Safeguarding at Dragon Academy

Every child who comes to Dragon Academy should enjoy their football and be safe. Keeping children safe comes before everything else we do, including results, and we take every concern seriously.

If a child is in immediate danger, call 999.

Our commitments

• Every coach is checked. Every Dragon coach must hold an enhanced DBS check with a check of the children's barred list, give two references and a signed self-declaration, and be interviewed by us. We are completing these checks for our current coaches now. Until a coach's check is complete, they never work alone with children. After that, we recheck every coach at least once a year using the DBS Update Service.

• Every coach is trained. Coaches must complete safeguarding training and refresh it at least every 3 years.

• Two adults, always. At least two adults are at every session, and we staff sessions to the NSPCC's recommended adult-to-child ratios.

• No one-to-one time. Coaches are never alone with a child out of sight of other adults. Our 1-to-1 coaching sessions only take place with a parent or carer present.

• No private contact. Coaches do not message children, connect with children on social media, or give children lifts. When a coach messages about your child in the Dragon Players app, they write to you, the parent or carer.

• Photos only with your consent. Only Dylan, or the one coach he designates to lead a session when he isn't there, takes photos or video, and images are moved to Dragon's storage and deleted from their phone within 7 days. We are asking every family for photo consent, we will only use images of children whose parents have agreed, and we will take any image down within 2 working days if you ask.

• We follow the Wales Safeguarding Procedures and work with the local authority and the police whenever a child may be at risk. We do not investigate concerns ourselves.

• Your child's information is protected. Dragon Academy Ltd is registered with the Information Commission (ICO). We look after children's personal information under UK data protection law and never share it with sponsors or advertisers.

Our Designated Safeguarding Lead

Our Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) is Dylan Powell.

• Email: dylan@dragondevelopment.co.uk

• Phone: 07366 837578

We are appointing a Deputy DSL. Until then, if your concern is about Dylan, please contact your local council's children's services directly using the numbers below.

You can talk to any of our coaches, but please also tell the DSL directly.

How to raise a concern

Worried about a child? Tell our DSL straight away. You can also contact your local council's children's services directly, at any time. You do not need to tell us first.

• Bridgend: 01656 642320 (daytime), 01443 743665 (out of hours)

• Rhondda Cynon Taf: 01443 425006 (daytime), 01443 743665 (out of hours)

• Neath Port Talbot: 01639 686802 (daytime), 01639 895455 (out of hours)

• Police: 999 in an emergency, 101 if it is not an emergency

• NSPCC Helpline (any adult worried about a child): 0808 800 5000

Worried about one of our coaches, or anyone working for Dragon? Tell our DSL. We will act straight away, follow the Wales Safeguarding Procedures and involve the local authority and the police where needed. You can also contact your local council directly using the numbers above.

Are you a child or young person? If something is worrying you, tell an adult you trust: your mum, dad or carer, a teacher, or one of our coaches. You can also talk to:

• Childline: 0800 1111, free, any time, or childline.org.uk

• Meic (for children and young people in Wales): call or WhatsApp 080880 23456, text 07943 114 449, or chat at meic.cymru, 8am to midnight every day

Our safeguarding policies

• Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy (PDF)

• How to Report a Concern (PDF)

• Coach Code of Conduct (PDF)

• Photography, Video and Social Media Policy (PDF)

• Safer Recruitment and Vetting Policy (PDF)

• Managing Allegations Against Coaches (PDF)

• Whistleblowing Policy (PDF)

• Data Protection and Children's Privacy Policy (PDF)

Photos of your child

You can change your photo consent, or ask us to take down any photo or video of your child, at any time. Email dylan@dragondevelopment.co.uk or reply to any Dragon message. We will remove it from our website, social media and app within 2 working days and let you know when it's done.

Dragon Academy Ltd, company number 16871720. Last reviewed: October 2026.