Safeguarding and Welfare
At Adwick Swimming Club, safeguarding our members—especially children and vulnerable adults—is our top priority. Our welfare team follows Swim England’s Wavepower guidelines, which provide the latest policies on safeguarding and welfare in aquatic sports.
Key Safeguarding Principles:
- Safe Environment: We ensure our facilities, events, and practices are secure and follow recommended safety standards.
- Code of Conduct: All club members, including coaches, athletes, and parents, are expected to adhere to our Code of Conduct, fostering a respectful, supportive community.
- Training and Support: All coaches and adult poolside assistants undergo safeguarding training, including child protection.
- Mobile Phones: Swim England has issued clear guidance on mobile phone use and changing room policies to ensure the safety and privacy of all participants, especially children. The use of mobile phones in changing rooms is strictly prohibited during any Swim England-related activities. This includes taking photos, using social media, or even visibly holding a device. Phones should be stored in bags if brought into changing areas, aiming to prevent inappropriate use and safeguard members from incidents involving privacy breaches or misuse of images.
- Changing Room Supervision: For safeguarding purposes, Swim England’s Wavepower policy outlines that adults should generally not be in the changing rooms with children aged nine and above unless the children require additional assistance. This rule helps create a safe environment, maintaining a boundary that respects both children’s privacy and their need for safe, supervised spaces. However, when assistance is necessary for younger or differently-abled children, trained staff or designated guardians may be allowed.
As you can imagine, as a Club, our priority is to ensure that ALL members can enjoy their sport, whilst remaining safe. We have implemented these changes under the full guidance of the current legislation and hope that this helps to clarify why we have made these changes.
If you have any concerns regarding the welfare of a club member, please don’t hesitate to contact our Welfare Officer, Emma Cooper . Our priority is to ensure that Adwick Swimming Club is a safe, welcoming, and supportive environment for everyone.