Preventing Extremism & Radicalisation Policy

Policy to Support the Prevention of Extremism and Radicalisation (PREVENT)

Any member of staff or learner at STN Training who has any concerns regarding the issues identified within this policy should report them immediately and no later than the end of the working day to the Designated Senior Person for Safeguarding (DSP)/ Single Point of Contact (SPOC).

Designated Senior Person for Safeguarding and Single Point of Contact (SPOC) –Sue Halawa

Introduction

The current threat from Terrorism and Extremism in the United Kingdom is real and can involve the exploitation of vulnerable people, including children and young people. This policy is designed to provide a clear framework to structure and inform our response to safeguarding concerns for those learners, particularly young people, who may be vulnerable to the messages of extremism.

In addition, it provides details of the local interagency process and expectations in identifying appropriate interventions based on the threshold of need and intervention model and the Channel process (see below).

Radicalisation is defined as the process by which people come to support terrorism and extremism and, in some cases, to then participate in terrorist groups.

Extremism is vocal or active opposition to fundamental British values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs. We also include in our definition of extremism calls for the death of members of our armed forces, whether in this country or overseas (HM Government Prevent Strategy, 2011).

Policy statement

Stand Together Network is committed to providing a secure environment for all customers, where they feel safe and are kept safe. Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility irrespective of the role they undertake within our Company or whether their role has direct contact or responsibility for learners and customers.

There is no place for extremist views of any kind in Stand Together Network, whether from internal sources (customers, staff, non–executives or associates) or external sources (wider communities, external agencies or individuals).

Our customers have a right to experience service delivery environments, including those for training, workplace, employability programmes, that are safe, where they can explore controversial issues safely, and where our staff encourage and facilitate this – we have a duty to ensure this happens.

As an organisation we recognise that extremism and exposure to extremist materials and influences can lead to poor outcomes for all and so should be addressed as a safeguarding concern as set out in this policy. We also recognise that if we fail to challenge extremist views, we are failing to protect our customers.

Extremists of all persuasions aim to develop destructive relationships between different communities by promoting division, fear and mistrust of others based on ignorance or prejudice and thereby limiting the life chances of young and vulnerable people. Education is a powerful weapon against this; equipping people with the knowledge, skills and critical thinking, to challenge and debate in an informed way. At Stand Together Network we therefore aim to provide a broad and balanced curriculum, delivered by skilled professionals, so that our customers are enriched, understand and become tolerant of difference and diversity and also to ensure that they thrive, feel valued and not marginalized.

Furthermore, at Stand Together Network we are also aware that young and vulnerable people can be exposed to extremist influences or prejudiced views from an early age which emanate from a variety of sources and media, including via the internet. At times customers may themselves reflect or display views that may be discriminatory, prejudiced or extremist, including using derogatory language.

Any prejudice, discrimination or extremist views, including derogatory language, displayed by customers, staff, partners, suppliers and other individuals will always be challenged and where appropriate dealt with in line with our behaviour policies for customers and the Code of Conduct for staff. Where misconduct by a member of staff is proven, the matter will be referred to the Police for their consideration as to whether to a Prohibition Order is warranted.

This Policy is one element of our overall arrangements to safeguard and promote the welfare of all customers in line with our statutory duties set out in the Education Act 2002.

In adhering to this policy and procedures staff, visitors, partners and suppliers will contribute to our delivery of the outcomes as set out in the Children Act, supporting Stand Together Network ’s overall commitment to safeguard children and vulnerable adults in all of our activities.

Communication

All staff will be made aware of this policy as part of their staff induction. It will be available on the Stand Together Network Cloud shared drive to promote full access.

Whole organisation training will be provided for staff, partners and all non-executive directors on an annual basis and will comply with the prevailing arrangements agreed by the Local Authority and the Local Safeguarding Children Board.

The Stand Together Network Executive Board of Directors will undertake appropriate training to ensure that they are clear about their role and the parameters of their responsibilities including their statutory safeguarding duties.

The Designated Safeguarding Manager will attend training courses as necessary and the appropriate inter-agency training organised by the Safeguarding Children Board at least every two years. This will include training on extremism and radicalisation and its safeguarding implications.

All parents, guardians and carers can be issued with a hard copy of this policy on request.

This Policy will also be made available to staff.

Associated Policies

This Policy and associated procedures should be read in conjunction with the following Policies:

Definitions

The accepted governmental definition of extremism is:

‘Vocal or active opposition to fundamental British values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs; and/or calls for the death of members of our armed forces, whether in this country or overseas’.

