Safeguarding Policy

Cobra Jujitsu Skegness

1. Policy Statement

Cobra Jujitsu is committed to providing a safe, positive and inclusive training environment for all members, especially children and adults at risk (see our Adults at Risk Policy). We recognise our duty of care and follow UK safeguarding standards, including the principles of "Report, Record, Refer".

Cobra Jujitsu is a registered club with the British Martial Arts & Boxing Association (BMABA), the UK's leading independent martial arts governing body. This policy is aligned with BMABA's National Safeguarding Policy, and our instructors are required to meet BMABA's standards for DBS checks, safeguarding qualifications and safe practice.

Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility.

2. Designated Safeguarding Lead

Mark Adams is the club's Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) and Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO).  |  Email: safeguarding@cobrajujitsu.com
Responsible for safeguarding concerns, reporting, compliance, and liaison with external agencies if required.

For anything relating to additional or special educational needs, you can also contact Mark directly as SENCO at send@cobrajujitsu.com - see our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Policy.

If you would prefer to raise a concern independently of the club - including any concern about the club itself - you can also contact BMABA's dedicated Safeguarding Unit directly at safeguarding@bmaba.org.uk, or via their Raise a Concern page.

3. Scope of the Policy

This policy applies to:

  • All instructors
  • Assistant instructors
  • Volunteers
  • Senior students helping with classes
  • Parents and guardians
  • All junior and senior members

It covers training sessions, club events, online learning materials, and any Cobra Jujitsu-related activity.

4. Instructor Requirements

All instructors must:

  • Be registered with BMABA and hold an Enhanced DBS check
  • Hold a recognised first aid qualification
  • Complete BMABA's safeguarding training (including Safeguarding Children and, where relevant to their role, additional courses such as Safeguarding in Childminding and Special Educational Needs awareness)
  • Maintain appropriate martial arts qualifications
  • Follow club and BMABA safeguarding procedures
  • Maintain professional boundaries
  • Be insured to teach (public liability minimum £5m)
  • Teach only within declared disciplines and weapons
  • Supervise all assistant instructors and helpers

Only insured instructors may lead sessions.

You can verify any instructor's registration, insurance and safeguarding status on BMABA's National Register at any time.

5. Assistant Instructor Requirements

All assistant instructors and volunteers go through our Safer Recruitment Policy before taking on a role.

Over-18 Assistants (e.g. senior black belts)

May:

  • Lead warm-ups
  • Demonstrate techniques
  • Teach segments under supervision
  • Assist beginners
  • Supervise drills
  • Help with grappling dummy work

Must not:

  • Teach full sessions alone
  • Teach weapons unless insured
  • Make safety or safeguarding decisions
  • Be responsible for juniors

Under-18 Assistants (e.g. teenage senior students)

May:

  • Lead warm-ups
  • Demonstrate techniques
  • Assist beginners
  • Help with stretching

Must not:

  • Teach techniques
  • Teach throws or locks
  • Teach weapons
  • Supervise sparring
  • Make safety decisions
  • Lead sessions

All assistants must be supervised by an insured instructor at all times.

6. Behaviour Expectations

All instructors, assistants, volunteers, students and parents must treat others with respect, maintain professional boundaries, and never use abusive, aggressive or discriminatory behaviour. Bullying, harassment, intimidation or unsafe behaviour will not be tolerated.

Our full expectations for everyone at the club are set out in our Code of Conduct.

7. Managing Concerns

Any safeguarding concern must be reported immediately to the Safeguarding Lead, or to BMABA's Safeguarding Unit directly (see Section 2). We follow the UK safeguarding model:

  • Report the concern
  • Record the details
  • Refer to appropriate authorities if required

Concerns may include:

  • Unsafe behaviour
  • Inappropriate contact
  • Bullying
  • Neglect
  • Physical or emotional harm
  • Online safety issues
  • Anything that makes a child feel unsafe

8. Photography & Video

No photography or video during a session without instructor permission, and no images of juniors posted online without parental consent. Our full approach, including how to set your own photo consent preferences, is set out in our Photography & Social Media Policy.

9. Online Learning Safety

Cobra Jujitsu provides online training materials for educational use only. Students must:

  • Train safely
  • Use appropriate equipment (mats, grappling dummies)
  • Avoid practising techniques on another person without supervision

The club accepts no liability for injuries occurring outside official sessions.

10. Physical Contact

Martial arts training involves necessary physical contact, always for a clear training or safety purpose and kept professional. Our full approach is set out in our Physical Contact Policy.

11. Health & Medical Information

Parents and students must inform instructors of:

  • Medical conditions
  • Injuries
  • Allergies
  • Additional needs

Instructors will adapt training where appropriate.

12. Collection & Handover of Junior Members

A junior member is only ever released into the care of a parent, guardian, or another adult the parent has specifically authorised - never simply allowed to leave on their own say-so. Our full approach, including what happens if nobody arrives to collect a child, is set out in our Collection & Handover Policy.

13. Review of Policy

This policy is reviewed annually or when significant changes occur in:

  • Club structure
  • Safeguarding legislation
  • Insurance requirements
Back to Policies