The biggest one

The adult who brings the child stays in the room for the whole hour. This is not a drop off session and it never will be. No child is left in anyone else's care, and no adult is ever alone with a child who is not theirs. Most of what safeguarding policy exists to prevent is prevented by that one decision.

The adults

• Everyone in a designated role holds an enhanced AccessNI check and completes Irish FA safeguarding training, with refresh dates tracked rather than assumed.
• Helpers under eighteen never count towards adult numbers, always have a named adult responsible for them, and are never alone with a child.
• There are never fewer than two adults from the team on the floor, on top of the parent beside every child.

If something worries you

Tell someone at a session, or email info@beforeitcounts.com. You do not need to be certain and you do not need evidence. Raising a concern is not an accusation. It is written down the same day, acted on, and referred to statutory services where it has to be, which is not a decision we get to weigh up.

If a child is in immediate danger, ring 999. If you would rather go outside the programme entirely, the NSPCC helpline is 0808 800 5000.

Accidents, insurance and photographs

• A first aid kit and an accident book sit with the chairs in the quiet corner every week, and anything worth recording is recorded. You are beside your child, so you are the first pair of hands and you are told at the time. None of the team is a trained first aider, and we would rather say that than let a kit on a table imply otherwise.
• Public liability cover for the activity, including the under threes, is a condition of a session running. Some children's activity policies leave under threes out as standard, so it is confirmed in writing rather than assumed.
• No child whose family has said no is photographed, for the board in the hall or anywhere else. Anything that might go online is taken by one person who knows every child by sight, is checked again afterwards, and never goes up on the day. Children are never named alongside a photograph.

Money

Not for profit, run by volunteers. Family payments are held separately from anyone's own money under a written declaration of trust, and a second person who does not run the sessions can see every transaction. A governance pack and a full safeguarding policy are written and signed, and either one is yours if you want to read it.

The current status of any of this, including certificate dates and insurance cover, is available to any parent who asks. Email and you will get a straight answer.