The Child Protection Policy for British Cheerleading has been officially endorsed by the NSPCC Child Protection in Sport Unit in June 2003. The BCA Child Protection Policy booklet is distributed to all member clubs. The BCA commenced implementation with immediate effect from June 2003.
The introduction and implementation of this Policy is a requirement under the Protection Of Children Act 1999. A year long project of consultation and development in conjunction with the relevant authorities before official approval was achieved.
All governing bodies of sport are required to establish detailed codes of practice to ensure the safety and well being of children, young people, and those with special needs. This booklet defines codes of practice for cheerleading, what to look for, and what to do should a problem arise.
Governing bodies of sport are responsible for vetting coaches and staff to ensure that those who might seek access to children through their sports in order to harm them are prevented from doing so.
Significant time and resources have, and are, being expended by BCA to ensure that the safety and well-being of children is paramount, and to conform with legal responsibilities.
The BCA is a Registered Body with the Criminal Records Bureau for processing CRB Disclosure Applications. All existing voluntary coaches and club staff on the BCA National Coaches Register will need to have their BCA registrations upgraded, free of charge, to include CRB processing. New distinctive photo ID Cards are issued.
This is the only official Child Protection Policy in cheerleading. No other such policy exists in this sport, either approved or in official development.
BCA Child Protection Policy for British Cheerleading (
PDF, 112Kb)
BCA Child Protection Policy for British Cheerleading (A4, 15 HTML pages)
BCA registered clubs have been mailed copies of the printed booklet, together with details of who should apply for CRB Clearance, and how to do so. It is our aim to encourage and active assist all club staff to be CRB cleared as soon as possible.
See notes on CRB applications on who should apply and what to do.
