Version 1.0 | May 2026 | Next review: May 2028

POLICY STATEMENT & SCOPE

10is Academy Ely recognises its moral and statutory responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of all children (anyone under 18) and adults at risk. We are committed to ensuring our safeguarding practice reflects statutory responsibilities, government guidance and LTA safeguarding standards.

We are committed to prioritising the well-being of children and adults at risk and providing a safe and welcoming environment where they are respected and valued. We are alert to the signs of abuse and neglect and follow our procedures to ensure that children and adults at risk receive effective support and protection.

We recognise that health, well-being, ability, disability and need for care and support can affect a person’s resilience, and that some people experience barriers to communication in raising concerns or seeking help. We recognise that these factors can vary at different points in people’s lives.

This policy applies to any person who plays, coaches, officiates, works, volunteers or otherwise participates at 10is Academy Ely. We expect all contractors and partner organisations to adopt and demonstrate their commitment to the principles set out in this policy.

 

POLICY PRINCIPLES

• The safety and welfare of children and adults at risk is paramount
• All children and adults at risk, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation have an equal right to protection from all types of harm or abuse
• Safeguarding is everybody’s responsibility
• All safeguarding concerns or allegations will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately
• We strive to create a culture and environment where everyone is empowered to protect themselves and others and feel able to raise concerns
• We actively promote working together to ensure all children and adults at risk are safeguarded

 

RESPONSIBILITY FOR SAFEGUARDING

The Academy Director has overall accountability for this policy and its implementation. Our appointed Welfare Officer (WO) holds operational responsibility for safeguarding in line with the LTA role profile and is supported by the coaching team. The WO is the first point of contact for any safeguarding concern involving a child or adult at risk, and plays a proactive role in raising awareness of safeguarding within the Academy.

 

Welfare Officer

Name:  Callum Hadley

Mobile:  07961 003 342

Email:  callumjhadley@aol.co.uk

 

Deputy / Secondary contact

Name:  Angels Arribas

Mobile:  07983 807 627

Email:  Angels.welfare.10is@gmail.com

 

Safeguarding concerns can also be raised directly to the LTA Safeguarding Team via https://safeguardingconcern.lta.org.uk/

Cambridgeshire Local Authority contacts:

• Children’s Services: 0345 045 5203
• Adult Services: 0345 045 5202

 

POLICY AIMS

The purpose of this policy is to:

• protect children (including children of adults who use our services) and adults at risk from harm
• provide the necessary information to enable people to meet their safeguarding responsibilities
• deliver good practice and high safeguarding standards
• outline our commitment to safeguarding children and adults at risk

 

RECRUITMENT

10is Academy Ely operates a safe recruitment policy and is committed to ensuring that all people who work with children or adults at risk — including volunteers and self-employed individuals — are appropriately qualified for that role. Where necessary, they are required to undergo Criminal Records Checks through the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) before being allowed to work with children.

All LTA Accredited Coaches and the Welfare Officer complete safeguarding training as part of their role and renew this as part of their Accreditation requirements or every three years. An induction covering safeguarding policies, reporting procedures and Welfare Officer contact details is provided to all new staff, volunteers and coaches.

 

SUPERVISING CHILDREN

For coaching activities, 10is Academy Ely complies with LTA guidance on coach-to-player ratios. For children aged under 14, children must be delivered directly into the care of the coach by the parent and collected directly from the coach at the end of the session. It is not sufficient to drop off outside the venue entrance.

For Blue and Red stage sessions (our youngest age groups, starting from age 3), we ask that a parent or guardian is present on court and actively participates in the session. This is part of our coaching approach at these stages and is essential for the safety and engagement of very young children.

Children under the stipulated age will not be allowed to leave a coaching session unattended unless written permission has been given by a parent or guardian.

For off-site activities and away trips, we will use the following adult-to-child ratios:

• 2:8 for children aged 10 and under
• 2:10 for children aged 11 and over

At least one supervising adult will, where possible, be the same gender as the children. Coaches and staff are not responsible for transporting children to and from the venue unless it is part of a formally organised Academy trip, in which case full consent and emergency contact details will be obtained in advance.

 

POSITIONS OF TRUST

A person aged 18 or older who holds a position of authority or responsibility over a child is in a position of trust. This applies to coaching, teaching, training, supervising or instructing, including on a voluntary basis. People in a position of trust must be aware of the power imbalance they hold and must not use this for personal advantage or gratification.

Under the Sexual Offences Act 2003 (as amended in June 2022), it is a criminal offence in England and Wales for a person in a position of trust to have a sexual or intimate relationship with a child under 18, even if the relationship appears consensual. Any such activity will be formally reported.

 

TYPES OF ABUSE

There are four main types of abuse that apply to children:

• Physical abuse
• Sexual abuse
• Emotional abuse
• Neglect

Adults at risk may also experience financial abuse, discriminatory abuse, organisational abuse, domestic abuse, modern slavery and self-neglect. Full definitions of all abuse types are set out in Appendix A.

