Rethinking Safeguarding: A Psychology-Focused Research Opportunity

Are you passionate about protecting young people and interested in how psychology can influence policy and practice? This research project invites you to critically explore how current safeguarding systems often fail to prevent harm—and instead respond only after harm has occurred.

What’s the issue? Traditional safeguarding policies tend to be reactive. They intervene after harm is experienced, rather than preventing it in the first place. This project challenges that approach and asks:

• Why do current safeguarding practices wait for harm before acting?
• Where (outside of family settings) are young people most at risk—and why?
• How can we reimagine safeguarding to be truly preventative?
• What role can education and community engagement play in protecting young people earlier?

Why it matters:

• You'll explore how psychological insights can inform better safeguarding strategies.
• You'll examine real-world case reviews and inquiries (like the Sheldon Report and IICSA) to understand systemic failures.
• You'll contribute to developing educational tools and community-based practices that promote early intervention.

What you’ll gain:

• Experience in community engagement with local sports clubs and youth organisations.
• A deeper understanding of how psychological theory connects to policy and practice.
• The chance to influence how safeguarding could evolve to better protect vulnerable young people.

Key resources:

• Keeping Children Safe in Education 2024
• NSPCC library catalogue
• Clive Sheldon Report - QC’s independent report into allegations of non-recent child sexual abuse in football
• IICSA: Report of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse

Within this project you will work have the opportunity to develop Community Engagement, in local sports clubs and community organisations.

Sustainable Development Goals

SDGs: 3 Good Health and Wellbeing, 4 Quality Education; 5 Gender Equality; and 16: Peace Justice and Strong Institutions.

Academic Director

Joy Cranham, Department of Education

Who can apply?

This VIP welcomes applications from all University of Bath students.

Applications for Semester 1 AY2526 will open in June 2025.

Project Updates

This is a new project for AY2526