Risk Assessment Policy

Walsall Community Active Projects CIC

Company number 17051741

Anti-Bullying and Harassment Policy

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1. Statement of Intent

Walsall Community Active Projects CIC is committed to creating safe, welcoming spaces where everyone is treated with respect. We do not tolerate bullying, harassment, victimisation or hate-based behaviour from anyone involved with our work, including staff, volunteers, participants, trustees, parents, carers or members of the public.

2. Definitions

• Bullying: repeated behaviour that is intended to hurt someone, physically or emotionally, often where there is a real or perceived power imbalance. Bullying can be physical, verbal, emotional, online or based on someone's identity.
• Harassment: unwanted behaviour related to a protected characteristic (under the Equality Act 2010) that creates an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment.
• Hate incidents: behaviour targeting someone because of their race, ethnicity, religion, sexuality, gender identity, disability or other characteristic.
• Cyberbullying: bullying or harassment carried out through social media, messaging, gaming platforms or other online spaces.
• Victimisation: treating someone badly because they have raised or supported a complaint about bullying, harassment or discrimination.

3. Our Commitment

We will:

• Promote a culture of respect through our Code of Conduct and our values
• Make it clear that bullying and harassment are unacceptable
• Listen carefully to anyone who raises a concern
• Investigate concerns fairly and act on what we find
• Protect anyone who reports bullying or harassment from any form of retaliation
• Support both the person affected and, where appropriate, the person whose behaviour is being challenged

4. Recognising Bullying and Harassment

Bullying and harassment can take many forms, including:

• Physical: pushing, hitting, kicking, threatening physical harm
• Verbal: name-calling, insults, mocking, threats
• Social: deliberate exclusion, spreading rumours, damaging friendships
• Identity-based: comments or behaviour targeting race, faith, gender, sexuality, disability or other characteristics
• Sexual: unwanted comments, touching or sharing of sexual images
• Online: hurtful messages, posts, photos or videos
• Coercive: pressuring someone to do something against their will

5. Bullying and Harassment Between Participants

If we become aware of bullying or harassment between participants, we will:

• Step in quickly to stop the behaviour
• Listen to the person affected and take their experience seriously
• Talk to the person whose behaviour is being challenged, with appropriate support
• Involve parents, carers and schools where appropriate
• Consider any safeguarding implications
• Agree a plan to keep everyone safe, which may include a break from sessions
• Follow up to make sure the behaviour has stopped

6. Bullying and Harassment Involving Staff, Volunteers or Trustees

Any allegation of bullying or harassment by or against a member of our team will be treated seriously. We will:

• Acknowledge the concern quickly
• Carry out a fair investigation, separate from any safeguarding referral
• Provide support to all those involved
• Take appropriate action, which may include training, mediation, a formal warning, or removal from a role

Where allegations involve possible criminal behaviour, we will work with the police.

7. Online and Social Media

We treat online bullying with the same seriousness as offline behaviour. Anyone who experiences online bullying linked to our work is encouraged to:

• Save copies of messages, posts and screenshots where they feel safe to do so
• Block the person if possible
• Report it to a staff member
• Report serious abuse to the relevant platform and, where appropriate, to the police

8. Hate Incidents

Hate-based behaviour will be challenged immediately and reported. Where the behaviour may be a criminal offence, we will support the person affected to report it to the police and access specialist support. We will keep accurate records of any hate incidents and share patterns with relevant partners while protecting the identity of those involved.

9. Support for Those Affected

We will offer:

• A confidential listening ear from a trusted staff member
• Practical changes to keep the person safe, such as different session times or supported activities
• Signposting to specialist services, including counselling, victim support or specialist advocacy
• Follow-up to make sure things are improving

10. Support for Those Whose Behaviour Has Caused Harm

Bullying and harassment often have underlying causes. Where appropriate, we will:

• Work with the person to understand the impact of their behaviour
• Provide mentoring, education or other support to help them change
• Involve parents, carers and other agencies where helpful
• Set clear expectations about future behaviour
• Use sanctions where needed, but with the goal of positive change wherever possible

11. Reporting and Recording

All concerns about bullying and harassment will be recorded. Records will be kept securely in line with our Data Protection Policy. We will review reports regularly to:

• Identify patterns and themes
• Improve prevention work
• Inform staff training
• Report to our Board

12. Prevention

We aim to prevent bullying and harassment by:

• Modelling respectful behaviour in everything we do
• Involving participants in setting ground rules
• Talking openly about respect, diversity and difference
• Using workshops, mentoring and group activities to build empathy and confidence
• Working with schools, families and partners to reinforce positive messages

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Policy Review

This policy was adopted on 14 February 2026 and will be reviewed annually, with the next scheduled review in February 2027. It will also be reviewed earlier if there are significant changes in legislation, guidance, or our activities.

All staff, volunteers and trustees will be made aware of any updates and asked to confirm they have read and understood the revised version.

Signed on behalf of the Board