Safeguarding Lead: Christopher Huckle
Contact: chris@fableforge.co.uk
Reviewed: 1 October 2026
Next Review: 1 October 2027
Fable Forge is committed to providing a safe, welcoming and enjoyable environment for everyone who takes part in its Dungeons & Dragons services, including children and young people under the age of 18.
The purpose of this policy is to explain the steps Fable Forge takes to safeguard children and young people who participate in its services, and the procedures that will be followed if a safeguarding concern arises.
Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility. Fable Forge will take concerns about the safety or welfare of a child seriously and respond appropriately.
This policy applies whenever a person under the age of 18 participates in a Fable Forge service, whether the service takes place online or in person.
It currently applies to:
Fable Forge currently provides these services online using Zoom for video and audio communication and either D&D Beyond or Foundry VTT for virtual tabletop and game-related activities.
Fable Forge currently has one Dungeon Master and one trainer. This policy will be reviewed if additional staff, freelancers, contractors or volunteers begin working directly with children.
Bookings for participants under the age of 18 must be made by their parent or legal guardian.
The parent or guardian will remain Fable Forge's primary point of contact in relation to the child's booking and participation.
This includes:
A parent or guardian does not need to be present during the session itself unless otherwise agreed.
Parents and guardians are responsible for ensuring that the child has appropriate permission to participate and, for online sessions, has suitable equipment and an appropriate environment from which to participate.
Fable Forge will not seek to obtain the child's personal contact details for the purpose of communicating with them about bookings or services.
Under-18 participants may take part in Dungeons & Dragons games without their parent or guardian being present.
Fable Forge will maintain a minimum of two players per Dungeons & Dragons game where an under-18 is participating. Fable Forge will not provide a one-to-one Dungeons & Dragons game to an under-18 participant.
The parent or guardian will remain the primary contact for the booking and should be available to respond to communications from Fable Forge during the session where reasonably possible.
Under-18 participants may attend Dungeon Master training / consultation without their parent or guardian being present.
These sessions may be provided on a one-to-one basis.
Because one-to-one training involves direct communication between the trainer and an under-18 participant, Fable Forge will take additional steps to maintain appropriate professional boundaries and transparency.
Training will take place through Zoom and, where required, D&D Beyond or Foundry VTT.
The parent or guardian will be informed of the scheduled training and will remain the primary contact for the booking.
Where practical, the parent or guardian may be provided with information about the training arrangements and may be asked to assist with any technical or safeguarding issue that arises.
Fable Forge will not use private social-media accounts, personal messaging services or other informal communication channels to communicate with an under-18 participant about their training.
Fable Forge will:
Fable Forge will maintain appropriate professional boundaries with all under-18 participants.
In particular:
Where direct communication with a child is necessary as part of a session, particularly during one-to-one training, it will take place through the agreed Fable Forge session platform and within the context of the booked service.
Fable Forge currently provides its services online.
Sessions involving under-18 participants may use:
Fable Forge will take reasonable steps to use the privacy and security features available on these platforms.
This may include, where appropriate:
Fable Forge will not intentionally add under-18 participants to unrelated online communities, social-media groups or private messaging groups.
Fable Forge will not ask under-18 participants to communicate through personal social-media accounts.
Parents and guardians should ensure that children use an appropriate private or supervised environment when participating in an online session.
Because Dungeon Master training may be provided one-to-one to an under-18 participant, additional safeguards apply.
The parent or guardian must:
One-to-one training will take place using the agreed Fable Forge platforms and will remain focused on Dungeon Master education and related activities.
The trainer will not use one-to-one training as an opportunity to establish a personal relationship with the participant outside the service.
If a safeguarding concern arises during one-to-one training, Fable Forge may end or pause the session and contact the parent or guardian and/or an appropriate authority where necessary.
Dungeons & Dragons is a collaborative storytelling game and may involve fictional violence, frightening situations, conflict, death and other themes that may not be appropriate for every child.
Fable Forge will take the age and circumstances of participants into account when planning sessions involving under-18s.
Where an advertised session may contain themes that are unsuitable for younger participants, Fable Forge may modify the content, discuss the issue with the parent or guardian beforehand, or determine that the particular session is not suitable for the participant.
Fable Forge will not introduce sexual content or sexualised interactions involving children.
