Safeguarding Policy

1. Our Commitment

Pilot Training Mentoring is committed to providing a safe, respectful and professional learning environment for aspiring pilots and aviation enthusiasts. The website is primarily intended as an educational, mentoring and networking resource for older teenagers and adults who are exploring opportunities within aviation. We recognise that younger people may also access the information provided and we are committed to promoting their safety and wellbeing. We believe that safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and we seek to maintain appropriate professional boundaries in all interactions.

2. Intended Audience

The majority of mentoring, networking and career-development activities offered through Pilot Training Mentoring are intended for individuals who are sufficiently mature to participate independently in professional networking environments. Where younger users access the website:

• Educational resources may be viewed and used for learning purposes.
• We encourage parents, guardians, teachers or other responsible adults to support and supervise younger users when engaging with aviation career-planning activities.
• The website is not intended to replace parental, educational or professional supervision.
• Pilot Training Mentoring cannot monitor or supervise users in their home, school or other environments.

3. Contact with Minors

Pilot Training Mentoring seeks to minimise direct one-to-one interaction with children and younger minors. As a general principle:

• Mentoring activities are primarily intended for individuals who are old enough to participate independently in professional networking platforms and career-development communities.
• Private communications with minors will be limited wherever reasonably possible.
• Group-based activities, webinars and educational events are preferred over one-to-one interactions.
• Where direct engagement with a younger participant is necessary, a parent, guardian, teacher or responsible adult should be informed and encouraged to be involved.
• Communications should remain professional, educational and directly related to aviation learning and career development.

Pilot Training Mentoring does not provide counselling, therapy, childcare, supervision or welfare services.

4. Webinars, Events and Online Sessions

To help promote a safe environment:

• Webinars and group sessions are hosted in a professional educational context.
• Sessions are normally conducted in group settings rather than private environments.
• Participants are expected to behave respectfully and appropriately.
• Any participant who engages in inappropriate, abusive, discriminatory, harassing or unsafe behaviour may be removed from an event and/or denied future participation.
• Where recordings are made, participants will be informed in advance.

The principal host of webinars and events is a registered STEM Ambassador who undergoes regular criminal-record checks in accordance with, as a minimum, STEM Ambassador programme requirements.

5. Professional Boundaries

Pilot Training Mentoring maintains clear professional boundaries with all participants. We will not:

• Engage in inappropriate personal relationships with participants.
• Request unnecessary personal information from minors. In certain circumstances, participants may voluntarily provide documents such as CVs or résumés when requesting mentoring, application or formatting assistance. Such information will only be requested where reasonably necessary to provide the requested guidance. Any personal information received will be treated confidentially, used solely for the purpose of providing mentoring support, and will not be shared with third parties except where required by law. Personal information and documents will be stored only on appropriately secured, password-protected systems and retained only for as long as reasonably necessary to provide the requested assistance, after which they will be deleted where practicable. Pilot Training Mentoring will take reasonable steps to protect personal information and to assist participants in a professional, supportive and responsible manner.
• Encourage secrecy between a young person and their parent, guardian or responsible adult.
• Use mentoring activities for any purpose unrelated to aviation education, career guidance or professional development.

6. Reporting Concerns

If any user, parent, guardian, teacher or participant has concerns regarding safety, inappropriate conduct or safeguarding matters connected with Pilot Training Mentoring activities, they should contact us promptly using the contact form or through any contact methods provided on this website. Concerns will be reviewed and appropriate action taken where necessary. Where there is reason to believe that a child or vulnerable person may be at risk of harm, Pilot Training Mentoring reserves the right to report concerns to relevant authorities, safeguarding organisations or law-enforcement agencies where legally appropriate.

7. User Responsibilities

Parents, guardians, schools and responsible adults remain responsible for supervising children in their care. Users under the age of 18 should:

• Seek guidance from a parent, guardian, teacher or responsible adult when participating in aviation career-development activities.
• Avoid sharing personal information publicly.
• Report any behaviour that makes them feel uncomfortable or unsafe.

8. Policy Review

This Safeguarding Policy will be reviewed periodically and updated as necessary to reflect changes in law, guidance and the activities offered by Pilot Training Mentoring.

Respectful Conduct and Anti-Bullying

Bullying, harassment, intimidation, discrimination, exclusionary behaviour, or any form of abusive conduct will not be tolerated in any Pilot Training Mentoring group, webinar, online discussion, event, or communication channel.

All participants are expected to treat others with respect, courtesy and professionalism, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, nationality, disability, religion, sexual orientation, aviation experience, or career stage. Any individual who engages in bullying, harassment, threatening behaviour, hate speech, persistent disruption, inappropriate conduct, or behaviour that negatively impacts the safety and wellbeing of others may be removed from the relevant group, event, webinar, or platform without notice. Serious incidents may result in a permanent ban from participation in Pilot Training Mentoring activities. Participants who experience or witness inappropriate behaviour are encouraged to report their concerns promptly so that appropriate action can be taken.

Identity, Representation and Usernames

Participants must represent themselves accurately and honestly at all times. Users must not falsely claim, imply, or misrepresent that they are employed by, affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of any airline, aviation organisation, training provider, regulator, employer, or other company unless they are genuinely authorised to do so. Usernames, profile names, biographies and other identifying information must not be misleading. In particular, participants should not include the name of an airline, aviation organisation, employer or other company in a manner that could reasonably suggest an official relationship, employment status or endorsement where none exists. This requirement is especially important for younger participants and aspiring pilots, who may not yet hold professional positions within the aviation industry. Pilot Training Mentoring reserves the right to request clarification regarding a participant's identity, experience or affiliation. Any participant who falsely represents their status, qualifications, employment, affiliations or authority, or who uses a misleading username or profile, may be required to amend their details or may be removed from relevant groups, events, platforms or activities without notice.

Disclaimer

Any advice, guidance, mentoring, webinar content or career information is provided for general educational purposes only and should not be relied upon as the sole basis for training, licensing, medical, financial or career decisions. Pilot Training Mentoring is an independent educational and mentoring initiative and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of any airline, training provider, regulator, aviation authority or employer unless explicitly stated.

Participation in Pilot Training Mentoring does not create any employment relationship, instructor-student relationship, agency relationship, fiduciary relationship, or guarantee of future employment, training placement, scholarship, sponsorship, interview or airline selection outcome.