Safeguarding

Last updated: 25.06.2026

Harrow International Christian Centre, also known as HICC, is committed to creating a safe, caring and respectful environment for everyone who comes into contact with the church.

We believe every person is made in the image of God and should be treated with dignity, love and respect. We are committed to safeguarding children, young people and adults at risk from harm, abuse, neglect and exploitation.

This policy applies to all HICC trustees, staff, pastors, ministry leaders, volunteers, workers, congregation members and anyone acting on behalf of HICC.

This policy should be read alongside HICC’s Privacy Policy.

1. Who we are

Organisation: Harrow International Christian Centre
Charity number: 1181824
Address: 205 Station Road, Harrow, London, HA1 2TP
Website: hicc.org
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 020 8427 4074

For safeguarding concerns, please contact:

Safeguarding Lead: Pastor Albert Okoye
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 020 8427 4074

Deputy Safeguarding Lead: Pastor Paul Jarrett
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 020 8427 4074

If someone is in immediate danger, call 999.

2. Our safeguarding commitment

HICC is committed to:

• promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk;
• creating a safe environment for worship, ministry, community and pastoral care;
• listening to and taking seriously anyone who raises a concern;
• responding promptly and appropriately to safeguarding concerns;
• safely recruiting, training and supporting staff and volunteers;
• working with statutory authorities where required;
• keeping clear and secure safeguarding records;
• reviewing safeguarding practice regularly.

Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility.

3. Who this policy protects

This policy applies to the safeguarding of:

• children, meaning anyone under the age of 18;
• young people, including teenagers and young adults involved in church activities;
• adults at risk, meaning adults who may have care or support needs and may be unable to protect themselves from abuse, neglect or exploitation;
• anyone who may be vulnerable because of illness, disability, age, mental health, trauma, coercion, isolation, domestic abuse, financial hardship or other personal circumstances.

4. What safeguarding concerns may include

Safeguarding concerns may include, but are not limited to:

• physical abuse;
• emotional or psychological abuse;
• sexual abuse;
• neglect;
• domestic abuse;
• financial or material abuse;
• discriminatory abuse;
• spiritual abuse or misuse of spiritual authority;
• coercive or controlling behaviour;
• online abuse or exploitation;
• bullying, harassment or intimidation;
• self-neglect;
• modern slavery or exploitation;
• unsafe working, volunteering or ministry practice.

In a church context, safeguarding also includes taking care that pastoral care, prayer ministry, mentoring, discipleship and leadership are never used to manipulate, pressure, exploit or control another person.

5. Roles and responsibilities

HICC’s trustees have overall responsibility for safeguarding and for ensuring that appropriate policies and procedures are in place.

The Safeguarding Lead is responsible for:

• receiving safeguarding concerns;
• advising staff, leaders and volunteers on next steps;
• making referrals to statutory authorities where appropriate;
• keeping safeguarding records secure;
• reporting serious safeguarding matters to trustees;
• helping HICC maintain safe safeguarding practice.

The Deputy Safeguarding Lead supports the Safeguarding Lead and may act when the Safeguarding Lead is unavailable or where it is more appropriate for them to handle a concern.

Ministry leaders and volunteers are responsible for:

• following this policy;
• completing required safeguarding training;
• raising concerns promptly;
• avoiding unsafe or inappropriate behaviour;
• working within agreed boundaries;
• never investigating safeguarding concerns themselves.

Everyone at HICC has a responsibility to speak up if they are worried that someone may be at risk of harm.

6. Safer recruitment and volunteers

HICC is committed to safer recruitment.

Where a role involves working with children, young people or adults at risk, HICC may require:

• an application or volunteer form;
• references;
• an interview or suitability conversation;
• safeguarding training;
• a role description;
• agreement to follow HICC’s safeguarding expectations;
• an appropriate DBS check, where eligible and required;
• supervision and ongoing review.

No one should begin working unsupervised with children, young people or adults at risk until the appropriate checks and approvals have been completed.

7. Safe behaviour and boundaries

All HICC staff, leaders and volunteers are expected to behave in a way that protects others and reflects the values of the church.

This includes:

• treating people with dignity and respect;
• avoiding inappropriate physical contact;
• avoiding favouritism, secrecy or controlling behaviour;
• avoiding one-to-one situations that are unsafe or unaccountable;
• using appropriate language and conduct;
• maintaining appropriate pastoral, ministry and relational boundaries;
• not using spiritual authority to pressure, shame, manipulate or control;
• not contacting children or young people privately without appropriate consent and oversight;
• not sharing images, videos or personal information without appropriate permission;
• reporting concerns promptly.

Where one-to-one pastoral care, mentoring or prayer ministry takes place, it should happen in an appropriate, accountable and safe context.

