Brian Stokes Coaching Ltd / NO BS Kids Crew®
Last updated: 13 September 2026
Review date: September 2027

1. PURPOSE

Brian Stokes Coaching Ltd is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of every child and young person who participates in our activities.

The welfare of the child is paramount.

Every child has the right to take part in sport and physical activity in a safe, positive and inclusive environment, free from abuse, neglect, exploitation, bullying, discrimination and avoidable harm.

This policy applies to all Brian Stokes Coaching Ltd activities involving anyone under the age of 18, including NO BS Kids Crew®, individual coaching, group sessions, events, camps and other activities.

2. OUR SAFEGUARDING COMMITMENT

We will:

• Put children's welfare and safety first.

• Listen to children and take their concerns seriously.

• Treat children fairly, respectfully and without discrimination.

• Maintain appropriate professional boundaries.

• Provide age-appropriate coaching and supervision.

• Promote positive behaviour, teamwork and inclusion.

• Follow safer recruitment practices for people working with children.

• Respond promptly to safeguarding concerns.

• Record and report concerns appropriately.

• Work with parents, carers and relevant statutory agencies when required.

• Regularly review our safeguarding arrangements.

3. DESIGNATED SAFEGUARDING LEAD

The Designated Safeguarding Lead for Brian Stokes Coaching Ltd and NO BS Kids Crew® is:

Brian Stokes
Founder & Head Coach
Designated Safeguarding Lead
Enhanced DBS checked

Email: brian.stokes@brianstokescoaching.com
Telephone: 07824505856

The DSL is responsible for overseeing safeguarding arrangements, receiving concerns, maintaining appropriate safeguarding records and making referrals to relevant agencies where required.

Safeguarding action will not be delayed because the DSL is unavailable.

4. CONCERNS INVOLVING THE DSL

Where a safeguarding concern or allegation relates to the Designated Safeguarding Lead, it should not be reported to or investigated by the DSL themselves.

The concern should be reported directly to the appropriate local authority safeguarding service, Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO), police or other relevant statutory authority as appropriate.

Where a child is believed to be in immediate danger, call 999.

5. COACHES, STAFF & VOLUNTEERS

Everyone working or volunteering within BSC activities involving children is expected to:

• Put children's welfare first.

• Follow this policy and BSC safeguarding procedures.

• Maintain appropriate professional boundaries.

• Report safeguarding concerns promptly.

• Complete safeguarding training appropriate to their role.

• Undergo appropriate safer recruitment and safeguarding checks according to their responsibilities.

• Never use their position to establish inappropriate relationships with children.

The DSL holds an Enhanced DBS check.

BSC will use appropriate safer recruitment procedures when appointing coaches, staff or volunteers to roles involving children.

6. RECOGNISING & RESPONDING TO CONCERNS

Safeguarding concerns may arise through:

• Something a child tells us.

• A change in a child's behaviour or presentation.

• An injury or other physical indicator.

• Something witnessed by a coach, volunteer, parent or another child.

• Information received from another person or organisation.

• Concerns about the conduct of an adult working with children.

• Concerns relating to bullying, discrimination, exploitation or online behaviour.

A concern does not need to be proven before it is reported.

7. IF A CHILD MAKES A DISCLOSURE

If a child tells a coach, member of staff or volunteer that they have been harmed or are worried about something:

LISTEN — allow the child to speak without unnecessary interruption.

REASSURE — tell them they have done the right thing by speaking.

DO NOT PROMISE CONFIDENTIALITY — explain that information may need to be shared with someone who can help keep them safe.

DO NOT INVESTIGATE — avoid leading questions or attempting to establish proof.

RECORD — make an accurate written record as soon as possible, using the child's own words wherever possible.

REPORT — pass the concern promptly to the DSL or appropriate statutory authority.

Our role is to recognise, respond, record and refer — not investigate.

8. REPORTING & REFERRALS

Safeguarding concerns should normally be reported promptly to the DSL.

Depending on the nature and seriousness of the concern, information may be shared with:

• Children's Social Care.

• The Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO).

• Police.

• Emergency services.

• Other appropriate safeguarding agencies.

Where a child is at immediate risk of serious harm, call 999.

The safety and welfare of the child will take priority over concerns about reputation, relationships or confidentiality.

9. ALLEGATIONS AGAINST A COACH, MEMBER OF STAFF OR VOLUNTEER

Any allegation that someone working with children has harmed a child, may have harmed a child, committed an offence relating to a child, may pose a risk to children or may be unsuitable to work with children will be taken seriously.

The person who is the subject of the allegation must not investigate the matter themselves.

Where appropriate, the concern will be referred promptly to the LADO, Children's Social Care and/or police.

BSC will cooperate fully with statutory safeguarding processes and take appropriate measures to protect children while a concern is being considered.

10. PROFESSIONAL BOUNDARIES

Coaches, staff and volunteers must maintain appropriate professional relationships with children.

They must not:

• Develop inappropriate personal relationships with children.

• Engage in sexualised, intimidating, humiliating or discriminatory behaviour.

• Communicate privately with children unnecessarily.

• Give individual children preferential treatment that could create inappropriate dependency.

• Use inappropriate language or behaviour.

• Share inappropriate personal information with children.

11. PHYSICAL CONTACT

Physical contact can sometimes be appropriate within sports coaching, for example for safety, first aid or appropriate technique instruction.

Any contact must be:

• Necessary.

• Appropriate to the activity.

