Safeguarding
Safeguarding at the BMC
Our mission is to safeguard the future of hill walking, climbing, and mountaineering, allowing individuals to experience adventure today and for generations to follow. The BMC actively supports clubs, community groups, and climbing walls to foster grassroots involvement, provide opportunities for participation, disseminate essential knowledge, and ensure that our sport is inclusive, safe, and welcoming.
Reporting a Concern
If you wish to report something that concerns you please contact: safeguarding@thebmc.co.uk or use our Online Safeguarding reporting form
Guidance for Reporting Concerns
BMC Safeguarding Surgeries
Governance
This next session of BMC Safeguarding Surgeries is an online open meeting for anyone who has any general queries regarding safeguarding, guidance or support, or would like to share good practice with others.
BMC Safeguarding Club Training
Clubs
This training has been developed for affiliated clubs with a named Safeguarding Officer. Additionally, this session is open to anyone from an affiliated club who wishes to find out more about general safeguarding and what to do if they have a concern.
Safeguarding Statement
The BMC acknowledges its responsibility to safeguarding, protecting, and promoting the welfare and well-being of children, young people and adults involved with the organisation.
Our safeguarding policy and associated guidance and procedures recognise that the safeguarding of everyone is paramount but in particular children, young people, and adults at risk. It aims to ensure that regardless of age, ability or disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation, socio-economic background, everyone has a positive and enjoyable experience and are protected from abuse.
We acknowledge that some people, including those with disabilities, additional needs, or those from ethnic minority communities, can be particularly vulnerable to abuse and we accept the responsibility to take reasonable and appropriate steps to safeguard them.
BMC Safeguarding Policy
The Safeguarding Policy (updated in 2024) outlines the role, responsibility and commitment of the BMC to safeguarding everyone and must be used in conjunction with the safeguarding statement and related policies.
Who to contact
BMC Safeguarding Team
Email: safeguarding@thebmc.co.uk
Phone number: 0161 4383305
BMC Safeguarding Manager
If you need any advice, guidance or support email: helen.murphy@thebmc.co.uk or call 0161 438 3305
Childline
An entirely confidential helpline
Phone 0800 1111 Web www.childline.org.uk
NSPCC:
Phone 0808 800 500 Email help@nspcc.org.uk
Child Protection in Sport Unit
Phone 0116 366 5590 Web www.thecpsu.org.uk Email cpsu@nspcc.org.uk
Other related policies and useful information
DOWNLOAD: BMC Whistleblowing Policy
DOWNLOAD: BMC Anti-bullying Policy
The Code of Conduct have been created with the aim of proactively assisting and guiding members and other participants towards the desired conduct. As a result, we hope that the sanctions for violating the Codes of Conduct, detailed at the end of the document, will not be necessary.
DOWNLOAD: BMC Codes of Conduct
The BMC is able to process DBS checks for BMC volunteers, individual BMC members who need them for their work and are unable to obtain them elsewhere.
The BMC can also arrange for clubs to have access to the DBS system.
The charge for the DBS is:
- £65 if you need the BMC to check your documents (for this we need to see the original documents, you can bring them to the BMC Office).
- £55 if you would like the Post Office to check your documents (£12 for document checking. Fee payable to the Post Office at the time of the check).
- £10 for BMC volunteers
For further information regarding the DBS process please contact the BMC Safeguarding Team: safeguarding@thebmc.co.uk
For Young People
READ: Safeguarding advice and guidance for young people
WATCH: Boundaries, consent and retaining control from IOC
WATCH: Powerful words from young people in this video from USA
GET: Help and advice for young people being bullied from National Bullying Helpline
For Parents
The Child Protection in Sport unit of the NSPCC has produced a free safeguarding e-learning course to help parents understand their role in keeping children safe in sport and to let them know who to turn to if they have any worries. Click here to access the course. Their Parents' Hub also has a wealth of useful information.
GET: Help and advice for parents dealing with school bullying from National Bullying Helpline
TIPS AND SUGGESTIONS: Recognising the signs of stress and listening to children from the Children's Society.
The BMC will be offering Safeguarding Training in the coming months both face to face and online (tutor led) - please contact the Safeguarding Team for further information. More details will be added to this page when dates are confirmed.
Minimum operating standards for coaches/instructors working with children in a supervisory capacity are as follows:
- A DBS that is accepted by the BMC, i.e. through the BMC DBS system and is less than 3 years old or on the update service
- Up to date safeguarding training - recognised by the BMC, and less than 3 years old