Our Policies
| Safeguarding, Compliance, EDI and Privacy Policy|
The Humanitas Initiative

Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults

1. Statement of Intent

The Humanitas Initiative is committed to providing a safe and secure environment for all participants. We believe that every individual has the right to be protected from harm, regardless of their background or identity. This policy outlines the procedures we follow to ensure the safety of children and vulnerable adults during our workshops and consultancy sessions.

2. Code of Behavior

• Professional Conduct: I will maintain professional boundaries at all times.

• Supervision: All workshop sessions involving minors will be conducted in the presence of a staff member from the hosting organization or a verified professional.

• Communication: All professional interactions and scheduling will be conducted via official email to maintain a transparent record.

3. Procedures for Reporting Concerns

• Observation: I will remain vigilant for any signs of physical, emotional, or psychological harm.

• Recording: Any disclosure or incident will be recorded factually and immediately in a private incident log.

• Referral: I will report any concerns directly to the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) of the partner organization or relevant local authorities without delay.

4. Recruitment and Training

• Vetting: I will maintain an up-to-date Enhanced AccessNI check.

• Training: I am committed to regular safeguarding training to ensure compliance with Northern Ireland's regional standards.

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI)

Our Commitment

• The Humanitas Initiative is dedicated to fostering a community where diversity is celebrated and integration is an active, ongoing conversation. We are committed to dismantling prejudice and promoting cultural intelligence across the Causeway Coast and Glens borough.

  The "Oops Lab" Framework

• To achieve our mission, we utilize the "Oops Lab" methodology in all our facilitated workshops. This approach ensures equality by:

• Normalizing Mistakes: We create a safe space where participants can navigate cultural "Oops" moments without the fear of judgment.

• Psychological Safety: We ensure that every participant, regardless of their cultural or ethnic background, feels empowered to speak and be heard.

• Shared Wisdom: We use the "Wisdom Harvest" to identify shared values and proverbs, bridging the gap between international experiences and local Northern Ireland traditions.

  Inclusive Delivery

• Accessible Content: We ensure our curriculum and workshops are delivered in a way that is accessible to people of all abilities and backgrounds.

• Venue Neutrality: We work with hosting organizations to ensure that all sessions take place in neutral, safe, and physically accessible environments.

• Language Awareness: We use clear communication strategies to support participants for whom English is an additional language.

  Zero Tolerance

• While we encourage open dialogue through the "Oops Lab," we maintain a zero tolerance policy for intentional harassment, hate speech, or discriminatory behavior.

Health and Safety

1. Statement of General Policy

The Humanitas Initiative recognizes its responsibility to provide a safe and healthy environment for all workshop participants and partners. Our goal is to prevent accidents and maintain a professional standard of delivery in every community space we occupy.

2. Risk Assessment Procedures

• Site Inspections: Before delivering a workshop (such as the 6-week program for 20+ people), I will conduct a visual risk assessment of the venue.

• Hazard Identification: I will identify potential risks, such as trip hazards from equipment (projector cables) or blocked fire exits.

• Mitigation: I will take immediate action to minimize risks, such as using cable covers for the projector or ensuring the "Hosting Organization" has briefed me on fire assembly points.

3. Managing Group Safety

• Capacity Control: We will adhere to the maximum occupancy limits of any venue we use to ensure the safety of participants.

• Participant Briefing: At the start of every "Oops Lab" session, participants will be informed of the nearest exits and any specific safety rules of the building.

• Incident Reporting: Any accidents or "near misses" will be recorded in an official accident book, and the "Hosting Organization" will be notified immediately.

4. Specialist Equipment Safety

• Electrical Safety: Any equipment purchased through the Enterprise Fund (laptop, projector) will be maintained in good working order.

• Manual Handling: Care will be taken when transporting the "mobile workshop" setup to ensure personal safety and the safety of those nearby.

Conflict of Interest

1. Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to protect the integrity of The Humanitas Initiative’s decision-making process and to enable our partners and funders to have confidence in our integrity.

2. Defining Conflict of Interest

A conflict of interest arises when the personal interests of the Director or a connected person (such as a family member) could influence, or be perceived to influence, business decisions. This includes:

• Financial Interests: Receiving a personal financial benefit from a business transaction.

• 
  Personal Relationships: Awarding contracts or business to friends or family members without a transparent procurement process.
  
  

3. Disclosure and Management

• 
  Declaration: I am committed to declaring any potential conflicts of interest to partners or funders (such as the Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council) as soon as they arise.
  
  

• 
  Procurement Integrity: When purchasing equipment through grants like the Enterprise Fund, I will follow official procurement guidelines, ensuring that quotes are obtained from independent suppliers and that no related-party transactions occur without explicit approval.
  