• Proportionate.

• Undertaken openly.

• In the child's interests.

Coaches should explain what they are doing where appropriate and respect a child's right to say they are uncomfortable.

12. ONE-TO-ONE COACHING

Where a child receives individual coaching, additional safeguards will be considered.

Where practicable:

• Coaching will take place in an open or observable environment.

• Parents or guardians will know where and when the session is taking place.

• Communication about arrangements will normally be through the parent or guardian.

• Coaches will avoid unnecessary situations where they are isolated from others with a child.

13. COMMUNICATION & WHATSAPP

NO BS Kids Crew® uses a parents' WhatsApp group for session information and bookings.

The group is intended for parents and guardians, not direct communication with children.

Coaches should not routinely communicate privately with children through personal WhatsApp accounts, social-media accounts or other private messaging services.

Where communication with a young person is necessary, parents or guardians should normally be included or informed.

14. PHOTOGRAPHY, VIDEO & SOCIAL MEDIA

Photographs and video may be taken during BSC and NO BS Kids Crew® activities for legitimate coaching or promotional purposes.

Appropriate parent or guardian consent will be obtained before identifiable images of children are used publicly where required.

Images will be used responsibly and will not knowingly be published with unnecessary identifying information.

Parents or guardians can withdraw permission for future use of their child's images by contacting BSC.

15. ARRIVAL & COLLECTION

Parents and guardians are responsible for ensuring appropriate arrangements are in place for their child's arrival and collection.

Children will not knowingly be released to an unauthorised person where collection arrangements apply.

Parents should notify the coach of relevant changes to collection arrangements.

Where a parent is unexpectedly delayed, the child will remain appropriately supervised while reasonable attempts are made to contact the parent or nominated emergency contact.

16. MISSING CHILD PROCEDURE

If a child cannot be accounted for during a BSC activity:

• The coach will establish where and when the child was last seen.

• The immediate area will be checked promptly.

• Appropriate venue staff will be informed.

• Supervision of the remaining children will be maintained.

• The child's parent or guardian will be contacted.

• Police or emergency services will be contacted where appropriate.

The incident will be recorded and reviewed.

17. BULLYING, DISCRIMINATION & BEHAVIOUR

Bullying, harassment, intimidation and discriminatory behaviour are not acceptable.

BSC promotes:

• Respect.

• Teamwork.

• Encouragement.

• Inclusion.

• Positive behaviour.

Coaches will intervene where behaviour threatens the safety or wellbeing of another participant.

Where necessary, a child may be removed from an activity or session to protect themselves or others.

18. SEND, DISABILITY & INCLUSION

BSC aims to make its activities inclusive and accessible wherever reasonably possible.

Parents and carers are encouraged to provide information about additional needs, disabilities, communication requirements or other circumstances that may help us support their child safely and positively.

Safeguarding standards apply equally to every child.

No child should receive a lower level of safeguarding protection because of disability, additional needs, background, identity or circumstance.

19. CHANGING ROOMS & TOILETS

Appropriate professional boundaries will be maintained around changing and toilet facilities.

Coaches and volunteers should avoid being alone unnecessarily with a child within a changing room or toilet area.

Where BSC uses a third-party facility, relevant venue procedures will also be followed.

20. FIRST AID & EMERGENCIES

Appropriate first-aid arrangements will be maintained for BSC activities.

Where urgent medical treatment is required, the child's immediate safety will take priority and emergency services will be contacted where necessary.

Parents or guardians will be informed as soon as reasonably practicable.

Relevant accidents or incidents will be recorded.

21. SAFEGUARDING RECORDS & INFORMATION SHARING

Safeguarding information will be recorded accurately, handled sensitively and stored securely.

Records will be kept separately from routine coaching information where appropriate.

Information will only be shared with people or organisations who need it to protect a child, meet a safeguarding responsibility or comply with the law.

Data protection legislation will not be used as a reason to prevent appropriate information sharing where a child may be at risk.

22. CONFIDENTIALITY

Safeguarding information is confidential but is not secret.

Information will be shared on a need-to-know basis where necessary to protect a child or support an appropriate safeguarding response.

Children should never be promised that safeguarding information will be kept completely confidential.

23. TRAINING & SAFER RECRUITMENT

BSC is committed to ensuring that people working with children are suitable for their roles.

This may include, as appropriate:

• Identity checks.

• References.

• Relevant qualifications.

• Safeguarding training.

• DBS checks appropriate to the role and eligibility.

• Clear role expectations.

• Safeguarding induction.

• Ongoing supervision and review.

Safeguarding remains an ongoing responsibility after recruitment.

24. POLICY REVIEW

This policy will be reviewed at least annually and earlier where necessary following:

• Changes to legislation or statutory guidance.

• Changes to BSC activities.

• Significant safeguarding incidents.

• Changes to safeguarding arrangements.

• Learning identified through practice.

25. CONTACT & EMERGENCY INFORMATION

Safeguarding concerns relating to Brian Stokes Coaching Ltd or NO BS Kids Crew® should normally be reported to:

Brian Stokes
Designated Safeguarding Lead
Brian Stokes Coaching Ltd
Email: brian.stokes@brianstokescoaching.com
Telephone: 07824505856

If a concern relates to Brian Stokes as DSL, contact the appropriate Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO), Children's Social Care or police directly.

If a child is in immediate danger, call 999.

This policy should be read alongside the Brian Stokes Coaching Ltd:

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