Keeping young people safe

Every mentor is checked by a person

An adult cannot make themselves visible on ZongoConnect. They write a profile and send it to the Foundation, and a named member of staff reviews it and confirms their vetting before any young person can see them. Nobody is approved automatically, and approval can be withdrawn at any time.

Under 18 means a guardian decides

If you are under 18, nothing happens until a parent or guardian gives permission. They get a message with a link, they read what it involves, and they choose. They can withdraw that permission whenever they want, and messaging stops the moment they do.

Conversations are not private from us

Messages between a mentor and a young person can be read by the Foundation's safeguarding team. We say this openly to everyone before they start. Every time a staff member opens a conversation, that is recorded against their name — the people who can read your messages are themselves watched.

Messages that look like they contain a phone number, an email address, a social media handle, or a request to keep something secret are flagged for the team automatically.

Meeting in person

A mentor may never meet a young person alone. Any in-person session arranged through ZongoConnect with someone under 18 has to name another adult who will be there, and the app will not let it be booked otherwise.

No photographs

We do not store photographs of anyone. Profile pictures are drawn from initials. An image of a child is the most sensitive thing a system like this could hold, and the safest way to hold it is not to.

Telling us something is wrong

Every profile and every conversation has a report link. You do not need proof and you do not need to be sure. You can also block someone immediately, without explaining why, and they are not told.

If someone is in immediate danger, contact the police on 191 or the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit on 0800 111 222. ZongoConnect is not an emergency service.