REPORTING A CONCERN ABOUT A COACH OR ATHLETE IN CHEERLEADING
SportCheer England currently consists of an unfunded, voluntary board with no formal membership. Because SportCheer England is not yet a recognised regulatory authority with membership, we are unable to carry out our own independent investigations. SportCheer England will instead support the work of clubs Safeguarding Officers/Leads, Children’s Social Services, LADOs, Police and other relevant authorities. The hope is that through the Sport England recognition process we can secure the relevant status and funding to meet our urgent need to build capacity, resources and help for those who need it.
WHO TO REPORT TO?
IF A CHILD IS IN IMMEDIATE DANGER / AT RISK
Please call 999.
IF YOU HAVE A CONCERN REGARDING A CHILD OR COACH AT YOUR CLUB
In the first instance we would always recommend you contact your club’s Designated Safeguarding Officer/Lead. To understand this process better, please use the CPSU flowchart for reporting: https://thecpsu.org.uk/media/319549/safeguarding-reporting-procedure-flowcharts-watermarked.pdf
If your club does not have a Safeguarding Officer/Lead and you need to seek advice as to where to report / are a Safeguarding Officer needing support on managing a case / are unsatisfied or concerned with the way a case has been managed by your club, you can contact SportCheer England’s Safeguarding Lead at scesafeguarding@gmail.com who will be able to provide some support and signposting.
IF YOU ARE A DESIGNATED SAFEGUARDING LEAD/OFFICER
If you are a DSL/O, please follow your club’s Child Protection Policy and procedures for reporting to your local authority. If the concern regards a coach, please then also additionally update SportCheer England with any relevant information on the coach, once your report has been filed (for example, notify SCE to say you have filed a report on X coach for X allegation and it is currently under investigation / has resulted in a charge etc).