This Policy draws on:

Guidance in the London Child Protection Procedures DfE Guidance, Keeping Children Safe in Education, 2014
DCSF Resources: Learning Together to be Safe, prevent: Resources Guide, Tackling Extremism in the UK
DfE’s Teaching Approaches that help Build Resilience to Extremism among Young People
Preventing Extremism & Radicalisation
Report into allegations concerning Birmingham schools arising from the Trojan Horse
letter by Peter Clarke, July 2014
Training and refresher training delivered to all staff during Induction and annually through Marshall Training

The full Government Prevent Strategy can be viewed at:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/prevent-duty-guidance

Signs that may cause concern

Students talking about exposure to extremist materials or views outside the [centre/ department] (in this event, information must be shared with relevant local authorities)
Changes in behaviour, e.g. becoming isolated
Fall in the standard of work, poor attendance, disengagement
Changes in attitude, e.g. intolerant of differences/ having closed mind • Asking questions about certain topics (e.g. connected to extremism)
Offering opinions that appear to have come from extremist ideologies
Attempts to impose own views/ beliefs on others
Use of extremist vocabulary to exclude others or incite violence
Accessing extremist material online or via social network sites
Overt new religious practices
Drawings or posters (e.g. in accommodation) showing extremist ideology/ views/ symbols
Students voicing concerns about anyone NB: Any concerns relating to a person under 18 are safeguarding issues and should be dealt with by safeguarding staff (if different from Prevent staff) and, where necessary, the STN contacted

How and when to react to concerns

Everyone given name of who to contact (lead person/persons), how to contact them (email, phone etc) and contact details
Confidentiality assured for the person reporting a concern
Everyone told to report any concern or incident, however small.
Reassurance that all will be dealt with sensitively and carefully

Our Approach

As part of wider safeguarding responsibilities Stand Together Network staff will be alert to:

Disclosures by customers of their exposure to the extremist actions, views or materials of others outside of the training or programme environment, such as in their homes or community groups, especially where customers have not actively

sought these out.

Graffiti symbols, writing or artwork promoting extremist messages or images.

Individuals accessing extremist material online, including through social networking sites.

Parental and or family reports of changes in behaviour, friendship or actions and requests for assistance

Partner organisations, local authority services, and police reports of issues affecting customers in other settings

Individuals voicing opinions drawn from extremist ideologies and narratives

Use of extremist or ‘hate’ terms to exclude others or incite violence

Intolerance of difference, whether secular or religious or, in line with our Equalities policy, views based on, but not exclusive to, gender, disability, homophobia, race, colour or culture

Attempts to impose extremist views or practices on others Anti-Western or Anti-British views

Social media

Customers and staff access to our internet connection, regardless of location, is heavily restricted and monitored, using approved and kite marked systems and guidance provided by government. All use of our internet connection is logged and can be reviewed on request. Use of our internet connection can be actively monitored for any customer or staff member on request.

Stand Together Network will closely follow any locally agreed procedure as set out by the Local Authority and/or local Safeguarding Children Board’s (LSCBs) agreed processes and criteria for safeguarding individuals vulnerable to extremism and radicalisation.

Teaching Approaches

We will all strive to eradicate the myths and assumptions that can lead to some young and vulnerable people becoming alienated and disempowered, especially where the narrow approaches some customers may experience elsewhere may make it harder for them to challenge or question these radical influences. In our programmes this will be achieved by good teaching, promotion of Preventing Extremism & Radicalisation, citizenship reinforcement of safeguarding and equality and diversity policies and through effective PSD and Ethics training.

In every programme there is a specific focus on preventing radicalisation and extremism through the following integrated and embedded areas for free discussion:

What is an extremist?

What causes extremism?

Free speech and right to religion Crime and Punishment

Extremism lesson in Community Cohesion Peace and Conflict

Religious Experience Fundamentalism

In addition to the above, Stand Together Network also adopts the methods outlined in the Government’s guidance ‘Teaching approaches that help build resilience to extremism among young (and vulnerable) people’ DfE 2011.

We will ensure that all of our teaching approaches help our customers build resilience to extremism and give them a positive sense of identity through the development of critical thinking skills. We will ensure that all of our staff and partners are equipped to recognise extremism and are skilled and confident enough to challenge it.

