Health and Safety Policy

Health and Safety Policy Statement

Knuckle Down is committed to encouraging every young person to take part in our coaching sessions, but the health, wellbeing and safety of each participant is always our first priority. Sessions are non-contact and structured around age and ability, and coaches ensure young people take part only within safe, appropriate limits.

To support this commitment, Knuckle Down will:

Carry out and record regular risk assessments covering the coaching space, equipment and activities delivered in each partner school.
Put in place the safety measures identified by those assessments before a session runs.
Ensure every young person is coached at a level appropriate to their age, maturity and development, reviewed regularly rather than fixed at the start of a programme.
Ensure every coach understands and follows this policy.
Appoint a competent person to hold day-to-day responsibility for health and safety.
Ensure normal operating procedures and emergency procedures (including the host school's fire and evacuation procedures) are known by every coach before a session begins.
Ensure access to a qualified first aider, first aid kit, and a working phone at every session.
Record and report any injury or accident occurring during a Knuckle Down session, to both Knuckle Down and the host school.
Review this policy regularly and monitor how well it's working in practice.

As a Coach or Volunteer, You Have a Duty To:

Take reasonable care for your own safety and the safety of the young people and colleagues around you.
Cooperate with Knuckle Down on health and safety matters.
Use all equipment correctly and only for its intended purpose.
Never interfere with or misuse anything provided for health, safety or welfare.

Shared Responsibility With Host Schools

Because Knuckle Down delivers sessions on school premises rather than in a fixed club or gym, health and safety is a shared responsibility:

The host school is responsible for the safety of the building, fire procedures, and sharing relevant medical information about pupils in advance.
Knuckle Down is responsible for the safety of the coaching activity itself — equipment, technique, session structure and coach conduct.
A school staff member is present or contactable throughout every session.

Knuckle Down Health and Safety Officer: [Name]

First Aid: A first aid kit and a qualified first aider are present at every Knuckle Down session. Where a session is not held at Knuckle Down's own base, the location of the nearest first aid point is confirmed with the host school in advance.

Qualified First Aiders:

[Name]
[Name]
[Name]