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SAMA
Working together to build a safer community for our children
Parents must not assume your child is safe just because they are doing an outside run activity within a state school, leisure or community centre Most activity groups now state that they are CRB enhanced police checked and although this is a vital component in child protection, however for SAMA it is only part of the jigsaw. Actually knowing someone's true character over a long period of time is more important to me. Many groups today seem to fling open their doors to complete strangers in the hope within a relatively short space of time that they will become instructors. By doing this they therefore have no idea about the true inner character of these people. The reason is purely for financial gain to increase venues and membership . Unlike them SAMA has a closed door policy That means all SAMA instructors have been with us since the very beginning right from white belt. So as you can imagine we have got to know them all pretty well. To me that in itself is more important when talking about child protection.
The policies of a Council on child protection The head of child protection for East Sussex Council said about martial art and activity groups who hire their premises i.e.; schools, leisure & community centre's The East Sussex Council and Education Authority say that "its up to organisations or sports groups who hire school, community or leisure centre premises to have their own child protection policy and parents need to satisfy themselves as to the quality and safety of the service being provided". what they are really saying Council run Schools, leisure & community centre's have no fixed child protection guidelines in place that check outside groups using these premises. (This type of council policy may also apply to other counties around the country). what parents have to understand is Just because a person who runs an activity or wears a black belt does not mean they are safe, competent, insured, recognised or police checked. conclusion The lack of a fixed child protection policy by the council or education authority is a dangerous loop-hole in their criteria. For this could surely open the door for any incompetent, unrecognised, uninsured, violent criminal or pedophile group or person to take advantage of this lack of child protection. Parents must understand that any person with a bit of knowledge, (even learning from a book) could put on a black belt (for there is no law against this), hire a school, church, leisure or community centre hall for the purpose of doing a children's activity such as karate could do so. The lack of any protection policy guidelines by these professional public tax paid authorities are putting children of the community who wish to participate in a after-school activity clearly at risk.
As a parent I want to know how can I safeguard my children?
The NSPCC state's... "The more knowledge we all have, the safer our children will be"
WHAT PARENTS SHOULD BE LOOKING FOR ADOES THE CLUB HAVE AN OFFICIALLY RECOGNISED CHILD PROTECTION POLCY?A Some clubs say they have a child protection policy. The truth of the matter is that many clubs have no child protection policy at all, or have a totally inadequate policy that is made up by themselves. SAMA child protection policy is a NSPCC policy that all our instructors follow that has been endorsed through our governing body FEKO AARE ALL THE INSTRUCTORS & HELPERS C.R.B CODE 3 ENHANCED DISCLOSURE POLICE CHECKED?A Saying we are police checked could mean we are checked at the local police station. This is just a standard check and not at all suitable for working with children. Also clubs may have people who help in class, these people must also be vetted and checked. SAMA instructors and class helpers are CRB (criminal records bureau) enhanced disclosure code 3 police checked. An enhanced 3 disclosure check is the highest level police check available for working with children. SAMA Organisation has to follow very strict child protection guidelines. AIS THE INSTRUCTOR QUALIFIED TO TEACH MY CHILD?A Some karate clubs are not accountable to anyone, while others belong to associations that take on any group for the sake of selling licence fee's. These groups may be a danger to students in regard to giving bad supervision, not having qualified or experienced instructors who are teaching unsuitable or dangerous exercise or techniques, etc. Unlike other groups who take on outside groups and instructors to build up there membership, we can proudly say we are not an open group but more of a internal family group. All SAMA instructors and helpers have been with us from the very beginning many since they were young. Because of this we know a lot about their character, honesty. SAMA instructors are fully recognised by the Federation of English Karate Organisations (FEKO), most instructors have over 10 years teaching experience. SAMA has been established in the South since 1978 and is considered by many to be the most recognised professional group in the South. We feel that no other karate club comes near to our professionalism. FEKO who SAMA is affiliated to is one of the largest English Karate Governing Bodies. AIS THE INSTRUCTOR AND CLUB PROPERLY INSURED?A Many instructors and clubs say they are insured, this may be so, but if they are just taking about public liability then this is totally inadequate for the protection of students. SAMA instructors have 2 million pounds professional indemnity. SAMA Organisation carries 5 million pounds public liability insurance. Students have member to member insurance. Instructors indemnity insurance protects against claims caused by bad supervision by the instructor in charge of the class. He is the only one who may stand accountable and recognised legally by the insurance company. Anyone watching such as parents, even though they may have insurance themselves have no legal right regarding insurance or authority within that class. Insurance only applies to instructors 18yrs and above. Liability insurance is for damage to premises and third party claims, this insurance is held by the organisation or association. The student should also receive personal insurance issued by the clubs governing body, this protects them against accidents caused by themselves. AARE THE INSTRUCTORS FIRST AID QUALIFIED?A This is something of a gray area and something you will find that many instructors of other clubs are not, or may have only a very basic first aid certificate. This may be acceptable to parents. SAMA instructors have St John's Ambulance H&S (Health & Safety Qualifications) Health & Safety Qualifications is a day long intensive professional instructional course that covers all the health and safety issues regarding first aid within the work place. SAMA Organisation's safety record is 100%. AIS THERE A MEDICAL FORM REGARDING MY CHILD'S HEALTH TO FILL IN?A Parent/s should be given a medical form to fill in before their child's training starts. This will make the instructor fully aware if the child has any health problems which will help the instructor to act accordingly. We feel that if a group, club or instructor is officially recognised then they would welcome your attention to this. Especially when they have spent time and money providing an official child protection policy. Therefore they should be more than willing to provide you with all the information.
AIS MY CHILD BEING TAUGHT SAFE EXERCISE?A
Many karate or kickboxing groups don't seem to understand or have any idea about safe exercise. Teaching incorrect exercise especially to children can in later years lead to damaged joints and arthritis. At one club we saw children doing flying head butts on shields which could of resulted in a child ending up with a damaged or broken neck. The club in question is a karate group who takes on their students with little expereince as instructors after only a few months of joining. (see compare our prices page).
AIS MY CHILD BEING TAUGHT SAFE KARATE THAT IS SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN?A An instructor with a kung fu group was teaching children hand strikes to the throat and eyes, kicks to the groin and kneecaps. These techniques are certainly very dangerous to teach young children and something that they might imitate outside or at school.
PARENTS PLEASE UNDERSTAND THIS! YOU ARE LEAVING YOUR CHILD WITH A COMPLETE STRANGER. SO PLEASE MAKE SURE YOUR CHILD IS LEARNING IN A SAFE AND HEALTHY INVIRONMENT WITH AN EXPEREINCED INSTRUCTOR
iSO PLEASEi
AND THINK! BEFORE YOU JOIN A CLUB
IF YOU KNOW OF OTHER CHILDREN WHO ARE DOING KARATE, OR PARENTS WHO ARE THINKING OF TAKING THEIR CHILD TO KARATE. WOULD YOU PLEASE INFORM THEM ABOUT THESE IMPORTANT POINTS
SAMA Organisation has had a child protection policy in place since 1998 (sama members can read our child protection report in the members section)
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