1. Why this exists and who it covers

Most of what we run is adults, but not all of it. Our Tuesday social nights are open to the public and young people do come, sometimes with a parent and sometimes with an older sibling or a friend. Partner dancing involves physical contact by design. Those two facts together are why this document exists rather than being folded into the Code of Conduct.

It applies to every adult acting for BCS Latin Dance — Salsa Paul, any volunteer helper, any guest or assistant instructor, any DJ or host — in relation to anyone under 19 or any adult who is vulnerable by reason of disability, illness or circumstance.

2. Supervision — the rules that do not bend

Two adults, or open view. No adult is ever alone and out of sight with a young person at one of our activities. If a one-to-one moment is unavoidable — a conversation, a first-aid situation — it happens where other people can see it, with the door open, in the main room.
No private lessons with a minor behind a closed door. A parent or guardian is present, or the lesson takes place in open view of others. There is no version of this we make an exception for.
Parents are always welcome to stay and watch. Any class, any night, no notice, no permission needed. A place that asks parents to wait outside is a place worth being suspicious of.
Teaching touch stays minimal, announced and refusable, and with a young person we default to demonstrating rather than touching at all.
No transport alone. We do not drive a young person anywhere on our own.
No private messaging. Communication with anyone under 19 goes through their parent or guardian, not by direct message, and not on a personal social account.
No socialising outside the activity — no meeting up, no adding them on personal social media, no gifts.
Washrooms and changing. Adults do not accompany a young person into a washroom or changing area. If help is genuinely needed, a parent or guardian does it.

3. Screening — who is allowed near young people

Criminal record check, including vulnerable sector screening, for Salsa Paul and for any volunteer or assistant who works directly with young people or vulnerable adults. Renewed every five years, or sooner if a venue or partner asks.
Two references, contacted and written down, for any volunteer or contracted instructor before they work with us.
Nobody starts before the checks are back. A new helper may be in the room as an extra pair of hands under direct supervision, but not working unsupervised with young people.
This policy and the Code of Conduct are read and signed by every adult before they begin, and their acceptance is kept on file.

4. Conduct

Corporal punishment is prohibited absolutely. No physical discipline of any kind, ever, for any reason.
No shouting at, belittling, isolating or humiliating a young person as a correction.
No alcohol supplied to, or consumed with, anyone underage. No adult teaching or supervising while impaired.
No photographs or video of a young person published without a parent or guardian's explicit consent — see our Photo & Video Notice.
No favouritism, singling out, or private attention that sets one young person apart.

5. Training

Before working directly with young people or vulnerable adults, every adult is taken through this policy, the Code of Conduct and the reporting duty below, and confirms in writing that they have understood them. We revisit it at least once a year and whenever the policy changes. Given the size of this operation that is a conversation and a signature rather than a course — but it happens, it happens first, and it is written down.

6. If abuse is suspected or alleged

The steps, in order:

Make the person safe. Immediate risk comes before anything else.
Report externally, straight away. To child protection or the police as above. Do not interview the young person, do not test the allegation, and do not warn the person it concerns — all three can damage the actual investigation.
Tell Paul (or, if the concern is about Paul, go straight to the authorities and to one of the external bodies in the Complaint Procedure). Salsa Paul is the designated person for handling these reports.
Suspend involvement immediately. Anyone the allegation concerns stops working with young people at once, pending the outcome. That is a precaution, not a finding, and it is applied to everyone including Paul.
Notify our insurer and, where relevant, the venue.
Write it down at the time — what was seen or said, in the words used, with the date, time and who was present. Kept securely and separately.
Support the person who raised it. Nobody is ever penalised for reporting a concern in good faith, and we would far rather hear a hundred concerns that come to nothing than miss one.

7. Records

We keep, securely and permanently:

Applications, references and identity verification for every volunteer, contractor and assistant
Criminal record and vulnerable sector check results and dates
Signed acknowledgement of this policy and the Code of Conduct
Records of the protection briefing each person received
An accident and incident register, and any record of an abuse allegation, including who was notified and when

Student and attendee policy acceptance is recorded automatically at sign-up, with the date and the policy version accepted.

8. Review

Reviewed at least once a year, and immediately after any incident. If you think something here is missing or too weak, tell us — paul@bcslatindance.com or +52 612 198 9190.

Safety & Protection Policy