The changing rooms at Harrow Leisure Centre are shared public facilities and are used by a wide range of centre users, not solely members of Borough of Harrow Swimming Club.
BHSC coaches, teachers and volunteers supervise swimmers during Club activities on poolside. The Club does not provide supervision inside the changing rooms, and parents and guardians remain responsible for making appropriate arrangements for their child before and after their swimming session.
Age-Appropriate Supervision
We recognise that the appropriate level of parental supervision will vary depending on a child’s age, maturity and individual needs.
For younger children, this may mean a parent or guardian accompanying them within the changing facilities.
Older children may reasonably be given greater privacy and independence when changing. Parents are not expected to directly observe an older child while they are getting changed or to enter an opposite-sex changing area in order to supervise them.
Parents should use their judgement as to the level of supervision appropriate for their child. Where an older child is changing independently, the parent or guardian should remain within the changing-room area, for example in the central corridor between the male and female changing rooms, so that they are close enough to be contacted and can provide assistance promptly if needed.
Collection After Swimming
Parents and guardians should ensure that they are present and available when their child’s session finishes.
Children should not be left in the changing rooms or other public areas of Harrow Leisure Centre for extended periods while waiting to be collected.
Shared Changing Facilities
As Harrow Leisure Centre is a public facility, BHSC cannot control who else may be using the changing rooms.
All swimmers should therefore be encouraged to:
- use a changing cubicle where available;
- place clothing and belongings in a locker rather than leaving them in an unoccupied cubicle;
- respect the privacy of other users; and
- immediately report any behaviour that makes them feel uncomfortable, threatened or unsafe.
If a swimmer feels uncomfortable, threatened or unsafe, they should leave the immediate situation and seek assistance straight away from their parent or guardian, a BHSC coach, teacher, official or a member of Harrow Leisure Centre staff, whichever is most readily available.
Any inappropriate, intimidating, aggressive or otherwise concerning behaviour should also be reported as soon as possible to Centre Management and the Club Welfare Officer.
Mobile Phones and Electronic Devices – Swim England Requirement
The use of mobile phones and other mobile devices in changing rooms and changing areas is prohibited during Swim England regulated activity.
This is a Swim England safeguarding requirement under Wavepower and must be adhered to by all BHSC swimmers, parents, guardians, coaches, teachers, volunteers and officials.
Mobile phones and other devices may be taken into the changing area if they remain stored away in a bag or other personal belongings and are not used or displayed while inside the changing area.
Anyone needing to use their phone should leave the changing area before doing so.
The only exceptions are situations where use of a device is genuinely necessary, for example:
- to obtain emergency assistance; or
- for an essential medical purpose.
This requirement exists to protect the privacy and safeguarding of everyone using the changing facilities.
Parents and guardians are asked to make sure their children understand this rule. It applies regardless of whether the device’s camera is being used.
Any inappropriate use of a mobile phone or electronic device within the changing area should be reported immediately to the Club Welfare Officer.
Safeguarding and Welfare Concerns
Any safeguarding or welfare concern involving a BHSC swimmer should be reported to the Club Welfare Officer as soon as possible at:
This applies regardless of whether the person responsible is believed to be connected with BHSC or is another user of Harrow Leisure Centre.
Where appropriate, BHSC will work with Harrow Leisure Centre and Swim England to ensure that safeguarding concerns are properly reported, investigated and addressed.