1.Child Safeguarding & Child Protection Policy
1.1 Scope and commitment
This policy applies to all LionHeart staff, coaches, assistant coaches, volunteers, contractors and activities involving children and young people. LionHeart is affiliated/insured through BMABA and intends this local policy to meet or exceed BMABA safeguarding requirements. Where BMABA’s national safeguarding policy sets a higher requirement, the higher requirement should be followed.
1.2 Safeguarding leadership
- Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL): Nuakai Aru.
- Deputy DSL: To be appointed. LionHeart will appoint and train a deputy as soon as reasonably practicable.
- If a safeguarding concern or allegation relates to the DSL/Head Coach, the DSL must not investigate the concern. It should be escalated directly to BMABA safeguarding and/or the relevant statutory authority.
1.3 Safer recruitment, DBS and training
- Coaches and relevant assistants/volunteers who work with children must undergo appropriate safer-recruitment checks, references/role checks where proportionate, safeguarding induction and role-appropriate safeguarding training.
- LionHeart requires appropriate DBS checking for coaches working with children. From 1 September 2026, the DBS supervision exemption for regulated activity with children has been removed; roles that teach, train, instruct, care for or supervise children often enough may qualify for Enhanced DBS with Children’s Barred List checking. Eligibility must be assessed for each role under current DBS rules.
- No person known to be barred from regulated activity may be placed in regulated activity with children.
1.4 Coaching practice and boundaries
- Children must be treated with dignity, respect and fairness. Humiliation, intimidation, bullying, discriminatory treatment, sexualised behaviour and physical punishment are prohibited.
- One-to-one coaching should take place openly and be observable by another responsible adult wherever reasonably possible. Avoid isolated or hidden one-to-one situations.
- Physical contact must be legitimate for instruction, safety or the activity, proportionate, explained where appropriate and stopped if the child is uncomfortable. Coaches must never use unnecessary or punitive force.
- Private messaging with children should be avoided where practicable; communications should ordinarily include or go through a parent/guardian or approved Academy channel, especially for younger children.
- Coaches must maintain professional boundaries and must not exploit position, trust or influence.
1.5 Age groups and supervision
LionHeart currently delivers junior training in age groups approximately 3–5, 5–8, 8–11 and 11–17, with coaching groups adjusted where ability, maturity, safeguarding or programme needs require it. Supervision ratios and staffing should be appropriate to age, activity, contact level and individual needs.
1.6 Arrival, collection and independent departure
- Children under 13 must be collected by a parent/carer or an adult authorised by the parent/carer unless a specific safeguarding-approved arrangement has been documented.
- Young people aged 13–17 may leave independently only where a parent/guardian has given prior written permission. LionHeart may still require collection where staff have a specific welfare or safety concern.
- Parents may remain during classes where seating is available; seating is limited and may operate first-come, first-served.
- If a parent/carer is late, the child remains supervised in reception/another safe visible area. Staff will attempt to contact the parent/carer and emergency contacts. A child will not simply be sent home alone because collection is late. Repeated late collection may be addressed formally.
1.7 Changing/toilet area
- The Academy has a single-person toilet/changing area. It is to be used by one person at a time.
- No photography, video or recording is permitted in the toilet/changing area under any circumstances.
- Adults should not enter the changing/toilet area with a child except where necessary for care, disability, emergency or a young child’s support and where the arrangement is appropriate and authorised.
1.8 Photography and media
- Identifiable promotional images/video of a child require parent/guardian consent. The child’s wishes should also be taken into account in an age-appropriate way.
- Children may participate fully even if media consent is refused or withdrawn.
- Images should be appropriate, respectful and connected to legitimate Academy activity. Names and identifying information should not be unnecessarily combined with images.
- No photography or recording is permitted in changing/toilet areas.
1.9 Sparring, contact and competition
- Ordinary coached partner drills and age-appropriate technical contact may form part of normal martial arts instruction.
- Formal junior sparring requires separate parent/guardian consent and coach approval. Sparring must be age-, size-, skill- and experience-appropriate, supervised and stopped whenever safety or welfare requires.
- Competition requires parent/guardian consent, Head Coach approval, appropriate insurance/registration and compliance with applicable BMABA/event rules.
- Any suspected concussion or serious head injury means immediate removal from training/competition and no same-day return. Return must follow current concussion guidance and any medical/BMABA requirements.
