Safeguarding
Every child safe,
every session.
Velocity works with young people aged 12 to 18 through SCBC’s badminton training. Keeping them safe is not a policy we file away. It shapes how we recruit, how we coach and how we respond when something is not right.
Our commitment
Every child and young person who takes part in a Velocity session has the right to enjoy their sport in a safe environment, free from harm, and to be listened to if they are worried about something. Everyone involved in Velocity, whether paid or volunteer, shares responsibility for that.
We follow the safeguarding standards of each section’s National Governing Body, alongside the Safeguarding in Sport standards for Northern Ireland.
What we have in place
- A safeguarding policy for every section. Each club operates under its National Governing Body’s child protection policy rather than an ad-hoc arrangement.
- A Designated Safeguarding Officer. A named person is responsible for safeguarding across the group, and their contact details are published below.
- Codes of conduct. Clear standards of behaviour for coaches, volunteers, participants and parents.
- Safe recruitment. Anyone in regulated activity with children is vetted through AccessNI before they work unsupervised.
- Training. Coaches and volunteers working directly with children complete safeguarding training.
- Clear reporting procedures. A defined route for raising a concern, described below, and a commitment to act on every one.
Raising a concern
If you are worried about a child, about the behaviour of an adult at Velocity, or about anything you have seen or heard at a session, tell us. You do not need to be certain, and you do not need proof. It is our job to look into it, not yours.
- Speak to the Designated Safeguarding Officer using the details opposite. This is the fastest route and the one we would prefer.
- Or speak to any coach or session lead, who will pass it to the Designated Safeguarding Officer the same day.
- You can raise a concern anonymously, though it helps us if we can come back to you for detail.
We will acknowledge your concern, record it, and tell you what happens next. Where a concern meets the threshold for a child protection referral, we will refer it to Children’s Social Services or the police. We may do that without your agreement if a child is at risk, and we will tell you if we do.
If a child is at immediate risk
Do not wait for us. Contact the statutory services directly.
Gateway Service numbers differ by Health and Social Care Trust. The number above is for the Belfast Trust area. [Confirm the correct Trust for each venue.]
Information about children
Where a child is involved, we expect a parent or guardian to complete the express-interest form, and we contact that adult rather than the child. Full detail is in our privacy notice.