Codes of Conduct
Clear expectations for members, parents and carers, young leaders, instructors and volunteers to help maintain a safe, respectful and welcoming karate club.
Our commitment
St Martins Karate Carnforth codes of conduct set out the standards expected from members, parents, carers, cadet leaders, assistants and volunteers.
They apply to activities connected with St Martins Junior Karate Club and St Martins Karate Carnforth, including classes, gradings, competitions, courses, demonstrations, trips, social events and online communication. They should be read alongside our safeguarding policies, Safe Practice Policy, Complaints and Appeals Procedure and other club guidance.
Following the relevant Code of Conduct is a condition of membership, attendance, volunteering or holding a club role. Serious or repeated breaches may lead to restrictions, suspension, exclusion or referral to the appropriate external organisation.
Members’ code of conduct
All child and adult members are expected to:
- treat instructors, other members, officials, parents, carers, visitors and venue staff with respect;
- listen carefully and follow safety instructions promptly;
- use karate techniques with control and only during authorised training, competition or genuine self-defence;
- never use karate skills to threaten, intimidate, bully, humiliate or deliberately harm another person;
- not bully, harass, discriminate against, sexually harass or victimise anyone;
- respect differences in age, ability, disability, sex, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, gender identity, background and experience;
- tell an instructor about pain, injury, illness, discomfort or a safety concern;
- stop immediately when instructed, when a partner taps or asks to stop, or when continuing would be unsafe;
- wear suitable clean kit, remove jewellery when instructed and use protective equipment correctly;
- arrive on time where possible, avoid unnecessary disruption and ask before leaving the training area;
- keep mobile phones away during training unless needed for medical, accessibility or emergency reasons;
- not attend while affected by alcohol, illegal drugs or anything else that makes training unsafe;
- follow the club’s photography, social-media and communication rules;
- report unsafe practice, bullying, discrimination, injuries or safeguarding concerns;
- raise complaints through the proper procedure rather than through confrontation or abusive online posts.
Attendance and commitment
Members should:
- make a reasonable effort to attend regularly and participate positively;
- notify absences where practical, especially for planned events, competitions or gradings;
- try their best while understanding that it is acceptable to make mistakes, ask for help, request an adjustment or stop an unsafe activity;
- avoid deliberately disrupting a class or ignoring repeated safety instructions.
Child-friendly Member Code
My karate promise
I will help make karate safe, friendly and enjoyable for everyone.
- I will listen to my instructors and follow safety rules.
- I will treat everyone kindly and fairly.
- I will not bully, threaten, tease or deliberately hurt anyone.
- I will use control and stop when asked.
- I will tell an instructor if I am hurt, worried, uncomfortable or do not understand.
- I will tell a trusted adult if something does not feel right.
- I will not use karate to show off, scare people or start fights.
- I will look after equipment and the place where we train.
- I will keep my phone away during class unless an adult says I may use it.
- I will try my best, and I know it is okay to make mistakes or ask for help.
For organised trips, competitions or events, separate information and consent arrangements may be provided.
Who can I speak to?
Children can speak to any trusted instructor. Paul Turner is the Designated Safeguarding Lead and Chris Haggan is the Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead.
A child can also ask a parent, carer or another trusted adult to help them report a concern.
It is always okay to speak up if something feels wrong, unsafe or upsetting.
Parents and Carers Code of Conduct
Parents, carers and support persons are expected to:
- support positive, safe and respectful participation;
- keep emergency contacts, medical information, consent choices and support needs up to date;
- ensure children arrive appropriately dressed and with the required equipment;
- make suitable arrangements for their child to travel to and from training, including providing prior written permission if their child is allowed to leave independently; tell an instructor about any changes to collection or travel arrangements;
- remain present for their child’s first lesson at minimum, unless another arrangement has been agreed; follow venue and instructor directions while watching;
- remain outside the training area unless invited or needed for an agreed support arrangement;
- not coach, criticise or shout instructions from the side; respect instructors, officials, other members and families;
- not approach, discipline, question or confront another child; raise concerns privately with an instructor, safeguarding lead or through the complaints procedure;
- not post images of other children without appropriate permission or identify them unnecessarily online;
- not share private messages, safeguarding information or personal information about others;
- not use abusive, threatening, discriminatory or damaging language in person, by message or online;
- tell the club promptly about anything that may affect a child’s safety, welfare or participation.
Watching classes
Parents and carers may watch classes where venue space and club arrangements allow.
Continued attendance is subject to respectful behaviour, safeguarding considerations and venue limitations.
Workforce Code of Conduct
This section applies to adult instructors, assistant instructors, volunteers and anyone acting on behalf of St Martins Karate Group.
