NAN's General Safeguarding Policy 2025
Neurodiversity Architecture Network (NAN)
Safeguarding Policy (2025)
The Neurodiversity Architecture Network (NAN) is committed to safeguarding the wellbeing, rights, and dignity of all individuals especially neurodivergent children and adults through inclusive, respectful, and proactive approaches. We strive to create safe environments where everyone feels supported and empowered.
This policy follows UK guidance including:
- Working Together to Safeguard Children (2023)
- UK GDPR & Data Protection Act 2018
- Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE)
- Safeguarding for charities and CICs Charity Commission
Applies to all NAN activities, including:
- In-person workshops (e.g., Giant Crochet)
- All NAN team members: staff, volunteers, facilitators
- Participants (children, adults, caregivers)
- Dignity: All people, especially those with communication differences or sensory needs, are treated with respect
- Voice: Neurodivergent individuals are supported to express themselves in ways that work for them - Access: Activities are designed to reduce overwhelm and enhance comfort
- Safety: Emotional, physical, and psychological safety are actively promoted
- Inclusion: We co-design and co-adapt wherever possible
To support neurodivergent participants, NAN commits to:
- Provide low-stimulation zones or quiet corners at events
- Allow noise-cancelling headphones or stim toys
- Use natural light or adjustable lighting where possible
- Offer visual supports, easy-read documents, or symbols
- Use clear language
- Give extra processing time; avoid rushing responses
- Normalize and support self-regulatory behaviours (e.g., stimming)
- Reinforce consent culture: Can I touch this? / Would you like help?
- Always explain what's happening next and respect routines
- Pre-event social stories or visuals
- Accessible venues with toilet access, sensory consideration
- Multiple ways to participate (hands-on, observe, talk, draw)
- Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL): Luisa Pereira Pires
- Trained in child and adult safeguarding
- Receives all concerns, maintains records, and liaises with statutory agencies
All NAN volunteers/staff:
- Complete annual safeguarding training (including neurodiversity-specific modules)
- Commit to inclusive practice and risk-aware planning
Anyone worried about a participant's safety must:
1. Record clearly (what happened, who, where, when)
2. Report immediately to the DSL
3. Call 999 if anyone is in immediate danger
Confidentiality is respected, but safeguarding overrides privacy if harm is suspected.
- Enhanced DBS with Children's Barred List check required
- Parental consent forms (including medical, media, and emergency contact) - Ratios: 1 adult per 6 children minimum
- All staff trained in safeguarding and neuroinclusive methods
- Environment is risk-assessed and child-safe
- DBS with Adult Barred List check strongly advised
- Understand consent and capacity (Mental Capacity Act 2005)
- Watch for signs of financial, psychological, or neglect-related abuse
- Create autonomy-supporting spaces (e.g. opt-in activities, co-design options)
- Apply both children and adult protocols
- Design workshops to reduce peer-to-peer conflict
- Clear physical and social boundaries
- Inclusive activities with adaptations for age and ability differences
- All team members submit a Safeguarding Self-Disclosure
- Appropriate DBS check depending on role
- Volunteer Code of Conduct signed
- Induction covers safeguarding and neuroinclusive principles
Event Title: Giant Crochet Workshop
Date & Time: ____________
Location: ____________
Lead Facilitator: ____________
DSL on Duty: ____________
Participants: Adults / Children / Mixed
Venue Accessibility: (e.g., step-free, toilets, quiet space)
Sensory Considerations: Lighting / noise / materials / stim-friendly
Communication Supports: Visuals / simple language / signal cards
Potential Risks: (e.g., trip hazards, tool safety, meltdown triggers)
Control Measures: Clear rules, supervision, visual aids
Emergency Plan: First aid, exits, emergency contacts
Parent/Carer Info Collected?: Yes / No
Signed By: ____________
Date: ____________
This policy will be reviewed annually or following any safeguarding incident, complaint, or significant change in NANs activities.
All NAN team members are expected to uphold the highest standards of integrity, inclusion, and safety. This Code of Conduct sets out clear expectations for behavior when engaging with children, adults, and mixed groups.
You Must:
- Treat all individuals with respect, patience, and dignity
- Prioritise wellbeing and actively promote a safe and inclusive environment
- Respect neurodivergent communication styles, boundaries, and stimming
- Use clear and kind language
- Model consent and ask permission before offering physical contact or support - Encourage participation without pressure; allow opt-outs without judgment
- Report any safeguarding concern or disclosure immediately to the DSL
- Challenge discriminatory, oppressive, or exclusionary behaviour
- Respect confidentiality, but understand that safeguarding overrides privacy - Follow activity risk assessments and safeguarding procedures at all times
You Must Never:
- Shout at, threaten, mock, or use sarcasm towards any participant
- Touch anyone without clear and ongoing consent
- Make assumptions about someones abilities, identity, or support needs
- Use personal devices to photograph or record participants without consent
- Be alone one-to-one with a child or vulnerable adult unless necessary and risk-assessed
- Give out personal contact details or communicate with participants outside agreed channels
- Show favouritism or engage in inappropriate relationships with participants - Ignore signs of distress, discomfort, or harm
Best Practice Tips
- Ask: What would make you feel comfortable? or Is it okay if I...?
- Use visual prompts or emoji cards or diagrams for activities to support understanding
- Keep instructions short, broken down, and supported visually if possible
- Create pauses and breaks to avoid overwhelm
- Stay calm and grounded even when a participant is distressed
NAN's Social Media Policy 2025
Neurodiversity Architecture Network (NAN) CIC
Effective: July 2025
This policy outlines how NAN uses social media in a responsible, respectful, and inclusive manner that upholds the values of neurodiversity, accessibility, and safeguarding. It ensures our online presence reflects our commitment to advocacy, education, and community care.
