Whitechapel Gallery Safeguarding Policy

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Whitechapel Gallery works towards presenting a diverse and consistently excellent programme of exhibitions, events, publications, and educational activities, with a view to expanding our audiences and maintaining and conserving a landmark building.

As a public arts organisation and charity, the Gallery is a public venue that welcomes people from all backgrounds, including children, young people and adults at risk. Everyone, including all staff and volunteers, is responsible for preventing, detecting and reporting risk of harm to children, young people, and adults at risk.

Whitechapel Gallery commits to taking the necessary steps to safeguard our employees, participants, guests, and broader audience. The welfare of each child, young person and adult at risk is paramount. All suspicions and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately.

Whitechapel Gallery has a Designated Safeguarding Lead employee to oversee the implementation of our Safeguarding policy (available upon request). If you have any immediate concerns regarding a safeguarding incident, please follow the guidance outlined below.

Do you have a safeguarding concern about a child, young person, or adult at risk?

If you think a crime has been committed – and it’s an emergency situation – you should call 999. For non-emergencies call 101. After reporting the crime & emergency situation, please report to the Information Desk at the Gallery, and they will contact the Designated Safeguarding Lead or Designated Safeguarding Officer, in their absence. You can contact our Designated Safeguarding on safeguarding@whitechapelgallery.org.

Who else can you contact if you are worried about an adult at risk?

If you think you or someone you know is being abused or neglected who resides in Tower Hamlets then you should call the Tower Hamlets Connect Helpline Team on 0300 303 6070. You can follow this up with a Safeguarding alert form if you like but it’s not necessary. Email the form to enquiry@towerhamletsconnect.org and they will get back to you promptly. Other boroughs will have Safeguarding teams that you can contact if the adult at risk does not live locally. Alternatively, you can visit your local library, Idea Store, or leisure centre where staff can help you to report abuse. But if you think a crime has been committed – and it’s an emergency situation – you should call 999. For non-emergencies call 101.

Who else can you contact if you are worried about a child or young person at risk?

If you are concerned that a child or young person who resides in Tower Hamlets is being harmed through abuse or neglect, you should contact the children’s services advice and assessment team on 020 7364 5601 or 020 7364 5606. Other boroughs will have children’s services that you can contact if the child or young person does not live locally. Alternatively, you can speak to a police officer,teacher, health visitor, doctor or the NSPCC.