Safeguarding Policy — Moore Than Arthritis

This Safeguarding Policy sets out our commitment to protecting children (under 18) and vulnerable adults who participate in the Moore Than Arthritis community. It applies to all volunteers, moderators, administrators, and anyone acting on behalf of Moore Than Arthritis.

Arthritis can affect people of all ages, including children and young people with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and adults whose condition or circumstances make them vulnerable. We take our duty of care to all members seriously.

Moore Than Arthritis is committed to:

• Providing a safe, welcoming environment for all members
• Taking all safeguarding concerns seriously and acting promptly
• Treating all members with dignity and respect
• Ensuring that no member is subjected to abuse, exploitation, or harm through their participation in our community
• Working in partnership with statutory agencies where necessary

Child: Any person under the age of 18.

Vulnerable adult: A person aged 18 or over who, due to mental or physical disability, illness, age, or other circumstances, may be at risk of abuse, exploitation, or harm.

Abuse: Includes physical, emotional, sexual, and financial abuse, as well as neglect and exploitation.

Safeguarding concerns may include:

• A member disclosing abuse or harm
• Content that suggests a member is at risk of harm
• Behaviour that appears to target or groom vulnerable members
• A member expressing suicidal thoughts or intent to self-harm
• Content that exploits or sexualises children

If you have a safeguarding concern about a member of our community, please contact us immediately:

• Email: [email protected] — Subject: "Safeguarding Concern"

In an emergency where someone is in immediate danger, call 999 immediately. Do not wait to contact us first.

For non-emergency concerns about a child, you can also contact the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000.

When a safeguarding concern is reported to us, we will:

• Acknowledge the report promptly (within 24 hours)
• Assess the level of risk
• Take immediate action to protect the individual if necessary (including removing content or suspending accounts)
• Refer to statutory agencies (police, social services) where appropriate
• Keep a confidential record of the concern and actions taken

To maintain a safer online environment, Moore Than Arthritis:

• Moderates community content and removes harmful material
• Does not permit the sharing of personal contact details in public spaces
• Does not permit content that sexualises, exploits, or endangers any person
• Encourages members to report concerns without fear of judgement

Safeguarding concerns are handled with the utmost confidentiality. Information will only be shared with those who need to know in order to protect the individual concerned, or where required by law. The safety of the individual always takes precedence over confidentiality.

This policy will be reviewed annually and updated as necessary to reflect changes in legislation, guidance, or the nature of our community. The current version was adopted in January 2026.