Safeguarding children
We are committed to fostering a safe environment enabling children to flourish through sport.
Sport St Mary’s aims to provide a safe environment for children to take part in a range of sporting activities. The department believes that a young person should never experience abuse or harm of any kind. We have a responsibility to promote the welfare of all young children, and to keep them safe in the sport facilities on the main campus and at the Teddington Lock Sports Campus.
We recognise our responsibility to develop awareness of safeguarding issues and are committed to practice that reflects the university’s duty of care and protects children.
Sports St Mary’s takes a number of steps to help keep children safe when on our premises, these include:
- Having a Lead Safeguarding Officer and Designated Safeguarding Officers – organisational contacts trained to deal with safeguarding matters.
- A code of conduct for staff, coaches, volunteers, children and parents/guardians/carers that sets clear guidance on expected behaviour.
- Ensuring that staff and volunteers working in regulated activity with children have had an enhanced DBS check.
- Having rules in place to manage any filming and photography that involves children.
- Ensuring that anyone reporting a genuine concern about the wellbeing of a child they believe to be at risk, can be sure that this will be taken seriously in accordance with our safeguarding reporting process.
Visit our safeguarding children policy for full guidance
As detailed in the policy, if you have a safeguarding concern please speak to a Designated Safeguarding Officer.