Child Protection Policy

Child Protection Policy

Effective Date: 4th June 2025

Bodice Charity Foundation is firmly committed to safeguarding the rights, dignity, and safety of all children who interact with our organization. We recognize our responsibility to protect children from abuse, exploitation, neglect, and harm in all forms.

1. Purpose

This policy outlines our commitment to promoting the welfare of children and ensuring their safety within all our programs, events, and outreach activities. It serves to guide all staff, volunteers, sponsors, and partners on best practices and legal responsibilities in child protection.

2. Scope

This policy applies to:

• All staff (paid or unpaid)

• Volunteers

• Board members

• Partners, sponsors, and contractors

• Anyone engaged in activities or projects on behalf of Bodice Charity Foundation

3. Our Commitment

We commit to:

• Creating a safe, respectful, and nurturing environment for all children.

• Preventing child abuse, neglect, exploitation, and violence through proactive measures.

• Responding promptly and effectively to any concern or incident involving a child.

• Educating our team and stakeholders on child protection laws and ethical conduct.

4. Code of Conduct with Children

All personnel working with children must:

• Treat all children with dignity and respect at all times.

• Listen to children and take their views seriously.

• Never engage in any form of physical punishment, emotional abuse, sexual activity, or exploitative behavior.

• Avoid being alone with a child in an unsupervised setting.

• Obtain consent before taking photos or videos of children, and never publish identifying information without permission.

5. Recruitment & Screening

All staff and volunteers who work directly with children will undergo:

• Background checks and references

• Interviews that assess suitability for working with minors

• Orientation on child protection policies and procedures

6. Reporting Concerns

Anyone who suspects or witnesses abuse or inappropriate behavior toward a child must report it immediately. Reports can be made confidentially to:
Email: hello@bodicefoundation.com
Phone: +234 906 363 9914

All reports will be taken seriously and handled with sensitivity, confidentiality, and urgency.

7. Response Procedure

Upon receiving a report, the Foundation will:

1. Conduct an initial review to assess the severity.

2. Take immediate steps to protect the child involved.

3. Inform appropriate authorities (e.g., child welfare services or law enforcement), if required by law.

4. Document the incident and actions taken.

5. Support the affected child and family throughout the process.

8. Education & Training

All staff and volunteers are required to undergo child protection training annually. Refresher training and policy reviews will be conducted periodically.

9. Confidentiality

All child protection matters are treated with strict confidentiality. Only those directly involved in the response process will have access to sensitive information.

10. Monitoring & Review

This policy will be reviewed annually or as needed to comply with legal requirements and improve our practices. Feedback from children, families, and team members will inform updates.

Contact Information

Bodice Charity Foundation
Email: hello@bodicefoundation.com
Phone: +234 906 363 9914
Address: Lekki Phase 1, Lagos, Nigeria.