Welfare and Safeguarding

Clacton Swimming Club is committed to providing a welcoming, safe and caring environment for every member. We want all our swimmers to enjoy their swimming, feel respected and listened to, and have a say in decisions that affect them.

As a Swim England affiliated club, we follow Wavepower 2024, Swim England's safeguarding policy and procedures. These apply at all our training sessions, galas and events, and to everyone involved with the club, including swimmers, parents, coaches, teachers, volunteers and committee members.

Our Club Welfare Officer

Kristina Newbatt

[email protected]

Kristina is the first point of contact for anyone, swimmers, parents or volunteers, with a worry about a child's welfare or the behaviour of anyone at the club. Concerns are treated sensitively and shared only with those who need to know in order to keep children safe. You can also speak to any coach or committee member at the pool, and they will pass your concern on.

How to raise a concern

If you are worried about a child, or about how an adult is behaving towards a child, don't wait. You don't need to be certain that something is wrong.

  1. Tell our Club Welfare Officer, Kristina Newbatt, or a coach or committee member.
  2. If you can't reach the club, or you'd rather not raise it with the club (for example, if your concern is about someone at the club), contact the Essex County Welfare Officer or the Swim England Safeguarding Team (details below), or call Swimline on 0808 100 4001.

If you contact an outside agency, make a note of who you spoke to and any reference number, and let the Club Welfare Officer or Swim England know the next working day.

For our swimmers

If something or someone is worrying you, at swimming or anywhere else, you can tell Kristina, your coach, or any adult you trust. You won't be in trouble, and they will help.

You can also talk to Childline for free, any time, on 0800 1111 or at childline.org.uk.

Swim England has made leaflets especially for you:

Safeguarding contacts

Swimming
Club Welfare Officer
Kristina Newbatt		 [email protected]
Essex County Welfare Officer
Cheryl Ellis		 [email protected]
Swim England East Region Welfare Officer
Fran Vesztrocy		 [email protected]
01509 640378
Swim England National Safeguarding Team [email protected]
01509 640 700 (option 1 for Swim England, then option 5 for Safeguarding)
Swimline
Swim England / NSPCC child protection helpline		 0808 100 4001 (free)
Local services
Essex Children and Families Hub
If you think a child is being harmed or neglected		 0345 603 7627 (ask for the priority line if a child is at immediate risk)
Out of hours and bank holidays: 0345 606 1212
Essex LADO
Concerns about an adult who works or volunteers with children		 03330 139 797
National helplines
NSPCC Helpline 0808 800 5000 · nspcc.org.uk
Childline (for children and young people) 0800 1111 · childline.org.uk

How we keep swimmers safe

  • We follow Swim England's Wavepower policy and procedures at all club activities.
  • Coaches, teachers and volunteers whose roles require it complete safeguarding training and the appropriate DBS checks, as Wavepower sets out.
  • We have a named Club Welfare Officer who is trained for the role and supported by Swim England's county, regional and national safeguarding teams.
  • We expect everyone at the club to follow Swim England's codes of conduct, and we take any concern seriously.

Further information