BDSA puts safeguarding principles at the heart of its governance with new Admittance to Events policy.

The BDSA puts safeguarding principles at the heart of its governance. No one should ever be in a position where they are not supported and encouraged to seek support.

While we recognise that we have our safeguarding freephone line and the besafe@bdsassociation.com email, we also recognise it might be difficult for younger members to access these support mechanisms.

Appropriate presence at children's sports competitions offers multifaceted benefits that contribute to the child's emotional, physical, and social development. It helps build a supportive environment where children can thrive, learn important life skills, and develop a lifelong love for dance and physical activity. Our policy also enables parents to be in control of their child’s dance development in an encouraging and supervisory way.

No child should not have a voice and our Admittance to Events policy goes some way toward making sure if they cannot speak for themselves a parent or guardian can.

Parents and guardians can ensure their child's physical and emotional well-being, providing immediate support if an injury or emotional distress occurs. Parents and guardians can observe interactions among children, coaches, and other parents, stepping in if there are issues such as bullying or inappropriate behaviour.

Simply put the BDSA believe that every child dancing should not be left in a vulnerable position by asking their parent or legal guardian to pay a spectator fee to protect and support their child at an event.

Therefore, the BDSA are proud to have implemented its Admittance to Events policy where one parent or appointed guardian can attend an event with their child (under 18) free of charge.