Safeguarding policy

Josh Evans Soccer School is a trading name of Josh Evans Ltd, company number 08556575.

Our commitment

Josh Evans Soccer School coaches children from Reception to Year 8 in schools, after-school clubs, weekly programmes, holiday camps, tournaments and our Jets FC teams. The welfare of every child in our care comes first.

Every child has an equal right to be protected from harm, whatever their age, disability, sex, gender identity, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation.
Some children are more vulnerable because of special educational needs or disabilities, their past experiences, or the way they communicate. We take extra care to make sure they are heard.
No one working for us may harm a child, physically or emotionally.
Everyone who works with us shares the responsibility for keeping children safe.

Who this policy applies to

Everyone who works or volunteers with us: directors, employed and self-employed coaches, junior coaches, team managers, volunteers, and students on placement or work experience. It covers all our activities, including in-school and after-school sessions, Little Legends, Pre-Academy, the Technical Development Centre, Girls Only sessions, the Academy, holiday camps, one-to-one and small group coaching, tournaments, tours and Jets FC.

How we keep children safe

Safer recruitment. Everyone working with children has an enhanced DBS check before working with children, and we take up references.
Training. All staff complete safeguarding training before they start, refresh it regularly and are briefed on this policy. Our DSL holds Level 3 Designated Safeguarding Lead training.
Code of conduct. All staff read and sign our Staff Code of Conduct every year. It covers professional boundaries, physical contact, one-to-one situations, transport and confidentiality.
Communication. Staff do not contact children through personal phones, messages or social media. We communicate through parents and the club’s official channels.
Photos and video. We only take and share images of children for club purposes, with parental consent given at registration. Parents can opt out at any time in their ClassForKids account. Staff do not use personal devices to photograph children.
Safe sessions. Every venue and activity is risk assessed, and our Behaviour Policy sets out how we prevent and deal with bullying.
Records. Concerns are recorded accurately, stored securely and shared only with those who need to know, in line with the Data Protection Act 2018 and UK GDPR.

Working in schools

When we coach on a school site, we follow that school’s safeguarding procedures. Any concern about a child is reported to the school’s Designated Safeguarding Lead the same day, as well as to ours.

If you are worried about a child

If a child is in immediate danger, call 999. Otherwise, contact our DSL or Deputy DSL straight away. Parents, carers and children can contact them directly too. Our DSL will refer concerns to Surrey’s Children’s Single Point of Access (C-SPA) or the police when needed. Anyone can also contact C-SPA directly.

Concerns about someone who works for us

Report any concern about the behaviour of a coach, volunteer or anyone else working for us to our DSL. If the concern is about the DSL, report it to the Deputy DSL. We refer allegations to the Surrey Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) without delay and follow their advice. Staff can raise concerns about colleagues under our whistleblowing procedure without fear of reprisal, and we will refer to the Disclosure and Barring Service where the law requires it.

Jets FC

Our Jets FC teams play in the Epsom & Ewell Youth Football League and follow The FA’s safeguarding requirements. Safeguarding concerns about Jets FC go to our DSL in the same way.

Our related policies

This statement is supported by: Safeguarding Procedures for Staff 2026–27; Staff Code of Conduct 2026/27; Behaviour Policy 2026/27; Health & Safety Policy and risk assessments 2026–27; Codes of Conduct for players, parents and spectators; and our Terms and Conditions.

Legislation and guidance

This policy follows: Children Act 1989 and 2004; Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023; Keeping Children Safe in Education 2026; Keeping children safe during community activities, after-school clubs and tuition (DfE); Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006; Protection of Freedoms Act 2012; Sexual Offences Act 2003; Children and Families Act 2014 and the SEND Code of Practice; Equality Act 2010; Human Rights Act 1998; Data Protection Act 2018 and UK GDPR; the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Contacts

Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)	Josh Evans, Director. josh@joshevans.co.uk
Deputy DSL	David Cole, Head of Operations. david@joshevans.co.uk
Office	01372 844001. admin@joshevans.co.uk
Surrey Children’s Single Point of Access (C-SPA)	0300 470 9100 (Mon–Fri, 9am–5pm). cspa@surreycc.gov.uk
Surrey out of hours	01483 517 898 (evenings, weekends, bank holidays). edt.ssd@surreycc.gov.uk
Surrey LADO (concerns about adults)	0300 123 1650 (Mon–Fri, 9am–5pm)
Police	999 in an emergency. 101 if not urgent
NSPCC Helpline	0808 800 5000. help@nspcc.org.uk
Childline (for children)	0800 1111

Review

We review this policy every year, and sooner if the law or guidance changes or after any serious incident.

Policy owner: Josh Evans, Director and Designated Safeguarding Lead