Student Support and Safeguarding Standards

1. Our safeguarding principles

• The welfare of the learner comes first in every decision.
• Every learner has an equal right to protection.
• Everyone at Meristem shares responsibility for safeguarding.
• Concerns are always taken seriously and acted on promptly.

2. Safer recruitment and training

Staff, facilitators and mentors who work with learners are checked before they start, including references and identity checks, and receive safeguarding training when they join and regular refreshers after that.

3. Learners under 18

• Parent or guardian consent is required for enrolment and off site activities.
• Adults do not meet a young learner alone in a closed room or contact them privately on social media.
• Photographs of young learners are only used with written consent from a parent or guardian.

4. Support for every learner

• A named programme coordinator for each cohort.
• Mentorship and career guidance throughout and after the programme.
• Reasonable adjustments for learners with disabilities or health conditions.
• Signposting to counselling, health and financial support services where needed.
• Flexible arrangements, where possible, for learners facing a personal crisis.

5. Online safety

We use official Meristem channels for learning and communication, moderate our groups, and teach learners how to protect their personal information and recognise online scams.

6. Raising a safeguarding concern

If you are worried about the safety or wellbeing of a learner, speak to the Designated Safeguarding Lead through your programme coordinator, or email info@meristemveii.org with the subject line Safeguarding. If someone is in immediate danger, call the Nigerian emergency number 112 first.

7. Recording and confidentiality

Concerns are recorded securely and shared only with those who need to know in order to keep someone safe, or where the law requires us to share them.