Welfare and Safeguarding
Tigersharks is committed to providing a caring, friendly, and safe environment for all our members, so that when they participate in club activities, they do so in a relaxed and secure environment Our club has Swim Mark accreditation. This is the Swim England’s ‘quality standard’ to recognise the clubs that are committed to providing safe, effective and quality services for the benefit of their members. These are clubs with high standards of governance, sustainability and effectiveness.
We provide a Welfare Officer who is the first point of contact for anyone within the club who has a child safeguarding or welfare concern. Safeguarding concerns can be raised by children, parents and other adults. If you have a concern about the welfare of any child or the behaviour of an adult towards any child you should, without delay, contact the club welfare officer: email Laura Holborow at [email protected]
In partnership with the club committee, the Welfare Officer ensures that the club is adopting and implementing child safeguarding policy and procedures which are necessary for it to provide its duty of care to children. Tigersharks fully endorses and operates in accordance with Swim England’s Child Protection Policy (Wavepower 2020-2023: Child safeguarding policy and procedures for clubs). We adhere to the Swim England Photography and Photographing Swimmers Policy, which can be found in their Wavepower document. Links to the Wavepower documentation can be found below.
How to raise a Child Safeguarding Concern
If you have a concern about the welfare of any child or the behaviour of an adult towards any child you should, without delay, please contact in the following order:
- Club welfare officer: Laura Holborow ([email protected])
- County welfare officer: Carol Mathias ([email protected])
- Regional welfare officer: Marion Britton ([email protected])
- The Swim England National Child Safeguarding Team: Contact SE Safeguarding Team by email: [email protected] Contact SE Safeguarding Team by telephone: 01509 640700 (option 1 for Swim England, then option 3 for Safeguarding)
- Swimline – this is the Swim England/NSPCC Child Protection Helpline on 0808 100 4001
- Whistleblowing policies: British Swimming Privacy Policy | British Swimming | British Swimming Whistleblowing: Reporting potental wrong doing – Swim England Forms (swimming.org)
In an Emergency
If you believe a child may be at immediate risk of harm please make immediate contact with an appropriate agency, such as: The Police Child Services Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) NSPCC Child Protection Line Take the name and contact details of the person you have spoken to, plus the incident / referral reference number (if applicable) so you have a record of the advice they give. Then report this to the club welfare officer and the Swim England safeguarding team the next working day.
Safeguarding Useful Links and Contacts
Safeguarding Informations and Rules that the Club abides by
Safeguarding - Child Safeguarding in Clubs and Swimming Lessons
Wavepower 2020 - 2023 - Child safeguarding for Swim England (swimming.org)
Safeguarding Resources for Children - Swim England Safeguard (swimming.org)
External Safeguarding organisations and Resources
NSPCC Child Protection in Sport Unit - CPSU (thecpsu.org.uk)
Childline - Tel 0800 1111
NSPCC Video Promoting positive Behaviour - My Magic Sports Kit