 

INCREASED VULNERABILITY TO ABUSE

Vulnerability is a changeable and contextual state. Children and adults who may be at increased risk include those with a physical disability, learning difficulties, mental health conditions, or those whose personal circumstances (such as domestic violence in the home, poverty or social exclusion) affect their resilience. Children and adults from LGBTQ+ communities or Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds may also face additional risks including discrimination, racism or cultural practices that constitute abuse within the UK.

Elite or high-performing athletes may be more vulnerable due to dependency on coaching staff for progression, separation from family peer groups, or exposure to cultures where inappropriate practices are normalised. 10is Academy Ely is alert to these factors and ensures all players — regardless of level — are treated with equal care and respect.

 

LOW LEVEL CONCERNS

A low level concern is any concern — no matter how small — that an adult associated with the Academy may have acted in a manner inconsistent with the Code of Conduct, or in a way that causes unease about their suitability to work with children. Low level concerns are not acceptable and must be reported to the Welfare Officer, who will refer the matter to the LTA Safeguarding Team.

It is critical that all low level concerns are referred to the LTA, as a single point of receipt allows patterns of behaviour to be identified and no information to be lost. The LTA Safeguarding Team will triage and manage concerns in line with the LTA Safeguarding Regulations and Disciplinary Code.

 

RESPONDING TO A SAFEGUARDING CONCERN

Everyone at 10is Academy Ely has a responsibility to take appropriate steps to ensure that safeguarding concerns and allegations are responded to quickly and appropriately.

It is not the responsibility of anyone at the Academy to investigate a safeguarding concern or determine whether abuse has taken place. All concerns must be responded to in accordance with the reporting procedure below.

 

If a child or adult at risk makes a disclosure:

• Listen carefully and calmly
• Reassure them that they have done the right thing and that what they have told you is important
• Keep questions to a minimum — only ask what is necessary to clarify what is being said
• Ask what they would like to happen next
• Explain what you intend to do next
• Let them know you will need to speak to the Welfare Officer or LTA Safeguarding Team because it is in their best interest
• Do not investigate the matter yourself or allow doubt to prevent you from reporting
• Ensure their immediate safety and protect them from further risk of harm
• Record the details of the disclosure as soon as possible after the conversation (not during it)
• Submit the details to the LTA via https://safeguardingconcern.lta.org.uk/

 

In an emergency:

If a child or adult at risk is in immediate danger, call the police on 999 without delay. Then contact the Welfare Officer and LTA Safeguarding Team as soon as possible.

 

CONFIDENTIALITY

All safeguarding concerns and allegations will be handled confidentially by the Welfare Officer on a need-to-know basis, to protect the privacy of those involved and to ensure that any investigation is not compromised. All people involved in a safeguarding concern should similarly maintain high levels of confidentiality.

Anonymity cannot be guaranteed in all circumstances, as individuals may need to be named in order to carry out a fair process.

 

INFORMATION SHARING & RETENTION

We share safeguarding information with the LTA in accordance with this policy and LTA regulations. In certain situations, we may also share information with statutory agencies where it is considered necessary and proportionate to prevent or manage the risk of harm. We follow the UK Government’s Information Sharing Advice for Safeguarding Practitioners and the seven golden rules of information sharing.

Safeguarding records are retained for the long term (in line with best practice, this may mean lifetime retention of relevant documentation). We keep a dated record of what information has been shared, with whom, and for what purpose.

 

WHISTLEBLOWING

Whistleblowing applies when someone reports wrongdoing that is in the public interest to bring to light. This includes situations where:

• safeguarding procedures are absent or not being followed
• a concern that was raised has not been acted upon
• there is a fear of repercussions for raising a concern

 

Whistleblowers should contact the Welfare Officer in the first instance. If they do not feel comfortable doing so, they may contact:

• LTA Safeguarding Team: https://safeguardingconcern.lta.org.uk/
• NSPCC Whistleblowing Helpline: 0800 028 0285 or help@nspcc.org.uk
• Safecall (independent, anonymous): 0800 915 1571 or www.safecall.co.uk/report
• Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) via Cambridgeshire County Council

 

BREACHES OF THIS POLICY

Breaches of this policy and/or failure to comply with the outlined responsibilities may result in:

• disciplinary action leading to possible dismissal and legal action
• termination of current and future roles within the Academy
• referral to the LTA, statutory agencies or the police as appropriate

 

MONITORING & REVIEW

This policy will be reviewed every two years, or sooner in the following circumstances:

• changes in legislation and/or government guidance
• as required by the Local Safeguarding Children Board or the LTA
• as a result of any other significant change or event affecting the Academy

 

Policy approved by:  Sebastien Scaux, Academy Director

Date approved:  May 2026

Next review date:  May 2028

 

 

APPENDIX A: DEFINITIONS

Child

A person under the age of 18 years.

