Safeguarding

The Reach Climbing Wall is committed to the safety and wellbeing of all children, young people, and adults at risk who visit or take part in activities at our centre. We take our safeguarding responsibilities seriously and work to create an environment where everyone feels safe, respected, and protected.

This policy applies to all staff, volunteers, coaches, and visitors at The Reach. It reflects our commitment to safeguarding as an ongoing responsibility — something we actively practise every day rather than a box to be ticked.

We are committed to equality in our safeguarding approach and recognise that some children may face additional barriers to speaking up, including those with disabilities, those from minority ethnic backgrounds, and those in economically disadvantaged circumstances. We work to ensure our approach is inclusive and accessible to all.

The Reach has a named Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) who is responsible for coordinating our safeguarding approach, supporting staff, and acting as the first point of contact for any concerns raised. Our DSL receives specialist training and keeps up to date with changes in safeguarding legislation and best practice.

If you have a safeguarding concern, you can contact our team at safeguarding@thereach.org.uk or speak to any member of staff on site, who will direct your concern to the DSL promptly.

All staff and volunteers at The Reach who work directly with children and young people hold a valid Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Enhanced DBS checks include information held by local police forces in addition to the standard DBS database, providing the highest level of assurance for roles involving regular contact with children.

Checks are renewed every three years as a minimum, and we follow a safer recruitment process for all new appointments — including taking up references, verifying qualifications, and conducting values-based interviews before any offer is confirmed.

All staff at The Reach complete safeguarding awareness training as part of their ongoing training. This covers recognising the signs of abuse and neglect, how to respond to a disclosure, and how to refer concerns appropriately without delay.

Refresher training is completed at least every three years, or sooner if there are significant changes to legislation or statutory guidance. Our Designated Safeguarding Lead holds an advanced level of training appropriate to their responsibility for coordinating safeguarding across the centre.

If you are concerned about the safety or welfare of a child or adult at risk at The Reach — whether based on something you have seen or something that has been disclosed to you — please tell a member of staff immediately. All concerns will be taken seriously, handled sensitively, and referred to the appropriate statutory agencies where necessary.

You can also contact our team directly at safeguarding@thereach.org.uk

If you believe a child is in immediate danger, call the police on 999.

For non-urgent concerns outside our centre you can contact the NSPCC Helpline on 0808 800 5000 (free, 24 hours), or contact your local authority children's services department. You can also report concerns to the NSPCC online at nspcc.org.uk.

We ask all visitors not to photograph or film other people's children without the explicit consent of their parent or guardian. If you are unsure, please ask a member of staff.

The Reach occasionally photographs or films activity at the centre for promotional and social media purposes. Where children or young people are identifiable, we will always seek written parental or guardian consent before publication. Parents and guardians have the right to opt out at any time.

Staff and volunteers must not photograph or film participants on personal devices. Any photography for centre purposes must be carried out on centre equipment only and stored securely.

All staff, volunteers, and coaches at The Reach are expected to:

• Treat all children, young people, and adults at risk with dignity and respect at all times
• Maintain appropriate professional boundaries and never develop inappropriate personal relationships with young participants
• Avoid being alone with a child or young person in an enclosed or unobserved space
• Use appropriate language and ensure any physical contact (such as spotting during climbing) is necessary, proportionate, and explained in advance
• Never share personal contact details — including social media accounts — with young participants
• Report any concerns or disclosures immediately to the Designated Safeguarding Lead without attempting to investigate independently

Visitors are also expected to behave appropriately toward all young people at the centre. Any behaviour that places a child or young person at risk may result in immediate removal from the premises and referral to the relevant authorities.

This policy is reviewed annually and updated in line with changes to legislation and statutory guidance. For a full copy of our safeguarding policy documentation, please contact us at info@thereach.org.uk.