Professional conduct and boundaries
The workforce must:
- place participant safety, welfare and dignity before performance, grading, competition or personal interests;
- act as positive role models and maintain appropriate professional boundaries;
- treat participants fairly and avoid favouritism, humiliation, ridicule, intimidation or discrimination;
- not use sexualised language, jokes, messages, contact or relationships with participants;
- never use a position of trust to form an inappropriate emotional, sexual, financial or exploitative relationship;
- avoid unnecessary one-to-one isolation with a child; not privately message children through personal social-media accounts;
- use physical contact only where necessary, proportionate and appropriate for coaching, safety or first aid;
- never use excessive exercise, contact, pain, fear or humiliation as punishment;
- not carry out duties while affected by alcohol, illegal drugs or medication that makes the role unsafe;
- declare conflicts of interest, relevant relationships and anything that may affect their suitability.
Safe coaching and supervision
The workforce must:
- follow the Safe Practice Policy and risk assessments;
- plan activities suitable for members’ age, ability, experience, health and development;
- provide appropriate supervision, partner matching, protective equipment and safe use of space;
- respect refusal, discomfort, a request to stop or a need for adjustment;
- stop unsafe activities and record injuries or significant near misses;
- never leave an under-18 leader or assistant solely responsible for a class or group.
Safeguarding and reporting
The workforce must:
- know the safeguarding contacts and reporting routes;
- take disclosures and concerns seriously and report them promptly;
- not investigate, promise secrecy or confront the person alleged to have caused harm;
- call 999 where someone is in immediate danger or urgent help is required;
- maintain confidentiality and share information only where necessary;
- report poor practice or concerns about colleagues regardless of seniority.
Communication and information
The workforce must:
- use approved, professional communication channels;
- follow photography and consent arrangements;
- never photograph or record in toilets or changing areas;
- protect personal, medical, membership and safeguarding information;
- maintain the qualifications, safeguarding training and DBS arrangements required for their role.
Cadet leaders and under-18 assistant instructors
Young leaders are valued members of the club, but they remain children themselves and must work within clear boundaries under adult supervision.
- Cadet leaders may be appointed from age 10.
- Assistant instructors must be at least 16 and hold a minimum grade of 3rd kyu.
- No person under 18 may run a class unsupervised.
- They must remain visible to and under the direction of an authorised adult instructor.
- They must not independently discipline children, supervise changing or toilets, manage safeguarding disclosures, transport children or privately message younger members.
- They should only demonstrate, encourage or support activities appropriate to their age, grade and experience.
- They must follow safety instructions and act as positive role models.
- They must report worries, disclosures, injuries or unsafe practice immediately to the supervising adult.
- They must not promise to keep a safeguarding concern secret.
- They must not use their role to intimidate, embarrass or control younger members.
- Their role must not interfere unreasonably with their own training, welfare, education or enjoyment.
- They should ask for help whenever they are unsure or uncomfortable.
Parent or carer agreement
A parent or carer must agree to the young person taking the role and understand its limits.
The supervising adult instructor remains responsible for the class and safeguarding at all times.
Breaches, concerns and sanctions
The club will respond proportionately to breaches of these codes, taking account of:
- seriousness;
- age and understanding;
- previous conduct;
- the level of risk;
- safeguarding needs.
Possible action may include:
- a reminder, explanation or informal discussion;
- a clear warning and agreed expectations;
- temporary removal from a drill or higher-risk activity;
- discussion with a parent or carer;
- additional supervision, support or training;
- a written warning or conduct agreement;
- temporary suspension;
- exclusion from the club;
- referral to CMAA;
- referral to the police, social care, LADO, DBS or another statutory body.
Immediate removal from an activity or temporary suspension may be used where there is violence, serious bullying, discrimination, sexual misconduct, deliberately unsafe behaviour, a safeguarding concern or a risk to others.
This is a neutral protective measure and does not, by itself, determine guilt.
Acceptance, distribution and review
- Adult members accept the Members Code through the membership process.
- Parents and carers accept the Members Code and Parents and Carers Code for child members.
- Instructors and adult volunteers sign the Workforce Code.
- Cadet leaders and under-18 assistant instructors sign an age-appropriate agreement with a parent or carer.
- The codes are available through the club website and from instructors.
- They may be included or linked within welcome and induction information.
- They will be explained in an accessible way where needed.
- They will be reviewed at least every three years, or earlier following a significant incident, identified weakness or change in guidance.
Download the Codes of Conduct
The full Codes of Conduct, including agreement and signature sections, can be downloaded below.
Or download an individual code:
Report a concern
Anyone who experiences or witnesses behaviour that may breach these codes should raise it promptly.
Routine behaviour concerns can normally be discussed privately with an instructor. Safeguarding concerns, allegations involving an adult or concerns about a child’s welfare should be reported through the club’s safeguarding arrangements.
No one should investigate a safeguarding concern themselves or promise to keep a disclosure secret.