Fable Forge expects everyone participating in its services to behave respectfully.
The following behaviour is not acceptable in any session:
Where inappropriate behaviour occurs, Fable Forge may:
Fable Forge will not routinely record Dungeons & Dragons games or training sessions involving under-18 participants unless there is a specific reason to do so and appropriate arrangements have been made.
Fable Forge will not publish photographs, videos or other identifiable images of an under-18 participant for promotional purposes without appropriate parental or guardian consent.
Participants will also be expected not to record, photograph or screenshot other participants without their permission.
A safeguarding concern may arise from something observed during a session, something reported by a participant or parent, or something disclosed directly to Fable Forge.
Examples may include concerns about:
A safeguarding concern does not need to be proven before it is reported or acted upon.
If a child tells Fable Forge about something that causes concern, Fable Forge will:
The child's immediate safety will take priority.
If Fable Forge believes that a child is in immediate danger, the appropriate emergency services may be contacted.
In the UK, this may include contacting 999 where there is an immediate risk of serious harm.
Where appropriate, Fable Forge will also contact the child's parent or guardian.
Because Fable Forge provides online services, Fable Forge may need the parent or guardian to provide sufficient information to enable appropriate action to be taken in an emergency.
Parents and guardians should therefore ensure that Fable Forge has accurate contact information and any information reasonably necessary to respond to an emergency.
Fable Forge will handle personal information relating to children in accordance with its Privacy Policy.
Fable Forge will seek to minimise the personal information collected about under-18 participants and will normally communicate with their parent or guardian rather than directly with the child.
Information relating to a safeguarding concern may be recorded and shared where necessary to protect a child or comply with a legal obligation.
The Safeguarding Lead for Fable Forge is:
Christopher Huckle
Email: chris@fableforge.co.uk
As the current owner and sole DM/trainer, the Safeguarding Lead is also currently the person responsible for responding to safeguarding concerns.
The Safeguarding Lead is responsible for:
If a concern relates directly to the Safeguarding Lead, or if the Safeguarding Lead is unable to respond appropriately, the person raising the concern should contact the appropriate external safeguarding authority or emergency service.
Parents, guardians, participants and other people involved with Fable Forge are encouraged to raise any safeguarding concern as soon as possible.
Concerns can be reported to:
Fable Forge Safeguarding Lead
chris@fableforge.co.uk
If someone believes that a child is in immediate danger, they should contact the emergency services by calling 999.
Where a safeguarding concern requires involvement from children's social care, the police or another relevant authority, Fable Forge will cooperate with that authority.
Fable Forge will handle safeguarding information sensitively and will only share information with people or organisations who need to receive it for safeguarding, legal or regulatory purposes.
Safeguarding information cannot always be kept confidential. Where sharing information is necessary to protect a child from harm, Fable Forge may share relevant information with parents, guardians, children's social care, the police or other appropriate organisations.
Where a safeguarding concern is raised, Fable Forge may create a written record containing relevant information about the concern and any action taken.
Records will be kept securely and only for as long as necessary, taking account of legal, safeguarding and data-protection requirements.
Fable Forge currently has one DM and trainer.
If Fable Forge engages additional DMs, trainers, employees, freelancers, contractors or volunteers who may work directly with under-18 participants, Fable Forge will review its safeguarding arrangements before they begin working with children.
This may include appropriate identity checks, references, safeguarding training, DBS checks where applicable, supervision arrangements and other measures appropriate to the role.
No additional person will be permitted to work directly with under-18 participants until Fable Forge has considered the appropriate safeguarding requirements for their role.
Where Fable Forge provides a session at a venue, event or through another organisation, Fable Forge will take reasonable steps to understand the safeguarding arrangements that apply to the activity.
Where responsibility for safeguarding is shared with another organisation, Fable Forge will cooperate with that organisation and make clear who is responsible for responding to concerns.
Fable Forge will review its safeguarding arrangements regularly and whenever there is a significant change to the services provided.
The Safeguarding Lead will keep their knowledge of relevant safeguarding responsibilities and guidance under review and will seek appropriate training or professional advice where necessary.
This policy will be reviewed at least annually, or sooner if there is a significant change to relevant legislation, guidance, Fable Forge's services or the way in which children participate in those services.
Policy reviewed: 1 October 2026
Next scheduled review: 1 October 2027
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