Skip to content

Safeguarding in martial arts

Achieving the Safeguarding Code in Martial Arts will recognise clubs and providers who’ve demonstrated that they’ve reached and maintained good safeguarding standards. It’ll empower parents and carers to make informed decisions when selecting a club or provider for their child.

The code – which can be viewed here – has been developed through close consultation between us, representatives from martial arts governing bodies and those with years of expertise in safeguarding, including the Child Protection in Sport Unit, the Ann Craft Trust and the National Working Group.

Judo fighters talking post-fight

Who can achieve the code?

The Safeguarding Code in Martial Arts can be achieved by governing bodies, associations and organisations. It can also be achieved by clubs or by instructors, coaches and teachers outside of a club structure.

If you're affiliated to the British Judo Association (BJA), please contact the BJA to apply for certification with the Safeguarding Code in Martial Arts.

For the British Taekwondo Council (BTC), clubs don't need to apply to the Safeguarding Code, however clubs are invited to apply for the Safeguarding Code in Martial Arts via the British Taekwondo Council if they so wish. The BTC will apply to the Safeguarding Code on behalf of the club.

If you're affiliated to British Taekwondo (BT), please register and apply. Although applying for the Safeguarding Code in Martial Arts isn't a mandatory requirement for BT clubs, it's strongly advised by BT.

If you're affiliated to the British Martial Arts & Boxing Association (BMABA) and you've achieved the free Club Colours Award, you don't need to apply to the Safeguarding Code, as it will be automatically issued to you.

All other organisations, associations, clubs, private companies and sole trading instructors/coaches/teachers involved in martial arts can work towards the Safeguarding Code in Martial Arts. 

The Code covers five broad areas:

  • Policy: Having a comprehensive safeguarding policy in place that’s been updated in the last three years
  • Procedures/systems: Covering areas such as reporting concern, through to recruitment of staff and volunteers
  • Practices: Covering codes of conduct for children, coaches and parents through to practical guidance on the use of social media
  • Education and training: Ensuring that coaches are appropriately qualified and have undertaken safeguarding training
  • Implementing and monitoring: Ensuring that policies are reviewed regularly and that risk assessments are in place.

To find out more and to register and start working towards the code, visit the Safeguarding Code in Martial Arts website. 

Safeguarding Code website

Our policy on cold calls

Sport England and any funded organisations involved in administering the Safeguarding Code in Martial Arts, such as National Working Group, will never ‘cold call’ individuals, clubs or organisations who’ve registered to apply to receive the Safeguarding Code.

Applicants’ phone numbers are not collected as part of the Safeguarding Code in Martial Arts registration process and applicants for the Safeguarding Code in Martial Arts will only be contacted via email for the purposes of processing and maintaining applications, where relevant consent has already been provided.

There’s also no cost involved for individuals, clubs or organisations in applying to receive the Safeguarding Code in Martial Arts.

For the avoidance of doubt, if you do receive a call relating to the administration of the Safeguarding Code in Martial Arts, it’s unlikely to be from Sport England and/or National Working Group.

These cold-call phone scams typically involve fraudsters deceiving people into believing they’re speaking to a trusted company or agency such as a government department.

Report a cold call to the regulator

No one involved in sport and physical activity, whether they’re a volunteer, participant, spectator or an elite athlete, should ever have to worry about abuse or harassment.

Find out more about safeguarding

Sign up to our newsletter

You can find out exactly how we'll look after your personal data, but rest assured we’ll only use it to make sure you receive our newsletter, to understand how you interact with our newsletter, and to provide administrative information about our newsletter.