This Council notes:
- Safeguarding protections for children and vulnerable adults are robustly applied in regulated settings such as schools and childcare services, but do not currently extend to many informal or unregulated extracurricular activities.
- Extracurricular activities, including dance, arts, and youth groups, are a vital part of children’s development and wellbeing, yet often operate without consistent or enforceable safeguarding standards.
- Recent national inquiries, including the Sheldon Review (football), the Whyte Review (gymnastics), and the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, have uncovered significant safeguarding failings in these settings.
- The absence of a national safeguarding framework has created a "postcode lottery", where protection varies significantly by activity type and location.
- This Council believes:
- Every child and vulnerable adult deserves equal safeguarding protection, regardless of the activity they take part in or where it is delivered.
- The current regulatory gap places children at unacceptable risk and requires urgent national attention.
- A national framework would provide clarity and consistency for providers, local authorities, parents, and participants alike.
This Council resolves to:
1. Endorse the call for a National Safeguarding Framework for Extracurricular Activities, as proposed by the British Dance Sport Association.
2. Write to the Secretary of State for Education and the Minister for Children, Families and Wellbeing, urging them to introduce legislation to implement the framework, including:
- A clear definition of regulated activity in extracurricular settings;
- Mandatory Designated Safeguarding Leads in every provider;
- Standardised vetting and safeguarding training for staff and volunteers;
- Proportionate inspection and enforcement powers for local authorities.
3. Encourage our local Members of Parliament to support this call and raise the issue in Parliament.
4. Share the framework and executive summary with local safeguarding partners and providers, encouraging best practice while national reform is pursued.
5. Invite representatives of the British Dance Sport Association to present their recommendations to a future meeting of the relevant scrutiny committee or safeguarding board.
This Council stands united in its commitment to improving protections for every child and vulnerable person in our borough.
Safeguarding goes beyond politics. It is a shared moral responsibility to ensure that no child or vulnerable adult receives less protection based on where they live or the activities in which they participate.