Safeguarding and Online Safety

Who this statement protects

Affordit’s initial audience includes people aged 16–24, including sixth-form and college learners, apprentices, university students and recent graduates. Users aged 16 and 17 are children for safeguarding purposes.

The same safety principles also support adults who may be vulnerable because of financial distress, disability, coercion, homelessness or another circumstance.

Designing for younger users

Affordit is designed for users aged 16–24, including children aged 16 and 17. We use age-appropriate language, minimise data, avoid manipulative design and maintain a safeguarding escalation process.

Product reviews consider the best interests of younger users, privacy-protective defaults, the necessity of data collection and whether commercial or behavioural nudges could create unfair pressure.

Online-safety approach

Product reviews consider risks from external links, automated interactions, scams, harmful financial content, coercive control and inappropriate commercial targeting. New community or messaging features would require a separate safeguarding assessment before launch.

Direct messaging between staff and learners through personal accounts is not part of the service. Any future community, messaging or peer feature would require a new risk assessment and moderation model.

Financial and commercial safeguards

Affordit avoids false urgency, shame and pressure. Commercial content must be labelled and cannot change a calculation, score or verdict.

The product must not target under-18 users with high-cost credit, gambling, unsuitable crypto or investment offers, or another manipulative financial promotion.

How concerns are handled

A concern should be recorded factually and routed promptly to the designated safeguarding owner. Institution-specific safeguarding contacts may be collected during partner onboarding where a learner journey requires them.

Affordit should only collect the information needed to understand and route the concern. Safeguarding records are restricted and are not published through the Trust Centre.

Reporting concerns

Affordit is not an emergency service. Where someone appears to be in immediate danger, emergency services should be contacted. Other concerns can be reported through the monitored Affordit support route.

Limits of this public statement

The detailed safeguarding procedure, concern records, emergency contacts and institution-specific escalation arrangements are restricted documents. They are shared only where necessary and under appropriate controls.