  

• Record Keeping: A "Register of Interests" will be maintained to document any declared conflicts and the actions taken to manage them.
  

4. Gift and Hospitality

To maintain professional "Director Energy," I will not accept gifts or hospitality that could be perceived as influencing my professional judgment or the delivery of Humanitas workshops.

Project Description: The Humanitas Initiative Specialist Facilitation Kit

The Humanitas Initiative is a social enterprise dedicated to fostering active integration and social cohesion through cultural intelligence workshops. This project seeks funding to procure a "Specialist Facilitation Kit"—including a high-specification laptop, portable projector, and digital audio equipment—to enable the delivery of our signature "Oops Lab" curriculum.

Currently, our capacity to reach larger audiences is limited by a lack of dedicated technical infrastructure. This equipment will allow us to transition from small-group discussions to high-impact, 20+ person workshops within schools and community halls across the borough. By utilizing professional visual aids and digital storytelling, we can more effectively facilitate our "Wisdom Harvest" sessions, which bridge the gap between international cultural narratives and local Northern Ireland traditions.

The immediate application of this kit will be the delivery of a 6-week "Active Integration" pilot program. This equipment ensures that The Humanitas Initiative can operate as a fully mobile, professional consultancy, meeting the high standards required by "Pastoral Care" departments and regional partners. This investment is the final bridge needed to scale our impact, moving from a localized pilot to a borough-wide service that promotes a more empathetic and resilient community.

Privacy Policy

The Humanitas Initiative website is owned by Humanitas Initiative, which is a data controller of your personal data.

We have adopted this Privacy Policy, which determines how we are processing the information collected by The Humanitas Initiative, which also provides the reasons why we must collect certain personal data about you. Therefore, you must read this Privacy Policy before using The Humanitas Initiative website.

We take care of your personal data and undertake to guarantee its confidentiality and security.

Personal information we collect:

When you visit the The Humanitas Initiative, we automatically collect certain information about your device, including information about your web browser, IP address, time zone, and some of the installed cookies on your device. Additionally, as you browse the Site, we collect information about the individual web pages or products you view, what websites or search terms referred you to the Site, and how you interact with the Site. We refer to this automatically-collected information as “Device Information.” Moreover, we might collect the personal data you provide to us (including but not limited to Name, Surname, Address, payment information, etc.) during registration to be able to fulfill the agreement.

Why do we process your data?

Our top priority is customer data security, and, as such, we may process only minimal user data, only as much as it is absolutely necessary to maintain the website. Information collected automatically is used only to identify potential cases of abuse and establish statistical information regarding website usage. This statistical information is not otherwise aggregated in such a way that it would identify any particular user of the system.

You can visit the website without telling us who you are or revealing any information, by which someone could identify you as a specific, identifiable individual. If, however, you wish to use some of the website’s features, or you wish to receive our newsletter or provide other details by filling a form, you may provide personal data to us, such as your email, first name, last name, city of residence, organization, telephone number. You can choose not to provide us with your personal data, but then you may not be able to take advantage of some of the website’s features. For example, you won’t be able to receive our Newsletter or contact us directly from the website. Users who are uncertain about what information is mandatory are welcome to contact us via [email protected].

Your rights:

If you are a European resident, you have the following rights related to your personal data:

• The right to be informed.

• The right of access.

• The right to rectification.

• The right to erasure.

• The right to restrict processing.

• The right to data portability.

• The right to object.

• Rights in relation to automated decision-making and profiling.

If you would like to exercise this right, please contact us through the contact information below.

Additionally, if you are a European resident, we note that we are processing your information in order to fulfill contracts we might have with you (for example, if you make an order through the Site), or otherwise to pursue our legitimate business interests listed above. Additionally, please note that your information might be transferred outside of Europe, including Canada and the United States.

Links to other websites:

Our website may contain links to other websites that are not owned or controlled by us. Please be aware that we are not responsible for such other websites or third parties' privacy practices. We encourage you to be aware when you leave our website and read the privacy statements of each website that may collect personal information.

Information security:

We secure information you provide on computer servers in a controlled, secure environment, protected from unauthorized access, use, or disclosure. We keep reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect against unauthorized access, use, modification, and personal data disclosure in its control and custody. However, no data transmission over the Internet or wireless network can be guaranteed.

Legal disclosure:

We will disclose any information we collect, use or receive if required or permitted by law, such as to comply with a subpoena or similar legal process, and when we believe in good faith that disclosure is necessary to protect our rights, protect your safety or the safety of others, investigate fraud, or respond to a government request.

Contact information:

If you would like to contact us to understand more about this Policy or wish to contact us concerning any matter relating to individual rights and your Personal Information, you may send an email to [email protected].