Imagine being a student who has witnessed bullying, experienced harassment or noticed something that doesn't feel right.
You know your school, college or university has a reporting system. You've seen the posters, attended the assemblies and heard the message: If something happens, speak up.
When the moment comes, a different set of questions takes over:
Who will actually read my report? Will they tell anyone I've spoken up? What happens if the person I'm reporting finds out? Will someone do something about it? Will anyone even believe me?
These are not small questions.
For someone deciding whether to raise a concern, they can make the difference between speaking up and staying silent.
Making reporting accessible is important - making it trustworthy is what gives it real value.
The Four Things That Make Reporting Feel Credible
1. Confidentiality: Knowing Who Will See Your Concern
People need to understand who can access their information, how it will be used and when it may need to be shared for safeguarding reasons.
Confidentiality should be explained clearly, not promised absolutely.
2. Visible Ownership: Knowing Someone Is Responsible
A credible system makes clear who receives reports, who assesses them and how concerns are escalated.
Reporting should never feel like sending information into an unidentified inbox.
3. Feedback: Knowing What Happens Next
Where safe and appropriate, students should receive acknowledgement, information about next steps and updates within the limits of confidentiality.
Silence can easily be mistaken for inaction.
4. Confidence in Action: Knowing Concerns Will Be Taken Seriously
People need reassurance that reports will be assessed fairly, that their wellbeing matters and that they will not be dismissed simply because an issue appears minor or is difficult to prove.
Five Practical Ways To Build Reporting Confidence
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Don't assume you know the barriers. Fear of consequences, uncertainty about confidentiality, difficulty accessing the system and previous experiences may all play a part.
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Make it clear who receives concerns, what happens next, whether anonymous reporting is available and what information may need to be shared.
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Some students prefer talking face-to-face. Others feel more comfortable starting with a digital form or a trusted member of staff. Different routes should lead into the appropriate safeguarding process.
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Explain what updates those who report concerns/incident can reasonably expect. Where individual updates aren't possible, communicate general improvements made in response to their concerns without revealing confidential information.
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Measure awareness, perceived confidentiality, accessibility, confidence and satisfaction with responses - not simply the number of reports received.
Technology That Supports Speaking Up : Where imabi Fits In
We recognise that speaking up can be difficult, particularly for children and young people who fear embarrassment, retaliation or not being believed.
Through our national safeguarding and community safety platform, we support organisations, local authorities, education providers and community partners in making safety information, engagement and reporting routes more accessible.
The imabi platform brings together tools that can help people raise concerns, share experiences and access relevant guidance:
For individuals, this can mean having an accessible way to share information about safety concerns or harmful behaviour
For organisations, it can mean gaining a better understanding of the issues people are experiencing and identifying where communication, prevention or support may need strengthening
Through imabi Travel Guardian, we aim to make that process a little easier by bringing trusted reporting routes and support information together in one accessible place.
Users can find direct links to established services including Crimestoppers, which enables anonymous crime reporting; Fearless, which provides young people with a way to share information about crime anonymously, StreetSafe, which allows people to highlight public spaces where they feel unsafe, and more.
Alongside these services, Travel Guardian's Your Voice feature gives individuals an opportunity to share their experiences and perspectives, helping build a clearer picture of the issues affecting everyday community safety.
Each of these routes serves a different purpose, but together they give people more choice over how and where they raise concerns.
Technology can provide a route for someone to speak up - the organisation receiving that information remains responsible for how it is reviewed, managed and acted upon.