Heston In The Community 

Policy

1. Purpose

Heston in the Community (HITC) is committed to keeping children and young people aged 8–17 safe when using digital technology, online services, and electronic communication as part of our activities.

This E-Safety Policy sets out how HITC:

• minimises online risks
• promotes safe and responsible use of technology
• responds to online safeguarding concerns

This policy should be read alongside the Safeguarding Policy, Anti-Bullying Policy, Confidentiality Policy, and Staff/Volunteer Code of Conduct.

2. Scope

This policy applies to:

• All children and young people attending HITC activities
• All staff, volunteers, trustees, and sessional workers
• All use of digital devices, online platforms, social media, email, and messaging linked to HITC activities

3. Key Online Risks

HITC recognises that children and young people may be exposed to online risks, including:

• Cyberbullying and online harassment
• Grooming and sexual exploitation
• Exposure to harmful or inappropriate content
• Radicalisation and extremist material
• Sharing of personal information or images
• Online scams, coercion, or criminal exploitation

4. Preventative Measures

HITC takes proactive steps to promote online safety, including:

• Clear rules for acceptable online behaviour shared with young people
• Staff supervision of online activity during HITC sessions
• Parental/carer consent for online activities and use of images
• Age-appropriate discussions about online safety built into activities
• Secure handling of personal data in line with GDPR

Where HITC provides access to the internet or digital devices, appropriate supervision and reasonable safeguards will be in place.

5. Staff and Volunteer Responsibilities

All staff and volunteers must:

• Model safe, respectful, and responsible online behaviour
• Use only HITC-approved platforms to communicate with young people
• Maintain professional boundaries online at all times
• Report any online safety or safeguarding concerns immediately

Staff and volunteers must not:

• Share personal contact details with young people
• Communicate with young people via personal social media accounts
• Engage in secret or inappropriate online communication
• Request or share images of young people without consent

6. Use of Images and Media

• Photos and videos of young people will only be taken with prior parental/carer consent
• Images will be used respectfully and stored securely
• Young people will not be identified by full name alongside images
• Any misuse of images must be reported immediately to the Designated Safeguarding Lead

7. Online Communication with Young People

• Communication must be transparent, appropriate, and related only to HITC activities
• Group messaging is preferred over one-to-one communication
• Communication should take place during reasonable hours
• Where possible, communications should be logged or accessible to managers

8. Reporting Online Safety Concerns

Any online safety concern — including cyberbullying, inappropriate contact, grooming, or exposure to harmful content — must be reported immediately to the Designated Safeguarding Lead or Deputy.

Concerns involving potential abuse, exploitation, or radicalisation will be managed in line with local safeguarding procedures and referred to external agencies where required.

Young people are encouraged to report concerns and will be reassured that:

• they will be listened to
• concerns will be taken seriously
• they will be supported throughout the process

9. Education and Awareness

HITC will:

• Provide safeguarding and online safety training for staff and volunteers
• Support young people to understand online risks and how to stay safe
• Share online safety guidance with parents/carers where appropriate

10. Monitoring and Review

• This policy is reviewed annually or following a safeguarding incident
• Compliance is monitored through supervision, training records, and audits

Approved by Trustee Committee: 26 November 2025
Next Review Date: October 2026