Policies
Safeguarding policy
Last updated: October 2026
Draft policy. ZuAfrique Foundation is being established. This policy will be reviewed by a legal adviser and formally adopted by our trustees as part of registration.
Our commitment
Everyone who takes part in ZuAfrique Foundation’s programmes has the right to be safe from harm, abuse, exploitation and harassment. Our residencies are 21-day residential programmes, and many participants are young adults. Our 2026 impact assessment showed that this calls for a higher standard of care than a short event. We take that responsibility seriously.
Who this applies to
This policy applies to trustees, staff, volunteers, facilitators, contractors and anyone acting on our behalf, in every country where we work.
What we do
- Name a safeguarding lead and a trustee responsible for safeguarding
- Carry out safer recruitment and appropriate background checks for anyone in a position of trust, in line with the law in each country where we work
- Brief all participants and facilitators on our code of conduct before each programme
- Provide a confidential way to raise concerns, during and after each programme
- Report serious incidents to the Charity Commission and, where required, to local authorities
- Review this policy every year
Residential programmes
- Pre-arrival agreements. Every resident receives the code of conduct, house rules, consequences and safeguarding information, and agrees to them, well before arrival, not on the day. In 2026, the timing of this information was the lowest-rated part of the whole residency, and we are fixing it.
- Photo and video consent. Recording only happens with clear consent, and never during intimate or vulnerable moments without explicit agreement. Residents can opt out of being photographed or filmed.
- If someone is asked to leave. A documented, fair process: rules and consequences are shared before arrival, the concern is recorded, the resident is heard, and the decision is made by more than one person. Our duty of care continues: we make sure they have transport home and somewhere safe to go, and we check in with them afterwards.
- Medical support. Most surveyed 2026 residents (13 of 22) asked for on-site medical support. For each residency we arrange medical cover, such as a dedicated medic or a local healthcare partner, and collect emergency contacts and relevant medical information before arrival.
- Anonymous concerns. An anonymous channel stays open for the whole residency and for four weeks afterwards.
Raising a concern
Email info@ayahq.com with “Safeguarding” in the subject line. Concerns are handled confidentially. If someone is in immediate danger, contact the local emergency services first.