Defence Lab Training Child Protection Policy

This policy was written on the 1st January 2014 by Tahir Ahmad, owner of Defence Lab Training (“the Club”) and is updated annually. The last update was on the 10th January 2024 and the next update is due in January 2025.

The Club’s Club Welfare Officer (CWO) is Tehseen Ahmad who can be emailed at info@defencelabtraining.co.uk or telephoned at 0800 246 1878. The CWO will be the first point of contact for all Club members and parents or guardians regarding concerns for the welfare of any child or young person.  

If you feel that it is not in the best interest to contact Tehseen then please contact Tahir Ahmad by emailing tahir@defencelabtraining.co.uk or telephoning +44 7758 113224.

 

Child Protection Policy Statement

Defence Lab Training  (“the Club”) acknowledges its responsibility to safeguard the welfare of all children and young people (defined as any person under the age of 18) involved in Defence Lab Training which it organises or which it supervises and is committed to working to provide them with a safe environment.

Every child or young person, defined as any person under the age of 18, who plays or participates in Defence Lab Training should be able to take part in an enjoyable and safe environment and should be protected from abuse. This is the responsibility of every trainer and adult involved in Defence Lab Training.

The Club recognises its responsibility to safeguard the welfare of all children and young people by protecting them from physical, sexual or emotional harm and from neglect or bullying. The Club is, therefore, committed to working to provide a safe environment for all children and young people to participate in the sport to the best of their abilities so long as they choose to do so”.

Key Principles

The key principles of this Child Protection Policy and that of Defence Lab Training are that:

  1. The child’s welfare is, and must always be, the paramount consideration;
  2. All children and young people have the right to be protected from abuse regardless of their age, gender, disability, culture, language, racial origin, religious beliefs or sexual orientation;
  3. All suspicions and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately;
  4. Working in partnership with other organisations, children and young people and their parents/carers is essential.

 Acknowledgement

The Club acknowledges that every child or young person who participates in Defence Lab Training should be able to take part in an enjoyable safe environment and be protected from poor practice and abuse.  The Club recognises that this is the responsibility of every trainer and adult involved in the Club.

 Role

The Club has a role to play in safeguarding the welfare of all children and young people by protecting them from physical, sexual or emotional harm and from neglect or bullying.  It is guaranteed that this applies to all persons involved in Defence Lab Training whether in a paid or voluntary capacity. This includes those who are volunteers, officials, helpers on tours, coaches, club officials or medical staff.

The Club endorses and will apply the County/Local Authority Safeguarding Children Regulation and will treat any infraction of that regulation as misconduct which will be the subject of the Club’s disciplinary procedures in addition to any other procedures which may be undertaken by any other body or authority.

The Club also endorses and adopts the County/Local Authority Child Protection and Best Practice Guidelines for Recruiting Volunteers and will:

  1. Develop a role profile;
  2. Request identification documents;
  3. As a minimum, meet and discuss with the applicants and where possible will conduct interviews before appointing;
  4. Request and follow up with 2 references before appointing;
  5. Require an Enhanced Disclosure where appropriate in line with Guidelines.

All current Club members with direct access to children and young people will be required to complete an Enhanced Disclosure.  If there are concerns regarding the appropriateness of an individual who is already involved or who has approached the Club to become an active member of the Club, guidance will be sought from County/Local Authority.

It is noted and accepted that the club will consider the relevance and significance of the information obtained via the Enhanced Disclosure Unit and that all decisions will be made in the best interests of children and young people.  It is accepted that the club aims to prevent people with a history of relevant and significant offending from having contact with children or young people and the opportunity to influence policies or practice with children or young people. This is to prevent direct sexual or physical harm to children and young people and to minimise the risk of “grooming” within martial arts and sport.

Whistle Blowing

The Club supports a whistle blowing policy.  Any trainer, adult or young person with concerns about a colleague can whistle blow by mailing: tahir@defencelabtraining.co.uk or telephoning DL Head Office: +44 7758 113224 or by going direct to the police, social services or the NSPCC.  The Club encourages members to familiarise themselves with the club whistle blowing policy and to utilise it if necessary.

 Child Welfare Officer (CWO) 

The Club’s Club Welfare Officer (CWO) is Tehseen Ahmad. The Club Welfare Officer will be the first point of contact for all Club members and parents or guardians regarding concerns for the welfare of any child or young person.  The CWO liaises directly with the County/Local Authority Designated Safeguarding Officer and is familiar with the procedures for referring any concerns.  The CWO also plays a proactive role in increasing an awareness of poor practice and abuse among Club members.

Bullying

The Club, by it’s very existence acknowledges and endorses the  identification of bullying as a category of abuse.  Bullying of any kind is not acceptable at the Club.  If bullying does occur, all parents or guardians should be able to tell and know that incidents will be dealt with promptly.  Incidents need to be reported to the Club Welfare Officer or alternatively in cases of serious bullying, contact may be made to the County/Local Authority Designated Safeguarding Officer.

 Codes of Conduct

Codes of Conduct for players, parents or spectators, officials and coaches have been implemented by the Club. In order to validate these Codes of Conduct the Club has clear sanctions to deal with any misconduct at club level and acknowledges the possibility of potential sanctions which may be implemented in more serious circumstances. All prospective members will be informed of these Codes.

 Further Advice

Further advice on safeguarding children matters can be obtained from:

  1. The County/Local Authority Designated Safeguarding Officer in the area where the club is being taught
  2. The NSPCC Child Protection 24 hour Helpline 0808 800 5000