8. Children and young people

HICC will seek to provide safe environments for children and young people.

This includes:

• using suitable leaders and volunteers;
• maintaining appropriate adult-to-child supervision;
• collecting relevant parent or guardian contact details;
• recording attendance where appropriate;
• obtaining consent for activities, trips, photos or videos where required;
• ensuring children and young people know who they can speak to if they feel unsafe;
• responding carefully to any concern, disclosure or allegation.

Workers should not promise confidentiality to a child or young person. If a child or young person shares something that suggests they or someone else may be at risk of harm, this must be reported to the Safeguarding Lead.

9. Adults at risk

HICC recognises that adults may become vulnerable or at risk because of care needs, disability, illness, age, mental health, domestic abuse, coercion, isolation, financial pressure, trauma or other circumstances.

Adults should be treated with dignity, listened to carefully, and supported to make their own choices wherever possible.

Where there is concern that an adult is being abused, neglected, exploited or is unable to protect themselves, this should be reported to the Safeguarding Lead.

If there is immediate danger, emergency services should be contacted.

10. Responding to a safeguarding concern

If someone raises a safeguarding concern, or if you see, hear or suspect something worrying, you should:

1. Listen carefully.
2. Stay calm.
3. Take the concern seriously.
4. Do not promise confidentiality.
5. Do not investigate or ask leading questions.
6. Record what was said or seen as soon as possible.
7. Report it to the Safeguarding Lead.

If the concern involves immediate danger or urgent medical need, call 999.

If the Safeguarding Lead is unavailable, contact the Deputy Safeguarding Lead or a trustee.

If the concern involves the Safeguarding Lead, report it to the Deputy Safeguarding Lead, a trustee or an appropriate external authority.

If the concern involves the Deputy Safeguarding Lead, report it to the Safeguarding Lead, a trustee or an appropriate external authority.

11. Reporting and external referrals

HICC will refer safeguarding concerns to statutory authorities where appropriate.

This may include:

• the police;
• children’s social care;
• adult social care;
• the Local Authority Designated Officer, where an allegation involves someone working with children;
• the Charity Commission, where a serious incident report is required;
• other relevant safeguarding agencies.

HICC will not handle serious safeguarding concerns internally where external referral is required.

12. Allegations against staff, leaders or volunteers

Any allegation or concern about the behaviour of a trustee, pastor, staff member, ministry leader, volunteer or person acting on behalf of HICC must be taken seriously.

The concern should be reported to the Safeguarding Lead unless the concern relates to the Safeguarding Lead, in which case it should be reported to the Deputy Safeguarding Lead, a trustee or appropriate external authority.

Where an allegation relates to someone working with children, HICC will seek appropriate advice and make referrals where required.

The person subject to the allegation should not be informed or confronted in a way that could place anyone at further risk, compromise an investigation or interfere with statutory processes.

13. Online safety, WhatsApp and digital communication

HICC may use online platforms, livestreams, social media, email and WhatsApp groups for church communication and ministry.

Digital communication should be safe, respectful and accountable.

Leaders and volunteers should:

• avoid private or secretive communication with children or young people;
• use parent or guardian communication where appropriate;
• avoid sending inappropriate messages, images or content;
• avoid late-night or overly personal messaging;
• not share personal information, images or videos without appropriate permission;
• report any online safeguarding concern promptly.

Children and young people should not be added to WhatsApp groups or contacted directly without appropriate consent and oversight.

14. Photography, video and livestreaming

Photography, filming and livestreaming may take place during HICC services and events.

HICC will seek to use images and video respectfully and safely.

Where appropriate, consent will be sought for focused images or videos of children, young people or adults at risk.

Images or videos should not be used in a way that could place someone at risk, embarrass them, exploit them or identify sensitive personal circumstances.

Anyone with a concern about photography, filming or livestreaming should contact [email protected] or speak to a church leader.

15. Confidentiality and record keeping

Safeguarding information will be handled carefully and shared only with those who need to know.

However, confidentiality cannot be promised where someone may be at risk of harm, where a crime may have been committed, or where HICC has a legal or safeguarding duty to share information.

Safeguarding records should be:

• factual;
• dated;
• securely stored;
• limited to those who need access;
• retained in line with safeguarding and legal requirements.

16. Training and awareness

HICC will seek to ensure that trustees, staff, ministry leaders and volunteers receive safeguarding information or training appropriate to their role.

Those working with children, young people or adults at risk may be required to complete safeguarding training before serving in that area.

Safeguarding should be reviewed regularly as part of church life and ministry practice.

17. Review and approval

This policy should be reviewed regularly and updated when required.

This policy should be reviewed and approved by HICC’s trustees before publication.

Approved by: HICC Trustees
Approval date: 27.06.2026
Next review date: 01.12.2026