This policy applies to:
- All official NAN social media accounts and posts
- Volunteers, staff, collaborators, and workshop facilitators
- Participants who engage with, are featured in, or contribute to NAN content
NAN uses social media to:
- Promote inclusive design and neurodiversity advocacy
- Share events, workshops, and outcomes (e.g., Neurodivergent Voices, Giant Crochet)
- Celebrate the work of participants and collaborators
- Build a supportive and respectful online community
We will only share images, quotes, or contributions from individuals where:
- Explicit written consent has been given via a media/photo consent form
- Preferences for anonymity, face-blurring, or non-use are strictly respected
- Credit is given to contributors unless they request anonymity
No personal, identifying, or sensitive information will be shared without clear consent.
When posting or commenting, we aim to:
- Use identity-affirming, respectful, and non-pathologising language
- Avoid content that could stigmatise, stereotype, or exclude neurodivergent people
- Use accessible formatting (e.g., image descriptions, CamelCase hashtags, plain language)
- Comments or DMs containing hate speech, bullying, or harmful content will be removed and reported if necessary.
- We will not tag or name children in posts.
- Where workshops involve minors or vulnerable adults, no photos will be posted without prior safeguarding review.
- Admins will moderate all public engagement for safety and respectful tone.
Anyone posting on NAN’s behalf must:
- Follow this policy and the NAN Code of Conduct
- Clarify if a personal opinion is being shared (“views my own”)
- Avoid posting political endorsements unless officially aligned with NAN’s mission
Social media access is managed by the designated communications lead(s) or director.
If you see content that concerns you, please contact us at luisa@neurodiversityarchitecturenetwork.co.uk or speak directly to a designated safeguarding officer. We will respond promptly and respectfully.
This policy will be reviewed annually or in response to a major event, complaint, or legal change.
Approved by: Luisa Pereira Pires, Founder and Director
Date: 28/06/25
NAN's Privacy and Data Protection Policy 2025
Neurodiversity Architecture Network (NAN) CIC
Effective: July 2025
This policy sets out how NAN collects, uses, stores, and protects personal data in line with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and Data Protection Act 2018. Our aim is to protect the privacy and dignity of all individuals we engage with, especially neurodivergent participants, collaborators, and volunteers.
This policy applies to:
- All personal data collected by NAN (online or in-person)
- Staff, volunteers, steering group members, and workshop facilitators
- Participants, parents/guardians, and external collaborators
NAN commits to the following principles when handling data:
✅ Lawfulness, fairness and transparency
✅ Purpose limitation
✅ Data minimisation
✅ Accuracy
✅ Storage limitation
✅ Integrity and confidentiality (security)
✅ Accountability
We may collect and store the following types of data, depending on your relationship with NAN:
- Basic personal details: Name, email address, phone number
- Demographic data: Age, access needs, communication preferences (if relevant)
- Consent forms: For photos, safeguarding, or participation
- Workshop participation data: Sign-ups, attendance, feedback
- Sensitive personal data (only with explicit consent): neurodivergence, health info, access needs
We only collect what is necessary, and we respect your right to refuse or withdraw consent.
We use personal data for the following purposes:
- To communicate about events and opportunities
- To ensure accessibility and inclusive support
- For evaluation and reporting to funders (anonymised where possible)
- To manage workshop bookings and risk assessments
- To promote activities (only with consent for images/testimonials)
- Data is stored securely in password-protected cloud storage or secure physical files
- Access is limited to relevant team members or facilitators
- Data is retained only for as long as necessary and then securely deleted or destroyed
- We review data annually to check accuracy and relevance
We do not sell or share your personal data with third parties.
We may share anonymised data with:
- Funders or partners (e.g., LFA, Fitzrovia Community Centre) for reporting purposes
- External evaluators or researchers (with additional consent)
We will never share identifiable data or photographs without your explicit, written consent.
You have the right to:
- Access your data
- Request correction or deletion
- Withdraw consent at any time
- Lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) if you believe your rights have been violated
We are committed to inclusive, trauma-informed and neurodivergent-friendly practices.
We aim to:
- Use plain, accessible language in forms and communications
- Provide multiple ways to give or withdraw consent (e.g., verbal, written, visual cues)
- Respect individual preferences around sensory information, communication, and privacy
- Minimise data burden and avoid unnecessary or intrusive questions
For questions or to request access to your data, please contact:
📧 luisa@neurodiversityarchitecturenetwork.co.uk
📞 +447879763474
This policy will be reviewed annually or sooner if required by changes in data protection law or NAN’s operations.
Approved by: Luisa Pereira Pires, Founder and Director
Date: 28/06/2025
📣 NAN Code of Conduct for Communications
Effective: July 2025
Neurodiversity Architecture Network (NAN) CIC
This Code of Conduct outlines the expectations for respectful, inclusive, and affirming communication within NAN — across all platforms, including email, messaging, workshops, meetings, and social media. It helps us create safer spaces for neurodivergent people to connect, express, and thrive.
Applies to:
We aim to uphold the following values in all our interactions:
✅ Respect for all communication styles
✅ Patience and active listening
✅ Consent and autonomy
✅ Clarity and accessibility
✅ Curiosity over judgement
We ask everyone involved in NAN to:
We encourage:
If someone violates this Code:
We are here to listen. Please contact us at:
📧 luisa@neurodiversityarchitecturenetwork.co.uk
📞 +447879763474
Or speak to a designated NAN facilitator during an event.
Approved by: Luisa Pereira Pires, Director and Founder
Date: 28/06/25