Procedures

  • What to Report: Any concerns regarding the safety and well-being of children, including signs of abuse, exploitation, or neglect.
  • Who to Report To: Concerns should be reported to the Designated Safeguarding Officers or the Safeguarding Lead Trustee.
  • When to Report: Reports should be made as soon as possible after a concern is identified.
  • What Will Happen Next: The reported concern will be investigated promptly, and appropriate action will be taken to ensure the safety of the child involved.

Access to the Safeguarding Inbox

The following individuals have access to the email inbox for reporting concerns:

  • Deborah Asekome, General Administrator
  • Emily Westley, Trustee of UCEP
  • Barr. Jasper Uchendu, Trustee of UCEF
  • Charles Uwakaneme, Chair of the Boards of Trustees of both UCEP and UCEF

Training and Development

All field staff and volunteers will receive regular training on safeguarding practices. This includes initial training upon joining the organization and ongoing refresher courses to ensure everyone remains up to date with the latest safeguarding guidelines.

Safer Recruitment Checks

All recruitment processes for field staff and volunteers will include background checks and safeguarding-related interview questions to assess candidates’
understanding and commitment to child protection. This ensures that only individuals who are fully committed to safeguarding are permitted to work with
children.

Review and Monitoring

This policy will be reviewed annually to ensure its effectiveness and updated as necessary. The Safeguarding Lead Trustee, who serves on both UCEP’s and UCEF’s Boards of Trustees, will oversee safeguarding and welfare incidents. The Lead Trustee will also provide regular updates at board meetings to ensure trustees are appropriately informed of any matters that arise.

Contact Information

UCEP’s Designated Safeguarding Officers are:

  • Deborah Asekome, General Administrator
  • Emily Westley, Trustee of UCEP
  • Barr. Jasper Uchendu, Trustee of UCEF

Safeguarding Lead Trustee is:

Charles Uwakaneme, Chair of the Boards of Trustees of both UCEP and UCEF

Reports can be submitted to the safeguarding inbox at: info@ucepcommunity.org. If you are not comfortable submitting your report via email, you may contact any of the officers or the Lead Trustee directly through their WhatsApp numbers.

Publishing this Policy

UCEP will ensure that this policy remains publicly accessible on its website at all times.

Date of Policy: October 2025

Date of Next Review: October 2026