About Young Arts Fundraisers

Young Arts Fundraisers (YAF) values collaboration and encourages attendees at events and participants in our workshops or programmes to engage and contribute in order to foster a dynamic and creative sharing of ideas and experience. This may include asking questions when invited to and offering constructive counterpoints as part of an open discussion. 

Our commitment to safeguarding

YAF is a delivery partner of the Chartered Institute of Fundraising (CIOF). Therefore, this Code of Conduct, and any subsequent reporting procedures, align with those of the CIOF. As a delivery partner, YAF is accountable to the CIOF’s Complaints Procedure and Code of Behaviour. Participants and those who engage with YAF events and programmes can avail themselves of this process. 

YAF is committed to creating a welcoming and safe environment both for online and in-person events, and will not tolerate discrimination, disrespectful behaviour, bullying or harassment in any form. We support a culture of reciprocal respect and will not tolerate discrimination or harassment in any form. 

We are committed to creating and maintaining the same protection, and safest possible environment, for people of all ages (including young people or adults at risk of harm), genders, sexual orientation or identity, racial heritage, religious beliefs and cultures, health conditions, those with or without disabilities, and from any model of family life. 

Who this policy applies to

Our safeguarding policy and guidelines recognise our duty to actively safeguard the welfare of those that we work with, creating an inclusive environment that is free from harassment, bullying and discrimination.

This Code of Conduct applies to anyone who engages with the YAF programme, including but not limited to:

• Panel discussions and Q&As
• Roundtables, workshops and surgeries
• Networking events
• The Young Arts Fundraisers mentoring programme run in partnership with RAISE, including speed mentoring

YAF intends that this policy and contained procedures must be followed by all members of the YAF committee, event speakers, mentors, mentees, participants, event attendees and anyone else participating in YAF’s activities. This document acknowledges that abuse exists and can present itself in many different forms including physical, emotional, neglect and sexual. It also acknowledges that abuse can be perpetrated by anyone. The procedures outlined in this policy will allow all involved in the work of YAF to make informed and confident responses to specific safeguarding issues. 

How we will do this

YAF follows CIOF’s principles of safeguarding, which are:

• Do no harm first. That the Chartered Institute and the profession has to be a place where everyone is safe.
  
• Believe all those who come forward. Make it safe, simple and supportive if people disclose. Make that process a fair and balanced one.
• Listen, learn and work to share progress openly, honestly and transparently. We know that this is vital to rebuild trust and also to create systemic change.

Designated Safeguarding Officer 

The overall responsibility for safeguarding lies with the YAF Directors, who have been appointed as Designated Safeguarding Officers (DSO). Their contact details can be found below.

The role of the DSO is to lead on safeguarding for Young Arts Fundraisers. This will include: 

• Keeping up-to-date with current legislation and developments in the field of safeguarding, attending safeguarding training where available or necessary
• Acting as the main point of contact for Young Arts Fundraisers core teamand volunteers on matters of safeguarding and good practice for working 
• Identify and respond to safeguarding issues, raising and sharing concerns and making referrals when necessary 
• Ensure that everyone is clear about how to report a concern and volunteers are familiar with and up to date with safeguarding procedures. 
• To review and revise policies and procedures on a regular basis and particularly after any concern has been raised 
• Encourage a culture of openness in which people feel able to fully engage and support safeguarding practice. The DSOs will respond to safeguarding enquiries and act on any allegations and incidents in liaison with partners and relevant agencies. The DSO will give advice if an enquiry concerns any matter relating to activities or volunteers at Young Arts Fundraisers. There may be circumstances where the concerns are about poor practice rather than abuse; in these cases, it is still important to take advice as this may be just one of a series of other instances which, taken together, give cause for concern. 

The following will not be tolerated by YAF and will not be tolerated, and anyone displaying such behaviour(s) will be removed (in the case of an online event) or asked to leave (in the case of an in-person event):

• Offensive or discriminatory actions or comments related to a person’s gender, race, sexual orientation, disability, appearance or other aspects of identity or protected characteristic; 
• Sexual harassment such as verbal innuendo and sexual comments, sexual jokes and stories, displaying pictures or sending emails or messages containing sexual content, making sexual gestures, asking for sexual favours;
• Physical contact without consent or patterns of inappropriate social contact, online, via direct message or in-person; 
• Threats or incitements of violence against anybody;
• Stalking or deliberate intimidation, including continued one-to-one communication after a request to cease;
• Publication of confidential or sensitive communication;
• Unwelcome comments regarding another person’s lifestyle choices or practices. 

Reporting inappropriate behaviour

If you experience harassment or discrimination of any form while participating in any YAF activity, or if you witness or are made aware that someone else may be affected by inappropriate behaviour, you should contact YAF leadership via this online form: 

<Link to online form>

All reports will be treated in the strictest confidence and investigated in accordance with the CIOF’s disciplinary and complaints procedures.