We will be flexible enough to adapt our teaching approaches to address specific issues in order to become even more relevant to the current issues of extremism and radicalisation. In doing so we will follow 3 key principles:

Making a connection with young and vulnerable people through good teaching design and a learning centred approach.
Facilitating a ‘safe space’ for dialogue, and
Equipping our customers and learners with the appropriate skills, knowledge and understanding and awareness of resilience.

This approach will be embedded within the ethos of our organisation so that customers, staff and partners know and understand what safe and acceptable behaviour is in the context of extremism and radicalisation. This will work in conjunction with Stand Together Network ’s approach to the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of customers as defined in Ofsted’s Common Inspection Framework standards and will include the further promotion of this rounded development of our participants on all programmes.

Stand Together Network ’s goal is to build mutual respect and understanding and to promote the use of dialogue, not violence as a form of conflict resolution. We will achieve this by using a curriculum that includes:

Citizenship programmes

Open discussion and debate

Work on anti-violence and a restorative approach addressed throughout curriculum

Focussed training programmes

Collaboration with stakeholders

Stand Together Network will work with local partners, wider stakeholders and communities in our efforts to ensure our organisation understands and embraces our local context and values in challenging extremist views and to assist in the broadening of our participant’s experiences and horizons.

We will help support those who may be vulnerable to such influences as part of our wider safeguarding responsibilities and where we believe any learner or customer is being directly affected by extremist materials or influences, we will ensure that that they are offered support. Additionally, in such instances we will seek external support from the Local Authority and/or local partnership structures working to prevent extremism.

Stand Together Network will promote the values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect and tolerance for those with different faiths and beliefs. We will teach and encourage all participants to respect one another and to respect and tolerate difference, especially those of a different faith or no faith. It is indeed our most fundamental responsibility to keep our customers safe and prepare them for life in modern multi-cultural Britain and globally.

Use of External Agencies, Partners and Speakers

At Stand Together Network we encourage the use of external agencies or speakers to enrich the experiences of our participants on all programmes. However, we will positively vet those external agencies, individuals or speakers who we engage to provide such learning opportunities or experiences for our customers, through our Supply Chain Management Framework. Such vetting is to ensure that we do not unwittingly use agencies, partners and suppliers that contradict each other with their messages or that are inconsistent with, or are in complete opposition to our values and ethos.

We will assess the suitability and effectiveness of input from external agencies or individuals to ensure that:

Any messages communicated are consistent with our ethos and do not marginalise any communities, groups or individuals

Any messages do not seek to glorify criminal activity or violent extremism or seek to radicalise through extreme or narrow views of faith, religion or culture or other ideologies

Activities are properly embedded in the curriculum and clearly mapped to schemes of work to avoid contradictory messages or duplication. Activities are matched to the needs of all participants

Activities are carefully evaluated to ensure that they are effective

Raising Concerns

Whistleblowing

Where there are concerns of extremism or radicalisation customers, partners and staff will be encouraged to make use of our internal systems raise any issue in confidence. Staff and partners should follow the Stand Together Network policy

In the first instance, any concerns should be referred to the Local Safeguarding Champions. The Champions will meet with the customer to discuss the concerns, ensuring that the issue is factually recorded in a Prevent Alert Form (Appendix 2 – Part Two of the Safeguarding Policy) and reported as per the Safeguarding Policy, and liaising with the Designated Safeguarding Manager regarding the appropriate course of action.

Where it is felt that the customer has not been radicalised and is not involved in extremist activities, any underlying issues e.g. social isolation, will be dealt with in accordance with the Safeguarding Policy.

Where necessary external agencies will be informed by the Designated Safeguarding Lead .If there is any suspicion that the customer is involved in radicalisation or extremist activities the Designated Safeguarding Lead will refer the matter to the local Police Prevent team.

Responsibilities

All staff and delivery partners have a responsibility to uphold the commitments in this policy, with specific responsibilities as follows:

All employees – responsible for raising awareness of this issue with customers, colleagues and partners; identifying and reporting potential issues.

Local Safeguarding Champions and Designated Safeguarding Lead – responsible for recording and acting upon safeguarding concerns in relation to extremism and radicalisation; disseminating up to date information on these issues to all staff; working with curriculum managers and delivery staff to embed this agenda throughout programme delivery where appropriate.

The Senior Management Team– responsible for supporting the wider Stand Together Network team in tackling extremism and radicalisation.

