Every Matt Ratana Rugby Foundation coach who works with a young person through TackleLondon is background-checked, trained in mental health awareness, and supervised by our Designated Safeguarding Lead, Dr. Amy Atkinson. Here’s exactly what that means in practice.
Our Safeguarding Policy frames our number one rule: the welfare of the young person always comes first. It covers how coaches are expected to behave, how any concern is recognised and reported, and how we work with schools, parents & carers and the right authorities to keep young people safe – guided by Rugby Football Union best practice.
Our Safer Recruitment Policy covers who’s allowed anywhere near our young people in the first place. Every coach and volunteer passes an enhanced DBS check, verified references, and mandatory training: including safeguarding, county lines awareness, concussion awareness and mental health first aid, before they ever lead a session, funded entirely by MRRF.
We work with young people who are, in many cases, navigating real pressure at home, at school, or in their community. That means safeguarding isn’t a policy we keep in a drawer – it’s built into how every session actually runs.
Three things underpin it:
- Consistency: the same coaches work with the same young people every week, so concerns are noticed early by someone who already knows what “normal” looks like for that young person.
- Training: every coach is trained specifically to recognise changes in behaviour and to know exactly what to do next.
Clear boundaries: coaches are not, and are never presented as, therapists or clinical professionals. Their job is to notice, respond appropriately, and connect a young person to the right support.
Before a coach ever leads a session:
- An enhanced DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check
- Verified references
- NSPCC Safeguarding Training
- RFU Headcase concussion training
- Accredited Mental Health First Aid training
- First Aid
- England Rugby coaching qualification, where not already held
All fully funded by the Matt Ratana Rugby Foundation, our coaching delivery partner – this isn’t something coaches have to find time or money for on their own.
Amy’s Story
Amy’s career path has been varied, encompassing education, sport, academia, mentoring, and mental health awareness. She is particularly interested in issues of social and criminal justice and their impact on violence reduction, she has experience supporting prison experienced people both during and after release and supports a number of knife crime awareness initiatives. She has 26 years of experience in education, including completing a PhD and MA in Education at King’s College London in psycho-social linguistics and MFL Education – with a focus on social justice and language and power.
Following an undergraduate degree in French and German, at Cambridge University, Amy became a teacher and was Head of Modern Foreign Languages (French and German) at a large, boys’ comprehensive school in London. Amy later took time away from full-time teaching to care for family members and completed qualifications in T.E.F.L and post-natal and baby yoga teaching. She has been coaching rugby at all ages and to all genders for 12 years, is an England Rugby Mentor and has won awards for social inclusion. She was the first female Chair of her rugby club where she started the first ever girls’ rugby section. Amy runs England Rugby’s Rugby United program at county level, which aims to encourage traditionally under-represented groups of people to become involved in rugby in any and all capacities. Amy is Chair of Leadership and Succession, as well as Inclusion and Diversity at Surrey Rugby and is a member of the England Rugby Women’s Leadership Collective. A Women of the Year and 93% Club Alumna, Amy is proud of her state school background and is now Co-President of The Newnham Associates, a group of Cambridge graduates. In this role she supports and mentors young women from all backgrounds to apply to and thrive at Cambridge. Amy believes strongly in the power of community and belonging and particularly enjoys nurturing this aspect of her work in the foundation.
For schools, we see our role as additive, not separate. Our coaches work alongside your existing safeguarding staff; sharing relevant concerns through the appropriate channel, never around it. For parents and carers, that same principle holds: our Designated Safeguarding Lead, Dr. Amy Atkinson, is a named, direct, point of contact.
Are TackleLondon coaches background-checked?
Yes – all coaches complete an enhanced DBS background check before working with young people.
Are coaches trained therapists or counsellors?
No. Coaches are trained to recognise signs of struggle and signpost appropriately – they don’t provide therapeutic support themselves.
Who do coaches report concerns to?
Our Designated Safeguarding Lead, Dr Amy Atkinson. Concerns are handled alongside a school’s own safeguarding staff, a young person’s parents and carers, or the Local Authority or police directly.
Is this policy the same across every school and club TackleLondon works with?
Yes -training, vetting and escalation standards are consistent across every setting we deliver in.