Safeguarding at British Young Pilots

Introduction

At British Young Pilots (BYP), the safety and well-being of every child is our highest priority. We believe that aviation should be inspiring, inclusive, and safe for all young people—regardless of age, ability, gender identity, race, religion, belief, sex, or sexual orientation.

BYP is committed to creating an environment where children can explore their passion for flight in a culture of trust, respect, and protection. Safeguarding is central to everything we do, and every adult working with us—whether staff, instructor, or volunteer—shares the responsibility to uphold the highest standards of care and conduct.

This Safeguarding Policy is supported by robust training, clear procedures, and a culture of openness. It works alongside BYP’s Code of Conduct and represents our unwavering commitment to creating a safe environment for every participant aged 11 to 17.

Objectives

We will:

  • Take all reasonable steps to protect children from harm during any BYP activity or interaction.

  • Ensure all staff and volunteers are trained in child safeguarding best practices.

  • Require all external facilitators and partners to follow BYP safeguarding standards.

  • Take all safeguarding concerns or allegations seriously, record them accurately, and investigate or escalate as appropriate.

  • Cultivate a safe and supportive environment where every child feels listened to and respected.

Who Is a Child?

In line with the Children Act 1989, a child is defined as anyone under the age of 18.

What Is Safeguarding?

The UK Government defines safeguarding as:

  • Protecting children from maltreatment

  • Preventing impairment of children’s health or development

  • Ensuring children grow up in circumstances consistent with safe and effective care

  • Taking action to enable all children to have the best possible outcomes

Legal Framework

British Young Pilots operates in full compliance with UK legislation and statutory guidance, including:

  • Children Acts 1989 & 2004

  • Working Together to Safeguard Children (2018)

  • Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE)

  • Protection of Freedoms Act 2012

  • Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006

  • Data Protection Act 2018 & GDPR

  • The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989)

Safeguarding Leadership at BYP

Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)

Sam Kidd
Email: sam@britishyoungpilots.co.uk

The DSL is responsible for:

  • Leading on all safeguarding matters

  • Coordinating investigations and referrals

  • Providing safeguarding training and guidance

  • Reviewing safeguarding policies annually (or sooner, if needed)

  • Ensuring full legal and procedural compliance across all BYP programmes

Local Safeguarding Leads

Each BYP holiday club or event will have a designated Local Safeguarding Officer (LSO) and a Deputy, introduced to children and parents at the start of every event. These individuals serve as the first point of contact for any safeguarding concern or disclosure.

Contact details for local safeguarding officers are provided prior to each event.

Responsibilities

All BYP Staff & Volunteers

Every instructor, coordinator, and volunteer working with BYP:

  • Holds an Enhanced DBS check

  • Completes safeguarding training specific to working with children

  • Is responsible for promoting safe behaviours and environments

  • Must report any safeguarding concern without delay

  • Is expected to uphold BYP’s values of respect, safety, and care

External Partners & Instructors

All external instructors, guest speakers, or volunteers must:

  • Provide a valid Enhanced DBS certificate

  • Follow BYP’s Safeguarding Policy and Code of Conduct

  • Obtain signed Parental Consent Forms for any under-18s they supervise

  • Share BYP’s commitment to child protection and respectful conduct

Culture & Core Principles

At BYP, safeguarding is a culture—not just a policy. We:

  • Empower children to speak up if they feel unsafe or worried

  • Create spaces of trust, inclusion, and open communication

  • Train adults to recognise and respond to early signs of harm

  • Encourage positive, professional boundaries in all interactions

  • Ensure every concern is taken seriously and acted upon appropriately

Reporting a Concern

If you believe a child is at immediate risk, call 999.

For non-urgent concerns or to report inappropriate behaviour or safeguarding issues during BYP events, please contact:

📧 sam@britishyoungpilots.co.uk or office@britishyoungpilots.com

Every report is treated with care and confidentiality, and action will be taken in line with our procedures and statutory guidance.

Commitment to Continuous Improvement

We review and update our safeguarding policy and practices annually or as required by legislation. We welcome feedback from children, parents, carers, and professionals to help us improve the safety and experience of every young pilot.

Additional Info:

Ofsted Compliance

British Young Pilots (BYP) adheres to Ofsted’s Codes of Practice, ensuring our safeguarding, welfare, and educational standards meet or exceed national expectations for working with children and young people.

Collaboration with Schools

We recognise that each school we partner with operates under its own unique safeguarding policy and procedures. BYP works in close collaboration with every school to ensure our activities are fully aligned with their safeguarding frameworks and staff expectations. This cooperative approach supports consistency, trust, and child safety across all programmes.

Health & Safety

Health and safety are integral to every aspect of our programme design and delivery.

  • Comprehensive risk assessments are in place for every element of our teaching syllabus.

  • All activities are covered by full public liability and activity-specific insurance.

  • Practical flight experiences are delivered by qualified instructors through CAA- and BMAA-registered flying schools.

  • All BYP staff are trained to identify, manage, and mitigate risks to ensure a safe and secure learning environment.

Flight Safety and Risk Management

Flying in a training aircraft under the supervision of a qualified instructor is a safe and highly controlled experience. Our aircraft, a modern C42 Ikarus, is:

  • Fully insured for flight training purposes

  • Operated by licensed, experienced flight instructors

  • Equipped with advanced safety features, including a whole-aircraft emergency parachute and an onboard fire suppression system

We do not fly in marginal or adverse weather conditions, and we constantly monitor aviation forecasts to ensure operational safety. Statistically, the journey to and from the airfield by road presents significantly more risk than the flight itself.

Out-of-School Flying Activities

In some cases, schools may opt to refer families directly to BYP to arrange flying sessions during weekends or school holidays. In such instances, these flights are considered out-of-school activities, and the responsibility for assessing the suitability and risk of participation lies with the parent or guardian. BYP will, however, continue to uphold the same rigorous standards of safety, instruction, and care during all flight experiences, regardless of when they occur.