Gymfinity Gymnastics adheres to the following safeguarding principles:

• Child-centred approach – the needs and voice of the child come first
• Zero tolerance – any form of abuse, bullying, or neglect is unacceptable
• Accountability – all staff share responsibility for safeguarding
• Early intervention – concerns are acted upon immediately
• Transparency & openness – concerns are reported and recorded properly
• Continuous improvement – safeguarding practices evolve with best practice

4. Definitions of Abuse

Gymfinity recognises the following categories of abuse:

• Physical abuse – causing physical harm
• Emotional abuse – persistent emotional maltreatment
• Sexual abuse – inappropriate sexual behaviour or exploitation
• Neglect – failure to meet a child’s basic needs

Bullying, cyberbullying, and inappropriate coaching practices are treated as safeguarding concerns.

5. Safeguarding Leadership

Gymfinity Gymnastics will appoint:

• Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) – responsible for safeguarding oversight
• Deputy Safeguarding Lead(s) – to support and ensure availability

Responsibilities include:

• Managing concerns and referrals
• Supporting staff and parents
• Liaising with external agencies (e.g., local authority, police)
• Maintaining safeguarding records
• Driving safeguarding culture and training

6. Safer Recruitment

Gymfinity ensures all staff working with children are safe to do so by:

• Conducting enhanced DBS checks (or equivalent)
• Verifying identity and qualifications
• Obtaining references
• Providing safeguarding training before working with children
• Using probation periods for all new hires

No individual will be allowed unsupervised access to children without appropriate checks.

7. Staff Conduct & Expectations

All staff must:

• Treat children with respect, dignity, and fairness
• Maintain appropriate professional boundaries
• Avoid favouritism or 1:1 situations where possible
• Never engage in inappropriate physical or verbal behaviour
• Use positive coaching methods aligned with Gymfinity values

Unacceptable behaviours include:

• Shouting aggressively or humiliating children
• Inappropriate touching
• Engaging in personal/private communication with children
• Sharing or creating inappropriate content

8. Safe Coaching Practices

Gymfinity promotes:

• Coaching in open, observable environments
• Clear explanations before physical support or spotting
• Age-appropriate expectations and training
• Respect for individual physical and emotional development
• Encouraging children’s voice and feedback

9. Communication & Technology

• Communication with children is conducted via approved Gymfinity channels only
• Coaches must not use personal messaging or social media to contact children
• Parents/carers are included in relevant communications
• Online sessions follow the same safeguarding standards as in-person training

10. Responding to Concerns

All staff must:

1. Recognise signs of abuse or poor practice
2. Respond calmly and listen without judgment
3. Record information accurately and promptly
4. Report immediately to the DSL

Staff must never:

• Promise confidentiality
• Investigate concerns themselves
• Delay reporting

If a child is in immediate danger, staff must contact emergency services.

11. Reporting Structure

• All concerns must be reported to the DSL or Deputy DSL
• The DSL will determine whether to refer to:
  • Local Authority Safeguarding Teams
  • Police
  • Governing bodies

Accurate records will be maintained securely.

12. Whistleblowing

Gymfinity encourages staff to raise concerns about:

• Unsafe practices
• Staff behaviour
• Organisational failures

All whistleblowing concerns will be taken seriously and handled confidentially.

13. Parents & Carers

Gymfinity will:

• Communicate safeguarding policies clearly
• Encourage parental involvement and feedback
• Provide guidance on child safety and wellbeing
• Respond promptly to concerns raised

14. Child Empowerment

We actively:

• Encourage children to speak up
• Teach them about safe and unsafe behaviour
• Promote confidence, resilience, and self-esteem
• Provide clear reporting options

15. Health, Safety & Environment

We ensure:

• Safe equipment and facilities
• Appropriate supervision ratios
• Risk assessments for activities and events
• Safe arrival and collection procedures

16. Training & Development

All staff receive:

• Mandatory safeguarding training
• Regular refresher training
• Role-specific guidance
• Ongoing development to maintain best practice

17. Review & Continuous Improvement

• This policy is reviewed annually (or sooner if required)
• Lessons learned from incidents are used to improve practices
• Feedback from staff, children, and parents informs updates

18. Policy Ownership

This policy is owned and enforced by Gymfinity Gymnastics leadership and applies across all locations.

Closing Statement

At Gymfinity Gymnastics, safeguarding is not just a policy—it is part of who we are.
We are committed to building a culture where every child feels safe, supported, and inspired to succeed.

Optional Add-on (if you want to strengthen it further)

I can also create:

• A 1-page staff safeguarding code of conduct
• A DSL reporting flowchart
• A parent-friendly safeguarding summary
• A risk register & checklist for clubs

Just tell me 👍

9. Key Contacts

• Club Welfare Officer: Jane : jane@gymfinitygymnastics.co.uk

• British Gymnastics Safeguarding Team: 0345 129 7129

• Childline: 0800 1111