Adult

A person aged 18 years or older.

Parent

Birth parents and other adults who are in a parenting role.

Adult at risk (England, Care Act 2014)

An individual aged 18 or over who: (a) has needs for care and support; and (b) is experiencing, or at risk of, abuse or neglect; and (c) as a result of those needs is unable to protect themselves from the risk of abuse or neglect.

Safeguarding

The action taken to promote the welfare of children and protect them from harm. This includes protecting children from abuse and maltreatment, preventing harm to their health or development, ensuring they grow up with the provision of safe and effective care, and taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes.

Child protection

The processes undertaken to protect children who have been identified as suffering, or being at risk of suffering, significant harm.

Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO)

An individual within a local authority in England and Wales with responsibility for oversight of allegations against people who work with children.

Abuse

Abuse happens when a person harms a child or an adult at risk. An abuser can be a family member, friend, someone in a position of authority, or a stranger.

Neglect (children)

Ongoing failure to meet the basic needs of children, including failure to provide adequate food, shelter, protection from harm or access to appropriate medical care.

Physical abuse

Deliberately hurting a child or adult at risk, causing physical harm. This can include hitting, kicking, shaking, throwing, burning or suffocating.

Emotional abuse

Persistent behaviour that causes emotional damage and undermines a person’s sense of wellbeing. Includes persistent criticism, humiliation, isolation, threats or controlling behaviour.

Sexual abuse

Any act which involves forcing or enticing a child to take part in sexual activities. Does not necessarily involve violence and the child may not be aware that what is happening is abuse.

Grooming

The process of developing a relationship with and the trust of a child, their family and adults around them, in order to commit sexual abuse or exploitation. Can happen online and in person.

Child sexual exploitation (CSE)

A form of child sexual abuse where an individual or group uses an imbalance of power to coerce, manipulate or deceive a child into sexual activity in exchange for something the victim needs or wants.

Bullying

Repeated behaviour intended to intimidate or upset a child, such as name calling, exclusion, spreading rumours, threatening harm or physical violence.

Cyberbullying

The use of technology to harass, threaten, embarrass, humiliate or target another person.

Harmful sexual behaviour (HSB)

Developmentally inappropriate sexual behaviour displayed by children that may be harmful or abusive to others.

Position of trust

An adult who holds a position of authority or responsibility over a child, including coaching, teaching, training, supervising or instructing on a regular basis, including as a volunteer.

Low level concern

Any concern — no matter how small — that an adult associated with the venue has acted in a manner inconsistent with the Code of Conduct, or in a way that causes unease about their suitability to work with children.

Domestic abuse

Any controlling, coercive or threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between people who are or have been in a relationship, regardless of gender or sexuality.

Modern slavery

Encompasses slavery, human trafficking, forced labour and domestic servitude.

Radicalisation

The process by which a person comes to support terrorism and forms of extremism. The grooming of children for involvement in extremist activity is a serious safeguarding concern.

 

 

APPENDIX B: SUPPORT SERVICES

The following organisations can provide support to children, adults at risk and those with safeguarding concerns:

 

NSPCC

0808 800 5000  |  help@nspcc.org.uk

Support with any concerns about a child’s safety or wellbeing.

ChildLine

0800 1111  |  www.childline.org.uk

Help for anyone under 19 with any issue they are going through.

LTA Safeguarding Team

https://safeguardingconcern.lta.org.uk/

Report a safeguarding concern in tennis.

NSPCC Whistleblowing Helpline

0800 028 0285  |  help@nspcc.org.uk

For those who wish to raise a concern about an organisation.

Safecall (LTA independent reporting)

0800 915 1571  |  www.safecall.co.uk/report

Anonymous and confidential reporting service.

Cambridgeshire Children’s Services

0345 045 5203

Local authority children’s social care.

Cambridgeshire Adult Services

0345 045 5202

Local authority adult social care.

Samaritans

116 123  |  www.samaritans.org

Emotional support, available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Mind

0300 123 3393  |  info@mind.org.uk

Mental health information, advice, guidance and support.

National Domestic Violence Helpline

0808 2000 247

Run in partnership between Women’s Aid and Refuge.

Men’s Advice Line

0808 801 0327

Support for men experiencing domestic violence.

Galop

0800 999 5428  |  help@galop.org.uk

Support for LGBT people experiencing domestic violence.

NAPAC

0808 801 0331  |  https://napac.org.uk/

Support for adult survivors of childhood abuse.

Beat (eating disorders)

0808 801 0677  |  help@beateatingdisorders.org.uk

Support on all aspects of eating disorders.

Relate

0300 100 1234  |  www.relate.org.uk

Counselling and relationship support.

 

 

10is Academy Ely  |  King’s Ely, Barton Road, Ely CB7 4DB | admin@10is.co.uk  |  www.10is.co.uk

Welfare Officer: Callum Hadley  |  callumjhadley@aol.co.uk  |  07961 003 342