Safeguarding & Policies

DS Coaching Ltd is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children and young people who attend our sessions, camps and programmes.

We believe every child has the right to:

feel safe
be treated with respect
enjoy sport in a positive environment
be protected from harm

All DS Coaching staff and coaches follow safeguarding best practice, maintain professional boundaries, and are expected to report any concerns immediately.

Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)

Derek Sharpe
📧 derek@dscoachingni.co.uk

AccessNI

DS Coaching follows safer recruitment processes and AccessNI vetting is used where required for roles involving regulated activity with children.

Reporting a concern

If you have a safeguarding concern relating to a child involved in DS Coaching, please contact the DSL immediately using the email above.

In an emergency, always call 999.

2) Privacy Notice (Website Version)

Privacy Notice (Parents/Guardians)

DS Coaching Ltd collects personal information in order to safely deliver coaching services.

This may include:

child name, age/date of birth, and emergency contact details
medical information relevant to safe participation (e.g. asthma/allergies)
parent/guardian contact details
booking and attendance records
accident/incident records where required
photos/videos where consent has been given

We store personal data securely and only share information where necessary for safety, safeguarding, or legal reasons.

We do not sell personal data.

If you have questions about how DS Coaching handles data, please contact:
📧 derek@dscoachingni.co.uk

3) Photography, Video & Social Media (Website Version)

Photography, Video & Social Media

From time to time DS Coaching Ltd may take photos or short videos during sessions for promotional purposes (website, social media, posters).

We will:

only use media where parental consent is provided
never use full names alongside images
never take photos/videos in toilets/changing areas
treat all images respectfully and appropriately

Parents/guardians can withdraw consent at any time by emailing:
📧 derek@dscoachingni.co.uk

4) Bookings, Cancellations & Refunds (Website Version)

Bookings, Cancellations & Refunds

All DS Coaching sessions, camps and programmes must be booked in advance through our official booking system where applicable.

Places are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

Missed sessions

If a child misses a session due to illness, holidays, or other commitments, refunds are not guaranteed. In some cases, DS Coaching may offer a discretionary credit.

DS Coaching cancellations

If DS Coaching cancels a session (e.g. due to weather or venue closure), we will offer a replacement session, credit, or refund depending on the programme.

Behaviour and safety

DS Coaching reserves the right to remove a child from a session if behaviour is unsafe or disruptive. Refunds are not guaranteed in these circumstances.

For booking queries, contact:
📧 derek@dscoachingni.co.uk

5) Complaints Procedure (Website Version)

Complaints

DS Coaching Ltd aims to provide a positive, high-quality experience for all children and families.

If you are unhappy with any aspect of our service, we encourage you to raise concerns promptly so we can resolve issues quickly and fairly.

How to raise a complaint

Please email:
📧 derek@dscoachingni.co.uk

Include:

your name
your child’s name (if relevant)
the programme/session
details of the issue

We aim to respond within a reasonable timeframe.

Safeguarding concerns should be raised immediately and will be managed under our safeguarding procedures.

6) Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (Website Version)

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

DS Coaching Ltd is committed to creating an environment where all children feel welcomed, respected and included.

We do not tolerate discrimination, bullying or exclusion.

We aim to ensure that:

all children have fair access to our programmes
children are treated with dignity and respect
reasonable adjustments are made where possible to support participation

Parent & Participant Code of Conduct

To ensure DS Coaching sessions remain safe and enjoyable for everyone, we ask all children and parents/guardians to:

treat coaches, children and families with respect
use positive language
follow safety instructions
avoid bullying or discriminatory behaviour
support fair play and good sportsmanship

DS Coaching reserves the right to remove participants or parents from sessions if behaviour becomes unsafe or inappropriate.