Monitoring & Review

The Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs) will monitor the number of safeguarding concerns raised as a result of this policy, and the understanding of staff and their practical application of this policy in their day-to-day work through a risk assessment which may identify the need for observation, training and support. The DSL will report to SMT annually (or more frequently where concerns are identified) on the performance of this policy, with recommendations for improvement if required.

This policy will be reviewed every year by the HR Manager to ensure that it continues to meet legislative requirements, adopts emerging best practice, and continues to be effective and relevant to the wider business. The Policy may be amended outside of this timeframe in accordance with new legalisation or guidance.

Equality, Diversity and Community Cohesion

STN Training aims to guide our learners to understand others, to promote common values and to value diversity, to promote awareness of human rights and of the responsibility to uphold and defend them, and to develop the skills of participation and responsible action. We take extremely seriously our key role in preparing all our learners for life in modern Britain. We aim to encourage working towards a society in with a common vision and sense of belonging by all Communities;

a society in which the diversity of people’s backgrounds and circumstances is appreciated and valued;

a society in which similar life opportunities are available to all;

and a society in which strong and positive relationships exist and continue to be developed in the workplace, in schools and in the wider community.

2.National Guidance and Strategies

PREVENT is a key part of the Government’s strategy to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism. Early intervention is at the heart of PREVENT in diverting people away from being drawn into terrorist activity. PREVENT happens before any criminal activity takes place. It is about recognising, supporting and protecting people who might be susceptible to radicalisation.

The PREVENT strategy objectives are:

Ideology: respond to the ideological challenge of terrorism and the threat we face from those who promote it.

Individuals: prevent people from being drawn into terrorism and ensure that they are given appropriate advice and support.

Institutions: work with sectors and institutions where there are risks of radicalisation which we need to address.

All staff should have an awareness of the PREVENT agenda and the various forms of radicalisation takes in being able to recognise signs and indicators or concern and respond appropriately.

3.Vulnerability/Risk Indicators

The following lists are not exhaustive and all or none may be present in individual cases of concern. Nor does it mean that vulnerable people experiencing these factors are automatically at risk of exploitation for the purposes of extremism. The accepted view is that a complex relationship between the various aspects of an individual’s identity determines their vulnerability to extremism. There is no such thing as a ‘typical extremist’ and those involved in extremism come from a range of backgrounds and experiences. The following indicators may help to identify factors that suggest a person or their family may be vulnerable or involved with extremism:

Vulnerability 

Identity crisis: Distance from cultural/religious heritage and uncomfortable with their place in the society around them.

Personal crisis: Family tensions; sense of isolation; adolescence; low self-esteem; disassociating from existing friendship group and becoming involved with a new and different group of friends; searching for answers to questions about identity, faith and belonging.

Personal circumstances: Migration; local community tensions; events affecting country or region of origin; alienation from UK values; having a sense of grievance that is triggered by personal experience of racism or discrimination or aspects of Government policy.

Unmet aspirations: Perceptions of injustice; feeling of failure; rejection of civic life.

Criminality: Experiences of imprisonment; poor resettlement/reintegration, previous involvement with criminal groups.

Access to extremist influences:

Reason to believe that the person associates with those known to be involved in extremism
Possession or distribution of extremist literature/other media material likely to incite racial/religious hatred or acts of violence
Use of closed network groups via electronic media for the purpose of extremist activity

Experiences, behaviours and influences:

Experience of peer, social, family or faith group rejection
International events in areas of conflict and civil unrest had a personal impact on the person resulting in a noticeable change in behaviour.
Verbal or written support of terrorist attacks
First-hand experience of racial or religious hate crime
Extended periods of travel to international locations known to be associated with extremism
Evidence of fraudulent identity/use of documents to support this
Experience of disadvantage, discrimination or social exclusion
History of criminal activity
Pending a decision on their immigration/national status

More critical risk factors include:

Being in contact with extremist recruiters
Articulating support for extremist causes or leaders
Accessing extremist websites, especially those with a social networking element
Possessing extremist literature
Justifying the use of violence to solve societal issues
Joining extremist organisations
Significant changes to appearance/behaviour

Referral and Intervention Process

Any identified concerns as the result of observed behaviour or reports of conversations to suggest that the person supports terrorism and/or extremism, must be reported to the named designated safeguarding professional immediately and no later than the end of the working day.

Safeguarding Officer and Single Point of Contact (SPOC):

Sue Halawa (Director) or, in Sue’s absence, Tasneem Pervaiz (Director).

