Building Safer Futures: When Genuine Futures Met Safer Handling International
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Last week was a milestone moment for Genuine Futures CIC as we welcomed Safer Handling International to The Scrappers in Bolton — a visit that sparked a powerful new safeguarding partnership focused firmly on prevention, safer practice, and creating better futures for young people.
We began at The Scrappers Bolton, the home of our Young Futures Hub and a place where youth empowerment, enterprise and community collide every day. Doug was given a full tour of the yard, seeing firsthand the scale of the operation and the real-world environment where our young people grow, learn and work through our youth-led enterprise projects.
Before we stepped inside the hub, our young people took great pride in washing Doug’s van as part of their We Shine Any Car social enterprise. They worked together — buckets, soap, teamwork and focus — while Doug stood alongside them offering encouragement and words of wisdom. He reminded them of the importance of choices, confidence and recognising their own potential.
And in the middle of it all was Luis, one of our Youth Voice Ambassadors, watching the conversations unfold and reflecting in his own way.
Luis said something that stopped everyone in their tracks:
“People like us don’t normally get visitors like Doug. Most people talk about young people like we’re not even in the room. Today we were in the room — and we mattered.”
In many ways, that moment captured what this partnership is all about.
Doug even picked up a spare wheel from the yard before heading inside — a small moment that summed up the practicality and down-to-earth nature of the day.
What Safer Handling Does — and Why This Partnership Works
Safer Handling International delivers world-class safer handling training, trauma-informed de-escalation, conflict management and behaviour intervention across the UK and beyond. Their expertise supports schools, care settings, supported accommodation, housing, justice and health teams — giving frontline professionals the confidence and skills to keep young people safe without escalating risk.
When this expertise connects with Genuine Futures’ lived experience leadership, youth-led enterprise, early intervention, community outreach and digital storytelling, something unique happens:
A prevention-first safeguarding model that is rooted in safety, humanity, lived experience and young people’s voices.
This collaboration unites:
- trauma-informed practice
- lived experience and storytelling
- youth empowerment
- safer handling training
- early intervention
- inclusive safeguarding culture
- real solutions that frontline professionals can use
This is safeguarding as it should be — human, practical, preventative and powerful.
Quotes From the Day
Doug – Safer Handling International
“These young people are powerful. What you’ve built here is what prevention really looks like. When lived experience and safer practice come together, you don’t just manage behaviour — you change lives.”
Sam – Genuine Futures CIC
“Doug spoke to our young people with honesty and respect. That matters. This partnership works because we both understand one thing: young people aren’t the problem — the system is.”
Mike – Genuine Futures CIC
“Doug’s wisdom hit home. Our young people felt seen. I’ve lived the chaos myself — if I’d had someone speak to me like that at their age, things could’ve been different. That’s why this partnership is powerful.”
Luis – Youth Voice Ambassador
“We’re always talked about, but never listened to. Today felt different. Today felt like we were being heard.”
A Safeguarding Partnership with Huge Potential
We won’t reveal everything yet — some things deserve the right moment — but here’s what we can say:
A major safeguarding conference is taking shape
It will bring together lived experience, safer handling training and youth voice
Organisations across the North West will want to be involved
It will challenge outdated systems and champion prevention over punishment
It will strengthen safer communities and the way professionals approach youth safeguarding
Something real is happening — something needed, timely and important.
Thank You, Doug
A huge thank you to Doug and Safer Handling International for taking time to visit us, tour The Scrappers, meet our young people, and share wisdom that made an impact long after he left the yard.
This is just the beginning.
A new safeguarding era is coming. Stay tuned.