We are pleased to announce that we have recently become accredited with The Safeguarding in Martial Arts Mark. The Safeguarding Code in Martial Arts has been designed to promote and recognise martial arts clubs/organisations who demonstrate good safeguarding practice in the their club.
As a club Shin Gi Tai Martial Arts Academy teach a wide range of Martial Arts, some of which currently have no Sport England recognised governing body. Head Coach, Bryan Andrews commented. “Our success as a club is down to professional standards and ongoing professional development in coaching. Our focus on athlete centric coaching creates an atmosphere which is positive and engaging for all members and creates an atmosphere for successful learning. A key component that all sports clubs should focus upon is safeguarding of members, volunteers and coaches to ensure that policies and procedures are in place to support and protect the club and it’s members.
As a club we are pleased to have been awarded the Safeguarding Code in Martial Arts mark as validation for our continued work in promoting high quality Martial Arts that is underpinned with the principles of safeguarding and protecting. Along with our two Clubmark Accreditations for Chinese Martial Arts and for British Judo, we view this Safeguarding Code as essential rather than desirable as it sets the minimum standards that all club should aspire to and be capable of reaching.”
The Safeguarding Code in Martial Arts has been designed to promote and recognise martial arts clubs/organisations who demonstrate good safeguarding practice in the their club. The Mark shows prospective members and partners that the club in questions has strong policies and procedures in place to protect the children, young people and adults that are involved in the club’s activities, as well as those coaches/instructors who are working with them. Not only are we the first Martial Arts club (teaching Karate, Kung Fu, Judo, Ju Jitsu, Tai Chi, MMA and Kickboxing) in Hampshire to achieve this award we are only the second Martial Arts body in the UK to have achieved the Safeguarding Mark.
As a club we have held Clubmark Accreditations from Sport England since 2010 for Judo and Chinese Martial Arts. The Safeguarding Mark is designed for those club where there is no national governing body affiliated to Sport England. Attaining the Safeguarding Code in Martial Arts “mark” provides parents, carers and educational establishments, with the assurance a club has quality safeguarding processes and practices in place. Additional checks are completed upon:-
- Reassurance that their coaches have completed relevant safeguarding awareness training
- Disclosure and Barring Service Check for all coaches, staff and volunteers (this checks that the individuals are safe to work with children and/or vulnerable adults)
- Safeguarding awareness training for all coaches, staff and volunteers
- All coaches will have hold a minimum coaching standard or coaching qualification
- A Safeguarding Policy
- A Safe Practice Policy
- Insurance documentation
- A reporting system for reporting participants’ safety and welfare
- A complaints process for parents and all participants
- Code of Conduct for children/young people, coaches/volunteers and parents
