Prevent Duty Strategy

Ethos

StreetGames ensures that through our vision and values we promote tolerance and respect for all cultures, faiths and lifestyles. The StreetGames Board and Executive Team works to ensure that this ethos is reflected and implemented effectively in our policy and practice and that there are effective risk assessments in place to safeguard and promote the welfare of all children and young people.

Definitions

Extremism is defined in the 2011 Prevent strategy as 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.

Radicalisation refers to the process by which a person comes to support terrorism and extremist ideologies associated with terrorist groups.

British Values in this context include democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.

Roles and Responsibilities

Role of the Board

It is the role of the Board to ensure that the StreetGames plays an active role in raising awareness of the risks of extremism and in working with others to prevent radicalisation.

The Board has a nominated person with a lead for Safeguarding who will liaise with the Designated Officer and other staff about issues to do with protecting children from radicalisation.

Role of the Designated Officer

It is the role of the Designated Officer to:

• ensure that the StreetGames staff are aware of the risks for children and young people and respond to preventing radicalisation on a day-to-day basis,
• ensure that staff conduct is consistent with preventing radicalisation
• ensure that staff understand the issues of radicalisation, are able to recognise the signs of vulnerability or radicalisation and know how to refer their concerns
• receive and record any safeguarding concerns about children and young people who may be vulnerable to the risk of radicalisation or are showing signs of radicalisation, make referrals to appropriate agencies with regard to concerns about radicalisation
• liaise with partners;
• report to the Board on these matters

Role of staff

It is the role of StreetGames staff to have a working understanding of the issues around radicalisation and for those who work face to face with young people to be able to recognise the signs of vulnerability or radicalisation and know how to refer their concerns.

Staff Training

Staff will be given training to help them understand the issues of radicalisation and to ensure that they are able to recognise the signs of vulnerability or radicalisation and know how to refer their concerns.  This will be delivered at the same time as the Safeguarding training and in most cases be delivered during the same course.

This information will also form part of induction safeguarding training.

Internet Safety

The internet provides children and young people with access to a wide-range of content, some of which is harmful. Extremists often use the internet, including social media, to share their messages.

StreetGames uses the internet and social media to share information and communicate with young people and it is therefore important that the way in which StreetGames uses these and monitors the interaction with young people on social media is regularly reviewed.  This will also form part of the staff training.

‘No platform for extremists’

StreetGames is vigilant to the possibility that as we work with a wide range of organisations from across the UK that we will work with a wide range of people with differing beliefs, cultures, backgrounds and views.  We will monitor the organisations that want to join the StreetGames network to ensure that their ethos and values are in keeping with those of StreetGames through the programmes and grants application process.

If any staff or partner organisation are concerned about the expressed views of an organisation who want to join the network or that are already a member of the Network this needs to be reported to the Designated Officer.  StreetGames will be vigilant towards ensure that it does not provide a platform for any organisations to communicate any extremist views.

In the event that an organisations is found to be expressing views that could be considered extremist we would ask the organisation to leave the StreetGames network and if necessary report the organisation to the relevant authorities.

Risk factors for young people around extremism and radicalisation

There are no known definitive indicators that a young person is vulnerable to radicalisation, but there are number of signs that when one or more are evident may increase their risk. These risk factors include:

• underachievement
• being in possession of extremist literature
• poverty
• social exclusion
• being subject to traumatic personal events
• religious conversion
• changes in behaviour
• being exposed to extremist influences
• conflict with family over lifestyle
• confused identify
• being a victim or witness to race or hate crimes
• rejection by peers, family, social groups or faith

Recognising Extremism

Early indicators of radicalisation or extremism may include:

• showing sympathy for extremist causes
• glorifying violence, especially to other faiths or cultures
• making remarks or comments about being at extremist events or rallies outside school
• evidence of possessing illegal or extremist literature
• advocating messages similar to illegal organisations or other extremist groups
• out of character changes in dress, behaviour and peer relationships (but there are also very powerful narratives, programmes and networks that young people can come across online so involvement with particular groups may not be apparent.)
• secretive behaviour
• online searches or sharing extremist messages or social profiles
• intolerance of difference, including faith, culture, gender, race or sexuality
• graffiti, art work or writing that displays extremist themes
• attempts to impose extremist views or practices on others
• verbalising anti-Western or anti-British views
• advocating violence towards others

Referral Process

All StreetGames staff must refer all concerns about children and young people who show signs of radicalisation to the Designated Officer using the usual methods for reporting other safeguarding concerns.

When there are significant concerns about a young person, the Designated Officer, in liaison with the Deputy Chief Executive (as outlined in the reporting procedures document) may report this to the relevant authority.

Monitoring and Review

This document will be monitored in line with the annual Safeguarding Policy review on an annual basis and its implementation reported to the StreetGames.  Audit Committee. Any policy changes will be reported to the Finance Committee.