Why Cultural Care Is a Safeguarding Priority

In 2025, cultural competence is no longer a “nice-to-have” within education and care settings it is a safeguarding requirement. As the UK continues to diversify, organisations must demonstrate that they can meet the cultural, identity and wellbeing needs of the children they serve. For Black and mixed-heritage children, cultural care directly impacts safety, self-esteem, mental health and their ability to thrive in education and social environments.

Cultural Care and Safeguarding: The Statutory Link

The Equality Act 2010 makes it clear that organisations must not discriminate — directly or indirectly — on the basis of race, hair type or cultural expression.

This includes:

• Policies that disproportionately impact Black children, such as restrictive hair rules

• Practices that fail to recognise or meet culturally specific care needs

• Environments that do not support identity, belonging or positive racial representation

When cultural needs are ignored or misunderstood, it can amount to discrimination or contribute to a hostile or unsafe experience for the child.

According to the World Afro Day The Hair Equality Report, 46% of children with Afro-textured hair have experienced hair-based discrimination in school, with many reporting that it affected their confidence and sense of safety in the classroom.

Despite this clear legislative requirement, many schools and care agencies still lack structured, practical training on cultural competence and Afro hair care. This skills gap leaves Black and mixed-heritage children vulnerable to harm — not through deliberate action, but through systemic neglect and inconsistent practice.

What Happens When Cultural Care Is Not Prioritised

When staff are not trained to meet cultural needs, several safeguarding risks emerge:

1. Identity-Based Harm

Children may internalise shame or confusion about their natural features, culture or heritage. Restrictive or misinformed hair-related policies can lead to discriminatory outcomes that directly affect wellbeing.

2. Increased Emotional Distress

Children who feel unseen or culturally misunderstood often withdraw, struggle to form healthy attachments, or exhibit behavioural changes.

3. Unintentional Neglect

Afro-textured hair requires specific care. Without training, staff may unintentionally cause damage, discomfort or hygiene concerns — all of which fall under basic care needs and safeguarding.

4. Inconsistent or Poor-Quality Support

Goodwill alone is not enough. Without knowledge and guidance, organisations cannot offer safe, respectful and consistent cultural care.

Why 2025 Is a Critical Turning Point

Several national trends make this year particularly important:

• Increased accountability under the Equality Act 2010, with families more aware of their rights

• Rising scrutiny of discriminatory hair policies and cultural insensitivity

• A growing expectation that organisations demonstrate action, not theoretical EDI statements

• Inspections increasingly evaluating how cultural and identity needs are being met in daily practice

Cultural care now sits at the centre of safeguarding, equality compliance and everyday organisational culture. Those who fail to adapt risk reputational harm, complaints and an inability to meet their statutory responsibilities.