Policy for Use of Changing Rooms and Showering Facilities

Introduction  

This Policy is intended to allow Burton Tennis and Squash Club to meet the needs of its members, taking into account the facilities that are available to them, the number of people accessing them and the activities they are undertaking.

Burton Tennis and Squash Club strives to ensure that all children are safeguarded from abuse and have an enjoyable tennis experience.

Changing Facilities for Juniors

Due to the limited changing facilities, particularly at peak times of their use by members, it may be usually most practical for junior players to come to the Club already changed, wearing suitably warm clothing e.g. tracksuits, and go home afterwards to change and shower.

This Policy sets out the guidelines for the acceptable use of our changing rooms.

  1. Due to the limited changing facilities available, particularly at peak times of their use by members, it is most practical for children to come to the Club already changed, wearing suitably warm clothing e.g. tracksuits, and go home afterwards to change and shower.
  1. Children will have sole use of the disabled toilet, changing and showering facilities. This reduces any risks and potential vulnerability associated with mixing adults and children when changing and showering.
  1. On the rare occasions where it is unavoidable for adults and children to share our changing, toilet and showering facilities, they will do so at different times and this will be overseen by the relevant DBS checked coach, appropriate representative of the external organisation using the Club facilities, volunteer or member of the Club Committee.
  1. On the rare occasions where it is unavoidable that changing rooms are used by both adults and children at the same time, there will be access to separate changing, showering and toilet areas.
  1. Under no circumstances will adult staff, coaches or volunteers change or shower at the same time as children using the changing rooms.
  1. Mixed gender groups of children will have access to separate changing rooms, or use the same changing room. but at different times.
  1. If we are made aware that a child or adult self-identifies as a gender that differs from the gender they were assigned at birth, we will work with them and their parents/carers (where it relates to a child) to make reasonable adjustments to changing arrangements to suit their needs (NB for more information on this please go to https://thecpsu.org.uk/help-advice/topics/lgbt-young-people-and-sport/)
  1. Mobile phones and other electronic devices must not be used in changing rooms.
  1. For younger groups of children, a DBS checked coach, appropriate representative of the external organisation using the Club facilities, volunteer or member of the Club Committee will wait outside the changing rooms to allow children to call for assistance if required.
  • Where no changing facilities are available children, parents and travelling teams/players will be made aware prior to the game and advised to make alternative arrangements and to take appropriate additional clothing e.g. tracksuits etc.

References:     BTSC Safeguarding Policy

LTA ‘What’s The Score’ Toolkit