Safeguarding Policy

Why this policy exists

TrueCourse is an app for learning to fly, and for flying clubs and schools. Some people who use it are under 18. This policy says how we keep children safe on TrueCourse, and what we do when someone is worried about a child.

Who it covers

In this policy a child is anyone under 18. Until a club or school has confirmed your date of birth, TrueCourse treats you as a child too, whatever age you entered.

The policy applies to everyone who works for TrueCourse, and to every adult who uses TrueCourse with children: instructors, and the owners and administrators of clubs and schools.

What we believe

Every child has the right to be safe from harm, and keeping children safe is everyone's job. We give every child the same care, whatever their age, disability, sex, gender identity, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation. Some children need extra care, and we will listen to them and take what they say seriously.

How TrueCourse keeps children safe

• A child can message only their own instructor, one to one, at a club or school they belong to, and only after they have agreed to it. There are no group chats for children.
• Messages are text only. No photos or files can be sent, and no web addresses in a chat that includes a child.
• Some words are not allowed. A message containing them is not sent.
• Anyone can block anyone. A blocked person cannot message you, and is not told. In a group chat, neither sees the other's messages. Only adults whose age a club has confirmed can be in a group chat.
• Anyone can report a message, a conversation or a profile. We answer a report within 24 hours when a child is involved, and within 72 hours otherwise.
• Messages are deleted after 12 months.
• Nobody at TrueCourse reads your messages, unless they have been reported or the law requires it, and every time we do, it is recorded.
• If a conversation that included a child is reported, the owner and administrators of that club or school may read a copy of what was reported. Never the live chat, and never someone who was in the conversation. Every time they do, it is recorded.

If you are worried about a child

If someone is in danger right now, call 999.

In the app, report the message, conversation or profile. You can also email us at jamie.bentley@zerobatics.com.

Childline: call 0800 1111 for free, any time of day or night, or chat online at childline.org.uk.

Worried about online sexual abuse, or the way someone has been talking to you online? You can report it to CEOP, part of the police, at ceop.police.uk.

Worried about a child? The NSPCC Helpline is 0808 800 5000, 10am to 4pm, Monday to Friday.

What we do when we are worried

We read every report ourselves. We can remove messages and stop an account from sending messages.

When we believe a child is at risk of harm, we tell the police or the National Crime Agency. We also tell the club or school's owner or administrator. If they are the person we are worried about, we tell the local council's officer for keeping children safe instead.

If you tell us something that means a child is not safe, we may have to share it with people who can help, like the police, even if you ask us not to. We share it only with the people who need to know.

The other rules that go with this policy

Our Terms of Service, Community Rules and Privacy Policy, all in this app and on our website. And our own written procedure for handling reports, which says who does what, and how fast.

Who is responsible

The person responsible for safeguarding at TrueCourse can be reached at jamie.bentley@zerobatics.com.

When it starts, and when it is checked

This policy starts on the day it is signed. We check it at least once every 12 months, and before any big change to how messages work.