Our policies & commitments.

Who this information is for

CHILD SPARKS is a parent-led registered charity (Foundation CIO) supporting children, young people and their families. Registered Charity No. 1219134. This notice covers enquiries through this website and explains what to consider when making a Parent/Guardian Application for support through Sparks Connect. Contact us using the Contact page if you have a question about your information.

Your application data

The public contact form asks for your name, email address, enquiry type and message. It also records your acknowledgement of the privacy information. Please share only what we need to understand your enquiry. Do not send full medical records, identity documents or information about other families through this form. Parent/Guardian Applications take place in Sparks Connect, which is separate from this public website. Read the information shown there before providing family or child details.

Support applications and family support

Information supplied in your support application is used to manage the application and the support requested. Details about a child’s health or neurodevelopmental needs require particular care. Read the privacy information in Sparks Connect when applying, and contact us if you have questions about the information requested or who can access it. Acknowledging that you have read a notice is not consent to every possible use of your information.

How website enquiries are handled

Enquiry details are stored encrypted in the website database. Enquiry emails include your name, email address, enquiry type and full message and are sent to the team address designated for that enquiry type, including safeguarding and complaints. Safeguarding and complaint records have restricted administrator access. Website hosting and email services support this process. Information may need to be shared with an appropriate authority when addressing a safeguarding concern; the reason and information shared should be recorded.

Keeping information secure and limiting its use

The website uses administrator permissions, encrypted enquiry storage and checks designed to reduce abusive submissions. It does not use enquiry details to make automated application decisions. Information should be kept only for as long as it is needed for the purpose for which it was collected, including any applicable safeguarding or legal record-keeping requirements. Contact us if you would like information about how long a particular record is kept or wish to request its deletion.

Cookies and your design choice

Essential cookies support form security and administrator sign-in. The image-verification challenge expires after ten minutes. If you choose a website design, your browser stores that choice locally so it can be remembered on your next visit. You can remove it through your browser’s site-data settings. The website also uses limited security records to reduce repeated abusive requests.

Your choices and rights

You can ask CHILD SPARKS about access to your personal information, correction of inaccurate information, deletion, restriction or objection to its use, and portability where applicable. These rights depend on the circumstances and the legal basis for processing. Where processing relies on consent, you can withdraw that consent. Contact us to make a request. You can also raise a data-protection concern with the Information Commissioner’s Office at ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint/.

Questions about your information

Use the Contact page to ask about how your information is handled. Tell us which service or enquiry your question concerns, without including sensitive documents in the message. For support applications and family support, also refer to the privacy information shown in Sparks Connect.

Introduction

CHILD SPARKS is a parent-led registered charity supporting neurodivergent children and young people, and their parents, carers and families. Registered Charity No. 1219134. Rooted in resilience and community collaboration, CHILD SPARKS is committed to creating a safe, inclusive, and nurturing environment for children and families. This safeguarding policy ensures that all children involved in our activities are protected from harm and have opportunities to thrive.

Vision and Objectives

At CHILD SPARKS, we work together to empower families and neurodivergent children and young people, enabling them to achieve their potential, live independent lives, and build resilience. Safeguarding is integral to our mission and values, as it supports our goal to promote wellbeing, self-care, and positive development.

Scope of the Policy

This policy applies to:

All parents, volunteers, and facilitators involved in CHILD SPARKS activities.

External professionals and organisations collaborating with CHILD SPARKS.

Children participating in group activities, events, and workshops.

Our Commitment to Safeguarding

S-Supporting Children: Ensuring timely and appropriate support to support children’s development and inclusion in education and society.

P-Promote: Promoting children’s development, family wellbeing, and resilience through proactive safeguarding.

A-Acceptance: Supporting parents to accept and understand their child’s needs while fostering strengths and resilience.

R-Resilience: Empowering families to overcome challenges and nurture their children’s potential.

K-Knowledge: Providing accurate, timely, and actionable information to parents to help them make informed decisions.

S-Support: Fostering a compassionate community of parents, children, and professionals united in safeguarding and development.

Roles and Responsibilities

Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO)

CHILD SPARKS has a Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO) who is responsible for overseeing safeguarding concerns and ensuring appropriate action is taken. The DSO’s responsibilities are to:

Oversee safeguarding practices and ensure compliance with this policy.

Act as the first point of contact for safeguarding concerns.

Liaise with relevant authorities when required.

Parents and Carers

Parents are central to safeguarding at CHILD SPARKS and must:

Supervise their children during activities unless otherwise agreed.

