Everyone who takes part in our work, in the UK, in Nigeria and online, should be safe. This statement explains our commitment to safeguarding children, young people and adults at risk, what to do if someone is in danger, and how to raise a concern with us.
If someone is in immediate danger
In the UK, call 999. In Nigeria, call the police on 112. Do this first, then tell us.
If it is not an emergency but you are worried about a child or an adult at risk in the UK, you can call the police on 101 or contact the children’s or adult social care team at the local council where they live.
Our commitment
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare, dignity and rights of the children and young people with disabilities, aged 0–25, who take part in our programmes, and of their parent carers and families. Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility, and it applies to adults and children alike.
Children and young people with disabilities are at greater risk of abuse, neglect, exclusion and discrimination. They may find it harder to tell someone, depend on others for their care or be more isolated. We do not tolerate harm of any kind, and we work to make every activity safe and inclusive.
Who our safeguarding policies cover
Our safeguarding policies apply to everyone who works with us or for us:
- staff, paid and voluntary
- trustees and leaders
- consultants and facilitators
- partner organisations
- visitors to our programmes and sites.
How we keep people safe
Our safeguarding and programme policy for our work in Nigeria, which includes our family support, training, outreach and The Bridge in Ogbomoso, requires:
- safer recruitment, including identity and reference checks, background checks where available and interviews that cover safeguarding
- a signed code of conduct, and safeguarding training before anyone works with families
- a risk assessment for every activity
- safe adult-to-child ratios and supervision of every session
- clear signing in and out at sessions
- staff and volunteers avoiding being alone with a child where no one else can see them
- no exchange of personal contact details with children without our approval.
Across all our work, we do not publish an identifiable photograph or story without consent. For a child, we ask a parent or guardian, and the child too where appropriate. We do not share a child’s identifying details, such as their full name or school, alongside their picture.
We expect the partner organisations we work with to meet our safeguarding standards. We review our safeguarding policies every year, after any safeguarding incident, and when the law or our work changes.
How to raise a concern with us
If you are worried about a child, a young person or an adult at risk connected with our work, or about how someone at OAKonsult has behaved, tell us as soon as you can:
- email [email protected] with “Safeguarding” in the subject line
- or, if you would rather speak to someone, call +44 (0)7479 436 823 in the UK or +234 814 683 4903 in Nigeria.
Tell us what you saw or were told, when and where it happened, who was involved and how we can contact you. You do not need to be certain before you tell us, and please do not try to investigate it yourself.
What happens next
We take every concern seriously. When you raise one, we:
- listen to what you tell us
- record the facts clearly, as soon as possible
- pass it straight to our Designated Safeguarding Lead, who decides without delay what needs to happen
- refer it to the police, social care or other authorities when that is needed.
We handle concerns confidentially. We share information only when it is needed to keep someone safe, and only with the people who need it, such as the police or social care. If we decide not to refer a concern to an outside agency, we record that decision and our reasons.
We put the needs of the person who may have been harmed first. Anyone who raises a concern is protected from being treated badly for doing so.
Other ways to report a concern
You can always go straight to the authorities. In the UK, contact the police or the children’s or adult social care team at the local council. In Nigeria, contact the police on 112.
If you are worried about how we, as a charity, handle safeguarding, you can also report a concern about a charity to the Charity Commission.
Our safeguarding policies
Our safeguarding policy for Nigeria follows the Child Rights Act 2003, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. To ask for a copy of our safeguarding policies, email [email protected].
For other concerns about our work, see how to make a complaint. We last updated this statement on 30 October 2026.