Safeguarding Statement

Our commitment

Roads to Recovery CIC (R2R) works with adults who are often in fragile moments of their lives — leaving prison, stepping out of active addiction, or rebuilding after long periods of instability. We take the responsibility that comes with that seriously.

We are committed to delivering New Roads Ahead in a way that is psychologically safe, physically safe, and trauma-informed. Everyone we work with — participants, staff, volunteers, referrers, and partners — has the right to be treated with respect, dignity, and honesty, and to be protected from harm while in our care.

Who this applies to

This statement applies to:

• Participants on the New Roads Ahead programme
• R2R facilitators, staff, and volunteers
• Activity partners and the people who deliver sessions on our behalf
• Referring organisations and anyone interacting with R2R on a participant's behalf

Who we do not accept

We also reserve the right to decline or pause participation where there is a current, unmanaged risk of serious harm to self or others that we are not equipped to safely hold within the programme. Where that happens, we aim to signpost to services that are better placed — we do not simply close the door.

Trauma-informed delivery

We deliver the programme with clear boundaries built into the structure of every session:

• No war stories. We don't glorify offending, drug use, violence, or prison time. Facilitators share the lesson, not the whole story.
• Consent to share. No one is forced to speak. Participants choose what they share and when.
• Room agreement — stated at the start of every session: no judging, no advice-giving, no criticism, respect for different experiences, and what's said in the room stays in the room (within safety limits).
• Safe language. We use plain, non-clinical, strength-based language. No shaming. No labelling.
• Predictable structure. Every session follows the same shape so people know what's coming and can settle into the room.

Key people and roles

Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)

The DSL at R2R is the founder, Richard Lawrence. The DSL is responsible for:

• Receiving and responding to safeguarding concerns
• Deciding whether to escalate to local authority, probation, or police
• Keeping a safeguarding log
• Ensuring all facilitators and volunteers are inducted in safeguarding
• Reviewing this statement annually

Facilitators and volunteers

• Have an enhanced DBS check appropriate to their role
• Have lived experience that is used responsibly — to model accountability and change, not to perform or entertain
• Are inducted on safeguarding, confidentiality, the limits of the programme, and what to escalate
• Are supervised and supported by the DSL

What we do not do

Being clear about what the programme is not is part of keeping people safe:

• R2R is not a clinical service. We do not provide therapy, counselling, or medication advice.
• We do not replace statutory services — probation, VIA, GP, mental health teams remain in place.
• We do not offer crisis or emergency response. If someone is in immediate danger, we support them to contact the appropriate emergency service.
• We do not give legal advice, benefits advice, or housing advice. We signpost to people who do.

Raising a safeguarding concern

If you have a safeguarding concern — about a participant, a member of staff, a volunteer, or R2R's practice — please raise it. Concerns are taken seriously, recorded, and investigated proportionately.

In an emergency

If someone is in immediate danger — to themselves or others — call 999. Do not wait to report it to us first.

Other numbers that may help:

• Samaritans — 116 123 (24/7, free)
• NHS 111 — urgent but non-emergency health concerns
• Gloucestershire Adult Safeguarding — 01452 426868
• Gloucestershire Children's Safeguarding (MASH) — 01452 426565

Confidentiality and its limits

We keep what is shared in the programme confidential. There are three situations where we will share information without consent:

• A participant or someone else is at immediate risk of serious harm
• A child or vulnerable adult is at risk
• We are required to share information by law (for example, a court order or a probation reporting requirement the participant has already signed up to)

Where we can, we talk to the participant first and tell them what we intend to do and why.

Partner and activity sessions

When participants go out to partner sessions (mountain biking, kayaking, gym, wellbeing), we expect the partner to operate to an equivalent safeguarding standard. We agree this in writing before a partnership starts. An R2R facilitator is present or reachable during partner-led activity sessions where needed.

Review

This statement is reviewed at least annually, and always after any significant incident. The next review date is shown at the top of this page.

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