Mish Mash Publications Ltd engages with young audiences through the online display of creative work submitted by children, but we do not work with children directly. We recognise that even indirect engagement requires a strong commitment to safeguarding and online safety. This statement outlines the steps we have taken to protect young contributors and ensure the safe management of content on our platform.

Consent and Content Management

All creative work published on our website is submitted through a parent, guardian, or responsible adult acting on behalf of the child. No child is permitted to submit content directly. Prior to publication, a signed parental consent form is required, which outlines the nature of the submission, how the content will be used, and the rights retained by the contributor. We only feature first names (or pseudonyms where preferred) and avoid sharing any identifying information such as school names, addresses, or locations.

Submissions are manually reviewed and moderated by a named member of staff before any content is published publicly. Any material deemed inappropriate or that raises safeguarding concerns is escalated and recorded according to our internal safeguarding procedure.

Communication and Access

Mish Mash Publications does not offer any form of direct communication between the platform and children. There are no live messaging features, open comments, or peer-to-peer interaction available. Any contact or discussion relating to a submission takes place exclusively with the responsible adult who submitted it.

Our platform is designed to be accessed by parents, educators, or community facilitators. Where appropriate, we encourage submissions from youth groups or schools under adult supervision. Children do not hold individual accounts or have editing access to content once published.

Safeguarding Oversight and Escalation

A named Safeguarding Lead is in place to oversee all digital safeguarding responsibilities. Should any concern arise—whether through a submission, communication, or public interaction—we follow a clear and structured escalation process. This includes recording the concern, assessing risk, and referring to local safeguarding services or the relevant authority when necessary. Our team is trained to identify signs of distress or potential harm based on both content and communication patterns, even when engagement is indirect.

Commitment to Best Practice

Our safeguarding approach is aligned with national guidance, including NSPCC and CPSU recommendations, and reflects Arts Council England’s requirement for appropriate safeguarding policies to be in place and active. We are committed to ongoing review and development of these policies and will update them to reflect any new risks, expectations, or technological changes.

Mish Mash Publications is also aware that the digital nature of our project does not exempt us from safeguarding responsibility. We consider it our duty to ensure a safe, secure, and supportive environment for both the children whose work we showcase and the families or organisations who support them.