At Pathfinders, everyone has the right to feel safe, respected and supported.

We are a user-led organisation, and we take safeguarding seriously in everything we do. Safeguarding means protecting people’s right to live in safety, free from abuse, neglect or exploitation — and making sure that anyone who has concerns knows where to turn for help.

Our Commitment

• We believe that nobody involved in our work should ever experience harm, abuse or neglect.
• We recognise that as disabled people we can sometimes face extra risks, and we are committed to addressing these proactively.
• We create a culture where everyone feels safe to speak up, knowing they will be listened to and supported.

What We Do

Safeguarding is part of everything we do at Pathfinders.

• All our staff and trustees complete regular safeguarding training.
• Everyone working for or with Pathfinders is expected to follow our safeguarding policy and code of conduct.
• We complete appropriate DBS checks for staff, trustees and contractors who work directly with disabled people.
• We work closely with local authorities, the police, and partner organisations if a concern is raised.
• We review our safeguarding policy every year to make sure it remains strong and up to date.

How to Raise a Concern

If you ever feel unsafe, or are worried about someone else connected with Pathfinders, please tell us straight away.

You can contact our Safeguarding Team directly:

Designated Safeguarding Lead – Jon Hastie (CEO)

Deputy Safeguarding Lead – Sarah Rose (Chair of Trustees)

If you believe someone is in immediate danger, call 999 straight away.

If you need urgent emotional support, you can also contact:

• Samaritans: 116 123 (free, 24 hours)
• Shout: text SHOUT to 85258
• Mind Helpline: 0300 123 3393

Your Privacy

We treat all safeguarding information confidentially. We will only share details with others when necessary to keep someone safe or when the law requires us to do so. We always try to explain clearly what information we are sharing and why.

Our Safeguarding Policy

You can read our full safeguarding policy [link to PDF] for detailed information about how we prevent and respond to concerns.