It should be recognised that concerns of this nature, in relation to violent extremism, are most likely to require a police investigation (as part of the Channel process). As part of the referral process, the Safeguarding Officer will follow the normal safeguarding procedures (see Safeguarding Policy) but will also raise a referral to Channel and the emergency services (if it is deemed appropriate). The appropriate funding partner will also be informed as part of the referral process.

The safeguarding officer will discuss potential issues with one of the other directors before the emergency services or contacted with a concern.

Only the safeguarding officer, SPOC or a director may make a referral to the 3rd Party Intervention Agencies or Emergency Services, once internal procedures have been completed.

Channel referral process

Some concerns which are identified may have a security dimension to them. For this reason, it is important that liaison with the police forms an early part of all investigations. The Police will carry out an initial assessment and, if appropriate, set up a multiagency meeting to agree actions for supporting the individual. If it is deemed that there are no concerns around radicalisation, appropriate and targeted support will be considered for the person.

British Values

STN will endeavour to embed the core ‘British Values’ into all course delivery, procedures and practices in a strategic attempt to support the Government’s PREVENT Agenda and to promote nationally accepted British principles and values.

Please see Appendix A and Appendix B for further information on British Values and STN’s strategy for compliance and implementation of the Prevent Agenda.

Appendix A – Compliance with The Government’s ‘Prevent Duty

PREVENT is part of the Government’s counter-terrorism strategy Contest, which is led by the Home Office. PREVENT is about recognising when vulnerable individuals are being exploited for terrorist related activities and reporting concerns to the relevant authorities. This forms part of a duty STN Training has when acting on behalf of a public sector organisation that contributes to the prevention of terrorism by safeguarding and protecting vulnerable individuals. Our staff may meet and treat people who are vulnerable to radicalisation. Where there are signs that someone has been or is being drawn into terrorism, it is imperative that this is reported to the ‘Designated Person’ as soon as is possible. Preventing someone from becoming a terrorist or from supporting terrorism is no different from safeguarding vulnerable individuals from other forms of exploitation although the ‘Designated Person’ may report this directly and immediately to the police rather than the local authority but not before liaising with a further Director responsible for Safeguarding (including PREVENT) – other than in extenuating circumstances. Indicators that someone may be being drawn into terrorist related activity may include:

Graffiti symbols, writing or artwork promoting extremist messages or images.
Participants/employees accessing terrorist related material online, including through social networking sites.
Parental/family reports of changes in behaviour, friendships or actions and requests for assistance.
Partner healthcare organisations, local authority services and police reports of issues affecting patients in other health care organisations.
Participants voicing opinions drawn from terrorist related ideologies and narratives.
Use of extremist or hate terms to exclude others or incite violence.

The Prevent Agenda also places a responsibility upon public bodies to promote ‘Fundamental British Values’ and all staff need to know how they can comply with this responsibility. Further details on the Prevent Duty, our responsibilities as a provider of public sector services including what these values are (as defined by the Government) and the actions we can take with participants in our programmes, are set out in Appendices.

Appendix B – What is the ‘Prevent Duty’ – Implementing the Government’s ‘Prevent Duty’

The government’s strategy for countering terrorism ‘CONTEST’ as contained in the Counter Terrorism and Security Act 2015 places a duty (the ‘Prevent Duty) on certain specified authorities and organisations to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism and/or extremism. Those specified authorities of particular relevance to services delivered by STN Training are local authorities and educational establishments, who are either the commissioning body for the services we deliver; with whom we will work closely or whose facilities we use.

The Prevent strategy has 3 key objectives as follows:

Respond to the ideological challenge of terrorism and the threat we face from those who promote it.
Prevent people from being drawn into terrorism and ensure that they are given appropriate advice and support.
Work with sectors and institutions where there is a risk of radicalisation that we need to address.

Within this duty, all specified authorities, including those providing services on their behalf, are expected to exemplify ‘Fundamental British Values’ in their management, service delivery and general behaviours. The Government defines these fundamental British values as democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual tolerance and respect. We explore these below in the context of the work STN Training undertakes along with providing definitions for Radicalisation and Extremism, as provided by the Prevent Duty Guidance.

