Creating a safe, supportive, and fun environment for everyone at Dartford District Swim Club.

A Message From Your Welfare Officer

Hello everyone,

Welcome to our club’s welfare page. My name is Joyce Otobo, and my role is to ensure that every single member feels safe, heard, and supported. Swimming should be a positive and enjoyable experience for all, and safeguarding is at the heart of everything we do.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have a question, a concern, or just want to chat about something. No issue is too small. This page provides all the information you need, but a conversation is always welcome.

Best wishes,
Joyce Otobo

Your Club Welfare Team
Your Welfare Officer is your first point of contact for any safeguarding or welfare concerns. All communication is treated with confidentiality.

Welfare Officers, as well as all coaches and volunteers, have current DBS checks, Safeguarding training and all other training relevant to their role. They’re here for swimmers, parents, coaches and volunteers.

If you are interested in joining the team, please email us to find out more.

Our Commitment to Safeguarding

DDSC is affiliated with Swim England and has formally adopted the *Wavepower* safeguarding policy and procedures. We are committed to providing a safe environment where all members are protected from harm, abuse, and discrimination.

At DDSC, we are proud to hold SwimMark Accreditation, the quality standard for swimming clubs in England. SwimMark is Swim England’s quality mark, designed to help clubs achieve good governance, deliver the best possible swimming experience, and support the development of swimmers at every level. Achieving and maintaining SwimMark Accreditation demonstrates our ongoing commitment to ensuring we provide the best possible environment for our swimmers to thrive.

The club has SwimMark accreditation which is Swim England’s quality standard for clubs. It recognises high standards of governance, sustainability and effectiveness. This is the Swim England’s ‘quality mark’. It recognises nationally and regionally the clubs that are committed to providing safe, effective and quality services for the benefit of their members, and we trive to maintain the highest standards of safety, enjoyment, and excellence for all our members.

Safeguarding Information from Swim England

How to Report a Concern

If you have any concerns about the welfare of a child or adult at the club, please report them. It is not your responsibility to decide if abuse has occurred, but it is your responsibility to report any concerns you may have.

1. Contact the Club Welfare Officer: This is the primary way to report a concern. You can email them at welfare@yourswimclub.com.
2. Speak to a Coach or Committee Member: If you prefer, you can speak to any coach or committee member you trust, and they will escalate it to the Welfare Officer.
3. Contact the Swim England Safeguarding Team: If you feel you cannot raise a concern within the club, you can contact the national safeguarding team directly at 01509 640 700 or by visiting their website.
4. Use Swimline: This is a confidential free-phone number provided by the NSPCC for the aquatics community. Call 0808 100 4001 to speak to someone.

Club Policies, Codes of Conduct & Constitution

These documents form the foundation of our club’s culture. We expect all members—swimmers, parents, coaches, and volunteers—to adhere to them.

Please visit this link – https://www.ddsc.org/policies/

Useful Links & External Support

• Childline – Confidential support for young people.
• NSPCC – The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.
• YoungMinds – The UK’s leading charity for children and young people’s mental health.
• The Ann Craft Trust – Safeguarding for adults at risk.