Everything you need to safely plan and run Touch activity involving under-18s in the North East.
Follow the steps that apply to your activity, using the linked guidance, forms and checklists when needed.
These first two steps apply whenever you are planning activity involving under-18s.
Have a named Session Lead, appropriate safeguarding arrangements, a suitable risk assessment and clear emergency, first-aid and welfare arrangements. Anyone appointed to coach or supervise under-18s must be appropriately authorised for that role.
Make sure the young person is properly registered, with appropriate parent/carer consent, emergency contact details and relevant medical or welfare information.
They should understand the activity and be comfortable taking part.
Youth-only? Continue to Step 4.
If they will train or play with adults, an additional participation decision is required. From age 11, a young person may be considered for suitable adult or mixed-age Touch — participation is not automatic.
Where an under-18 will train or play with adults, participation should only proceed when all four elements are in place.
Appropriate consent has been given.
The young person agrees and is comfortable taking part.
The young person’s suitability for the particular activity has been assessed.
Appropriate safeguarding and session arrangements are in place.
All four are required. An under-18 remains an under-18 for safeguarding purposes when training or playing with adults.
Suitability isn’t decided by age alone. The authorised Coach / Session Lead should consider the individual young person’s age, maturity, experience, ability, confidence, physical and emotional welfare, together with the demands of the particular session or game.
A decision for one activity doesn’t automatically apply to another. If there is doubt, the young person should not take part until the arrangements have been reviewed.
Check the arrangements before the session and keep the safeguards in place while it is running.
Before the session starts, check that the required arrangements are actually in place.
For mixed-age activity, use the Mixed-Age / U18 Session Checklist to confirm the practical safeguards.
If something required isn’t in place, modify the arrangements or pause the U18 participation until it can be resolved.
The Session Lead should know which participants are under 18, who is responsible for coaching or supervising them, and what the emergency and welfare arrangements are.
If the session changes, the safeguarding arrangements must change with it.
U18 safeguards continue wherever the young person is participating.
If something happens, a young person tells you something, or you’re concerned about someone’s welfare, you are not expected to investigate it yourself. Immediate safety comes first. If someone is in immediate danger, call 999.
Listen without asking leading questions.
Reassure the person that they were right to tell you.
Record what happened or what was said as accurately as you can.
Report the concern through the appropriate safeguarding route.
Concerns can be reported through NESTA or directly to Scottish Touch safeguarding where appropriate. Do not investigate a safeguarding concern yourself.
Use the resource that applies to what you’re doing — you don’t need every document for every session.
Practical guidance for safely planning and running activity involving under-18s.
Record parent/carer consent and, where applicable, the mixed-age participation decision.
Use this form when an incident, complaint or safeguarding concern needs to be reported to NESTA.
Use when an under-18 is being considered for training or playing with adults.
A practical pre-session check to confirm the required arrangements and safeguards are in place.
A simple overview for young people and parents/carers explaining what to expect when taking part.
NESTA’s guidance sits beneath the applicable Scottish Touch safeguarding framework, including national safeguarding, safer recruitment and procedures for responding to concerns.