Safeguarding Children Exposed to Extremist Ideology

Children and young people can be radicalised in different ways:

They can be groomed either online or in person by people seeking to draw them into extremist activity. Older children or young people might be radicalised over the internet or through the influence of their peer network – in this instance their parents might not know about this or feel powerless to stop their child’s radicalisation;
They can be groomed by family members who hold harmful, extreme beliefs, including parents/carers and siblings who live with the child and/or person(s) who live outside the family home but have an influence over the child’s life;
They can be exposed to violent, anti-social, extremist imagery, rhetoric and writings which can lead to the development of a distorted world view in which extremist ideology seems reasonable. In this way they are not being individually targeted but are the victims of propaganda which seeks to radicalise.

A common feature of radicalisation is that the child or young person does not recognise the exploitative nature of what is happening and does not see themselves as a victim of grooming or exploitation. It is important that all staff are aware of the ways children and young people can be radicalised and alert to indications that this may be the case and make the appropriate response.

Radicalisation

Radicalisation refers to the process by which a person comes to support terrorism and forms of extremism leading to terrorism.

Extremism

The Prevent Duty Guidance defines extremism as “vocal or active opposition to fundamental British values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance for those with different faiths and beliefs. We also include in our definition of extremism calls for the death of members of our armed forces, whether in this country or overseas.” Our staff will have sufficient training to be able to recognise this vulnerability and be aware of what action to take in response and to know the Designated Person to whom they need to refer any concerns.

Fundamental British Values

Democracy

This is about exploring how citizens can influence decision-making through the democratic process and enabling participants to understand that freedom of speech and the freedom to hold other faiths and beliefs is protected in law. But it is also about recognising that there are boundaries and that discrimination or the encouragement to harm others is unlawful and needs to be challenged if this comes up in any of our programmes. Democracy is also about equal rights and we can help participants understand this in the way we support their personal, social and emotional development by giving them opportunities to develop their self-confidence and self-awareness to achieve the programme goals we agree with them.

Rule of Law

This is about understanding that rules matter and we need to help our participants recognise the importance of complying with the law as set by the British Parliament. It is about learning to manage our own feelings and behaviour; about learning right from wrong; about behaving within agreed and clearly defined boundaries and about dealing with the consequences. These underpin the basis on which we develop and implement our programmes.

Individual Liberty

We focus on building self-confidence and self-awareness with people and within communities. We help participants develop a positive sense of themselves to address the changes we are working with them to implement, to develop their self-knowledge, self-esteem and increase their confidence in their own abilities. We encourage participants to explore the language of feelings and responsibility; reflect on their differences and understand that we are all free to have different opinions.

Mutual Respect and Tolerance

Mutual respect and tolerance is where we learn to treat others as we want to be treated. How to be part of a community, manage feelings and behaviour, and form relationships with others. We should be encouraging an ethos of inclusivity and tolerance in the way we run our programmes, where views, faiths, cultures and races are valued and where we encourage participants to share how their cultures can help or hinder change in behaviours that may be required to gain access to employment or better integrate into society or in the workplaces etc.

Our Responsibilities to Deliver the Prevent Agenda

We will find opportunities to promote British values in the effectiveness of all our programmes and particularly through our leadership and management. We will actively promote equality of opportunity and diversity to counter any form of direct or indirect discriminatory behaviour. Our managers, staff and anyone working with STN Training, will not tolerate prejudiced behaviour and the promotion of fundamental British values is at the heart of all our work. We will ensure that all our participants feel safe and know how to raise concerns and ensure these concerns are addressed sensitively and in accordance with our internal procedures. We will continuously assess safeguarding risks and take action to prevent them. Our managers and staff will work to protect participants from radicalisation and extremism and respond swiftly where participants are vulnerable to these issues. Through training, we will develop vigilance, confidence and competency to challenge participants’ views and encourage debate.

Definitions

An ideology is a set of beliefs.

Radicalisation is the process by which a person comes to support terrorism and forms of extremism leading to terrorism.

Safeguarding is the process of protecting vulnerable people, whether from crime, other forms of abuse or from being drawn into terrorism-related activity.

Terrorism is an action that endangers or causes serious violence damage or disruption and is intended to influence the government or to intimidate the public and is made with the intention of advancing a political, religious or ideological cause.

Vulnerability describes factors and characteristics associated with being susceptible to radicalisation.

Useful links

National Prevent Strategy

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/97976/prevent -strategy-review.pdf

Report from the Prime Minister’s Task Force on Tackling Radicalisation and Extremism https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/263181/ETF_ FINAL.pdf

National Channel Guidance https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/118194/chann el-guidance.pdf