Follow group rules and guidance to maintain a safe and respectful environment.

Report any safeguarding concerns promptly to the DSO.

Volunteers and Facilitators

All volunteers and facilitators must:

Adhere to this safeguarding policy. DBS checks are required for roles where this is appropriate, taking account of the nature of the role and the activities involved. Where a DBS check is required, it must be completed before the person begins that role.

Promote inclusion, respect, and safety during activities.

Report any safeguarding concerns or incidents to the DSO.

Recognising and Responding to Safeguarding Concerns

Types of Abuse

CHILD SPARKS recognises the following types of abuse:

Physical Abuse: Any form of physical harm to a child.

Emotional Abuse: Actions that damage a child’s self-esteem or emotional wellbeing.

Sexual Abuse: Involvement of a child in sexual activities, online or offline.

Neglect: Failing to meet a child’s basic needs.

Reporting a Concern

Concerns should be reported to the DSO immediately.

In emergencies, contact the local safeguarding team or emergency services (999).

Reports will be handled confidentially and with sensitivity.

Safe Practices in Activities

CHILD SPARKS activities, including workshops, group meetings, and outings, are designed with safeguarding in mind:

Punctuality and Attendance: Parents must ensure regular participation and inform leaders of absences.

Respect and Confidentiality: Parents should not share group discussions or photographs on social media without permission.

Child-Centred Activities: Activities are structured to support children’s individual strengths, needs and challenges, participation and social interaction.

Health and Safety: Risk assessments are conducted for all events to ensure a safe environment.

Online Safety

CHILD SPARKS uses online platforms for workshops and meetings, ensuring:

All sessions are conducted securely with appropriate privacy settings.

Parents supervise their children during online activities.

Sharing of images or recordings during online sessions is prohibited unless explicitly agreed upon.

Code of Conduct

All parents, carers, families, volunteers and participants in CHILD SPARKS activities must:

Treat others with respect, empathy, and understanding.

Refrain from disruptive behaviour, including bullying or harassment.

Actively participate in activities and contribute to the group’s positive environment.

Support for Families

CHILD SPARKS provides:

Training and Workshops: Learning sessions to empower parents and carers.

Peer Support: Opportunities for parents to share experiences and solutions.

Activities for Children: Sports and social outings to encourage development and interaction.

Sibling Support: Initiatives to engage and support siblings of neurodivergent children.

Monitoring and Evaluation

CHILD SPARKS will regularly review this safeguarding policy to ensure its effectiveness. Attendance records, feedback, and reports will be used to evaluate the success of our safeguarding measures.

Contact Information

Report safeguarding concerns to the Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO) immediately. To contact CHILD SPARKS about a concern, use Contact and choose Safeguarding concern. In emergencies, contact the local safeguarding team or emergency services (999).

Acknowledgement

By participating in CHILD SPARKS activities, all participants agree to adhere to this safeguarding policy and support its implementation.

Tell us what happened

Use Contact and choose Complaint. Explain what happened, when it happened and what you would like us to consider. Include only relevant information. If the form is unavailable, use the email option on the Contact page. If someone is in immediate danger, call 999; a complaint is not an emergency reporting route.

Information to include

Describe the issue clearly and tell us how we can contact you. If your concern relates to an earlier enquiry, include its date or reference if you have one. Complaint messages submitted through this website have restricted administrator access.

Following up

To ask for an update or explain why a response has not resolved your concern, use Contact and choose Complaint. Refer to your earlier message and explain what remains unresolved. You can also ask how to have your concern considered further.

Share only what is needed

When contacting us, include enough information to explain your question. Please avoid sending medical records, identity documents or details about other families through the public contact form. Parent/Guardian Applications and supporting documents belong in Sparks Connect.

Protecting website enquiries

Contact messages are encrypted in the website database. Enquiry emails include your name, email address, enquiry type and full message so the designated team can respond. Safeguarding and complaints have separately configurable recipient addresses and additional access restrictions in the website admin. Replies and pending email content are stored encrypted.

Raise a privacy concern

If you are concerned that information has reached the wrong person, or would like to ask about access to your records, use the Contact page. Describe the concern without repeating sensitive information unnecessarily.

Your application data

I have read the privacy information and understand how my application data will be used.

Support applications and family support

I understand CHILD SPARKS will process information needed to manage support applications and family support.

Safeguarding responsibilities

I understand safeguarding and child-protection responsibilities apply to Sparks Connect use.