Safeguarding

Kensington & Chelsea Gymnastics Academy Ltd (“KCGA”) is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of every child and adult at risk who comes into contact with the Academy. The welfare of the child is paramount.

KCGA aims to create a culture in which people are listened to, treated with dignity and able to raise concerns without fear of retaliation or disadvantage. A concern will be taken seriously regardless of who it relates to or when the alleged conduct occurred.

This public policy is informed by applicable safeguarding law and guidance, the Department for Education’s code of practice for out-of-school settings, and British Gymnastics safeguarding standards and procedures.

This policy applies to KCGA directors, coaches, staff, volunteers and contractors, and to Academy activities in classes, personal lessons, home lessons, events, online communication, photography and media, and any other activity organised by KCGA.

• A child is anyone under 18.
• An adult at risk is an adult who has care and support needs, is experiencing or at risk of abuse or neglect, and because of those needs may be unable to protect themselves.
• Safeguarding includes prevention and appropriate action in response to physical, sexual or emotional abuse, neglect, bullying, discrimination, exploitation, grooming, online harm, poor practice and radicalisation concerns.

Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. KCGA personnel must report a concern; they must not decide for themselves whether abuse has occurred.

KCGA promotes safer practice by:

• using proportionate safer-recruitment measures, including identity and reference checks and Disclosure and Barring Service checks where the role is eligible;
• ensuring coaches hold qualifications appropriate to the activities they deliver and work within their competence;
• requiring relevant personnel to complete recognised Safeguarding and Protecting Children training and refresher learning in line with applicable requirements;
• maintaining a trained Welfare Officer and clear escalation routes;
• using risk assessment, appropriate supervision, safe equipment and progressive coaching;
• setting professional behaviour and communication expectations; and
• reviewing concerns, incidents and lessons learned to improve practice.

Gymnastics sometimes requires close supervision and appropriate physical support. Any physical contact must be for a legitimate coaching or safety purpose, proportionate to the skill and explained in an age-appropriate way. A gymnast’s signs of discomfort must be taken seriously.

KCGA does not accept humiliating, threatening, sexualised, discriminatory or degrading behaviour; body shaming; unnecessary private contact; favouritism used to manipulate; or punishment through unsafe exercise.

• Coaches should use appropriate, observable environments and follow KCGA arrangements for group and one-to-one activity.
• Communication about children should normally use the responsible adult’s approved contact route, not secret or disappearing messages with a child.
• Photography and recordings must follow KCGA’s permissions, privacy and safeguarding arrangements.
• Adults must maintain appropriate boundaries around changing, transport, gifts, social media and personal relationships.

If a child or adult at risk shares a concern:

1. Stay calm and listen. Take the person seriously and let them speak in their own words.
2. Do not promise secrecy. Explain that the information must be shared with people who can help keep them safe.
3. Do not investigate. Do not ask leading questions, confront the person accused or attempt to resolve the allegation yourself.
4. Record facts promptly. Note the date, time, context, exact words where possible, and what you saw or did. Keep relevant messages or other evidence.
5. Report without delay. Use the routes at the top of this page. Call 999 where there is immediate danger or urgent medical need.

Parents and guardians will usually be involved where appropriate, unless doing so may place someone at greater risk, prejudice an investigation or conflict with advice from safeguarding professionals.

KCGA will make an immediate safety assessment, preserve an accurate record, restrict information to those who need it and seek advice or make a referral where appropriate. Depending on the concern, this may involve Children’s Services, the LADO, adult safeguarding, police, medical services, British Gymnastics, a venue safeguarding lead, an insurer or another relevant body.

Where an allegation concerns a person working with children, KCGA will consult the LADO before beginning an internal investigation when required. Interim protective action is neutral and does not predetermine the outcome. KCGA will consider support for the person raising the concern, the person affected and the person who is the subject of the allegation, while keeping welfare and safety central.

KCGA will make referrals to the Disclosure and Barring Service, British Gymnastics or another regulator when the applicable legal or governing-body threshold is met.

Safeguarding information is handled sensitively, securely and on a need-to-know basis. Confidentiality cannot be guaranteed where sharing is necessary to protect a child or another person, comply with law or enable an appropriate safeguarding response.

Consent is not required where seeking it would be inappropriate, unsafe or could obstruct safeguarding. KCGA records relevant decisions and shares only information reasonably necessary for the purpose. Safeguarding records are retained in accordance with applicable legal, insurance and governing-body requirements.

For further information about personal information and rights, read KCGA’s Privacy Policy.

A safeguarding concern is not treated as an ordinary customer-service complaint. Anyone may contact the external services on this page directly, including where the concern involves KCGA leadership or the Welfare Officer, or where they feel unable to raise it with KCGA.

No person should suffer retaliation for raising a genuine concern in good faith. Knowingly making a malicious allegation is different from reporting an honest concern that is later unsubstantiated.

Ordinary concerns about fees, timetables or service quality should be raised through the Contact page and are governed by the coaching Terms & Conditions.

KCGA reviews this policy at least annually and after a significant safeguarding incident, material organisational change or relevant change in law, guidance or governing-body requirements.

Last updated: 7 September 2026