1.10 Recognising concerns
Safeguarding concerns may include physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, bullying, peer-on-peer abuse, discrimination/racist abuse, exploitation, domestic abuse, online harm, self-harm, grooming, radicalisation, unsafe coaching practices, or any behaviour that causes or risks harm. Staff are not expected to investigate; they are expected to recognise, record and report.
1.11 Responding to a disclosure or concern
- Remain calm, listen and take the concern seriously.
- Do not promise secrecy. Explain that information may need to be shared to keep the child safe.
- Do not interrogate or ask leading questions. Clarify only what is necessary to understand immediate safety.
- Make a factual, dated record as soon as possible, using the child’s own words where possible.
- Report promptly to the DSL. If the DSL is implicated, report directly to BMABA safeguarding/statutory services.
- If a child is in immediate danger or urgent medical danger, call 999.
- Do not contact an alleged perpetrator or conduct your own investigation.
1.12 Information sharing and confidentiality
Safeguarding information is shared only on a need-to-know basis. Consent is considered where appropriate, but lack of consent does not prevent sharing where there is a lawful and proportionate need to protect a child from harm. Decisions to share or not share should be recorded with reasons.
1.13 Records and retention
Safeguarding records are stored separately and securely with access restricted to safeguarding personnel. In line with BMABA’s current standard, children’s safeguarding records are retained for at least 7 years from the last entry or until the child reaches age 25, whichever is later; serious cases or allegations may require longer retention.
1.14 Allegations about staff/coaches
Any allegation that a coach, employee, volunteer or person in a position of trust has harmed or may have harmed a child, committed or possibly committed an offence against a child, or behaved in a way indicating risk or unsuitability must be escalated promptly. The DSL should seek advice from BMABA and the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) / Children’s Services as appropriate. The individual concerned must not investigate the allegation themselves.
1.15 Whistleblowing and retaliation
Anyone who raises a safeguarding concern in good faith must be able to do so without intimidation or retaliation. An unfounded concern is not automatically a malicious concern.
2. Adult Safeguarding Policy
2.1 Scope
This policy applies to all adult participants and especially to adults at risk: broadly, an adult aged 18 or over who has care and support needs, is experiencing or at risk of abuse or neglect, and because of those needs is unable to protect themselves from that harm or risk.
2.2 Principles
- Empowerment
- Prevention
- Proportionality
- Protection
- Partnership
- Accountability
2.3 Responsibilities
- The DSL is the first point of contact for adult safeguarding concerns and should seek advice from BMABA or the local authority where needed.
- Coaches, assistants and staff must complete appropriate safeguarding training, maintain professional boundaries, respect consent and report concerns.
- Adults must never be subjected to bullying, coercion, harassment, discrimination, exploitation, sexual misconduct, financial abuse, neglect or unsafe coaching.
2.4 Responding to concerns
- Listen, remain calm and clarify the adult’s wishes and desired outcome where they have capacity.
- Record facts, dates, actions and the adult’s expressed wishes.
- Report to the DSL and assess immediate safety.
- Call 999 where there is immediate danger or a serious crime/emergency.
- Seek consent before referral where appropriate. If consent is refused, respect that decision unless there is an overriding reason to act, such as imminent serious harm, serious risk to others, lack of capacity, coercion or a legal duty.
- Escalate to H&F Adult Social Care, BMABA safeguarding or Police as appropriate.
2.5 Records
Adult safeguarding records are restricted and secure. In line with BMABA’s current safeguarding standard, they are retained for at least 7 years from the last entry, with longer retention for serious or ongoing matters.
2.6 Transitional safeguarding
Anyone under 18 remains a child for safeguarding purposes, including 16- and 17-year-olds. For young adults aged approximately 18–25, LionHeart will remain alert to vulnerabilities that can carry over from childhood and will apply a protective, person-centred approach where appropriate.
3. Safeguarding & Regulatory Contacts
Contact | Details |
|---|---|
LionHeart DSL | Nuakai Aru | info@lionheartmuaythai.com | 07957 994138 |
Deputy DSL | To be appointed |
BMABA Safeguarding | bmaba.org.uk/safeguarding (secure reporting route) |
H&F Children’s Social Care / ICAT | 020 8753 6600 | familyservices@lbhf.gov.uk |
H&F Children anonymous advice | 020 8753 6610 |
H&F out of hours (children/adults) | 020 8748 8588 |
H&F Adult Safeguarding | 0800 145 6095 | safeguardingadults@lbhf.gov.uk |
NSPCC Helpline | 0808 800 5000 |
Childline | 0800 1111 |
Emergency | 999 |
ICO | ico.org.uk | LionHeart registration C2024283 |