Safeguarding Policies

AVID believes that everyone has the right to live a life free from abuse, harassment and exploitation. We are committed to upholding that right whenever it is within our power to do so and to ensuring that AVID staff and volunteers create a safe environment in their encounters with people in detention and others.

Our role, as an infrastructure body to visitor groups supporting people in immigration detention, brings a specific responsibility to inform and develop best practice which promotes the welfare of staff, volunteers and individuals with whom our members represent and come into contact. We may also receive contact from people who are in immigration detention, or their friends and family, who contact us for signposting support, often at a time of crisis. We are also increasing our efforts to shift power to people with lived experience of detention through increased involvement with our work. Should there be any concern about the safety of an adult being at risk of harm, abuse or neglect, AVID commits to taking all reasonable steps to safeguard and promote their welfare. This commitment also applies to adults at risk who encounter AVID as staff members, volunteers or members of the public.

Most of those whom AVID and AVID members meet in detention are adults, although member groups do also visit detention centres and other sites where families and children are held. We may come into contact with children or young people who dispute the age the state has assessed them as.  AVID will view these individuals as children for the purposes of our policy, although we recognise that many of the usual statutory referral routes will not be open to them.

We are committed to being transparent and accessible in our safeguarding approach. You can access our safeguarding policies below and contact us on enquiries@aviddetention.org.uk if you have any questions or concerns.

Adult Safeguarding Policy

Child Safeguarding Policy

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