This is the public summary of THE WALK's safeguarding framework, aligned to UNICEF child-safeguarding standards and the Keeping Children Safe standards. The full policy is available to venues, partners and authorities on request.
Positioning
THE WALK is promotion and prevention — community support, not therapy or clinical treatment. It claims no clinical benefit and never replaces professional care.
Trained, accountable hosts
Every host is a trained coach who completes the Facilitator module — circle flow, non-interpretation, distress response, referral — before their city goes live. Accreditation can be revoked.
Referral, at every site
No city appears on the site before its host names a verified local mental-health referral contact. Helpline information is available at every walk.
Youth editions — a separate, gated track
Anything involving under-18s runs under a separate youth protocol: vetting and background checks, the two-adult rule, parental consent and youth assent, and dedicated training. Hosts cannot run youth editions under the general standard.
Consent and the image
No photograph of a participant without prior, explicit, revocable consent — and never of a minor without verified guardian consent plus the young person's own assent.
Reporting
A confidential channel to the global safeguarding lead exists for participants, hosts and venues; every report is logged, acted on and escalated where required by law.