The Purpose and Scope of this Code of Conduct

Future Asset is part of Didasko Education Company Limited (“we”) is a charity registered in Scotland Didasko’s mission is to improve the understanding of finance, investment and economics. We achieve this by working with a range of groups – including schools, universities, charities and businesses – funded by our courses and other revenue generating activities We are a charitable company led by a volunteer Board of Directors.

Didasko Education Company Limited runs two projects specifically targeted at adults, Advanced Valuation in Financial Markets course and The Library of Mistakes, and two programmes, Future Asset and Leavers’ Money Skills, which work with young people in Scottish secondary schools.

• Advanced Valuation in Financial Markets is an intensive two-and-a-half-day course for adults focused on lessons from financial history.
• The Library of Mistakes promotes the study of financial history and is located in central Edinburgh.
• Future Asset develops and delivers materials, resources and events for secondary school students in Scotland and their teachers and advisers. Activities are delivered by a small staff team and volunteers from the investment management sector. Activities include:
  • Events for school students and teachers
  • National investment competition in which teams of school students are linked with volunteer coaches
  • Online and in-person talks and workshops delivered by staff and volunteers
• Leavers‘ Money Skills offers free, impartial financial education workshops to 16-18 year olds in schools across Edinburgh, the Lothians and Borders.

Purpose

This Code of Conduct outlines the behaviour Future Asset (Didasko Education Company Limited) expects from all our staff and volunteers. This includes trustees, volunteers, interns, students on work placement and anyone who is undertaking duties for the organisation, whether paid or unpaid.

The Code of Conduct aims to help us protect children and young people under the age of 18 years from abuse and reduce the possibility of unfounded allegations being made.

Future Asset (Didasko Education Company Limited) is responsible for making sure everyone taking part in our services has seen, understood and agreed to follow the Code of Conduct, and that they understand the consequences of inappropriate behaviour.

The Role of Staff and Volunteers

In your role at Future Asset (Didasko Education Company Limited) you are acting in a position of authority and have a duty of care towards the children and young people we work with. You are likely to be seen as a role model and are expected to act appropriately.

Responsibility

You are responsible for:

• prioritising the welfare of children and young people
• providing a safe environment for children and young people
• ensuring equipment is used safely and for its intended purpose
• having an awareness of issues to do with safeguarding and child protection and taking action when appropriate.
• following our principles, policies and procedures including on child protection / safeguarding, whistleblowing and online safety
• staying within the law at all times
• modelling good behaviour for children and young people to follow
• challenging all unacceptable behaviour and reporting any breaches of the Code of Conduct to the Future Asset CEO.
• reporting all concerns about abusive behaviour, following our safeguarding and child protection procedures. This includes behaviour being displayed by an adult or child and directed at anybody of any age.

Rights

You should:

• treat children and young people fairly and without prejudice or discrimination
• understand that children and young people are individuals with individual needs
• respect differences in sex, sexual orientation, culture, race, ethnicity, disability and religious belief systems, and appreciate that all participants bring something valuable and different to the group / organisation
• challenge discrimination and prejudice
• encourage young people and adults to speak out about attitudes or behaviour that makes them uncomfortable.

Relationships

You should:

• promote relationships that are based on openness, honesty, trust and respect
• avoid favouritism
• be patient with others
• exercise caution when you are discussing sensitive issues with children or young people
• ensure your contact with children and young people is appropriate and relevant to the work of the project you are involved in
• ensure that whenever possible, there is more than one adult present during activities with children and young people
• if a situation arises where you are alone with a child or young person, ensure that you are within sight or hearing of other adults.
• if a child specifically asks for or needs some individual time with you, ensure other staff or volunteers know where you and the child are.
• only provide personal care in an emergency and make sure there is more than one adult present if possible.

Respect

You should:

• listen to and respect children at all times
• value and take children’s contributions seriously, actively involving them wherever possible
• respect a young person’s right to personal privacy as far as possible
• if you need to break confidentiality in order to follow child protection procedures, it is important to explain this to the child or young person at the earliest opportunity.

Unacceptable behaviour

When working with children and young people, you must not:

• allow concerns or allegations to go unreported
• take unnecessary risks
• smoke, consume alcohol or use illegal substances
• develop inappropriate relationships with children and young people
• make inappropriate promises to children and young people
• engage in behaviour that is in any way abusive including having any form of sexual contact with a child or young person.
• let children and young people have your personal contact details (mobile number, email or postal address) or have contact with them via a personal social media account
• act in a way that can be perceived as threatening or intrusive
• patronise or belittle children and young people
• make sarcastic, insensitive, derogatory or sexually suggestive comments or gestures to or in front of children and young people.

Upholding this Code of Conduct

You should always follow this Code of Conduct and never rely on your reputation or that of our organisation to protect you.

If you have behaved inappropriately, you will be subject to our disciplinary procedures. Depending on the seriousness of the situation, you may be asked to leave Future Asset (Didasko Education Limited). We may also make a report to statutory agencies such as the police and/or the local authority child protection services.

If you become aware of any breaches of this code, you must report them to the Future Asset Programme Manager.  If necessary, you should follow our Child Protection and Safeguarding policy and procedures.

Contacts

Nominated Child Protection Lead

Name:   Helen Bradley

Email:    helen@futureasset.org.uk            Phone: (+44) 7932 072 840

Nominated Board Member with responsibility for Child Protection

Name:   Tony Foster

Email:     tony@didaskoeducation.org

We are committed to reviewing our policy and good practice annually.

Code of Conduct updated: 3 June 2024

Future Asset is supported by asset management and financial services firms in Scotland who are committed to informing young women about opportunities and improving diversity in the sector.

Future Asset is a division of Didasko Education Company Limited www.didaskoeducation.org.uk

Company registration Number: 352872                 Scottish Charity Number: SC040205

www.futureasset.org.uk               info@futureasset.org.uk