This briefing on the safe use of changing facilities (PDF) provides guidance on how to safeguard children and young people when they are using sports changing facilities. It includes recommended levels of adult supervision and examples of changing-room policies.
We cover:
- type of facility - whether the facilities will be used exclusively by junior teams or athletes
- supervision - if mixed use of the changing facility by adults and children is unavoidable, at least 2 members of staff (of the same sex as the children) should supervise the group
- who should supervise - anyone undertaking this needs to have been assessed as
suitable, and what to consider - parents as supervisors
- unsupervised children
- parents' (carers') responsibilities to make sure their children are appropriately supervised
- facility operators' responsibilities and duty of care for supervised ad unsupervised children
- what organisations hiring facilities need to be aware of
- mixed-sex teams
- transgender and non-binary children
Author: NSPCC Sport (formerly CPSU)
Published: 2022
Further information
For more information about unaccompanied children and other safeguarding issues relating to leisure centres, see our Sport and leisure facilities topic page.
We also have guidance on photography and filming in sports and activities.
Related resources
- Safeguarding considerations for getting changed at school – NSPCC Learning briefing