Safety and Safeguarding Policy 

Safety & Safeguarding

At Quaystage Training we take health and safety, and the welfare of young people very seriously.  A sailing vessel can be a potentially hazardous environment, so we have safety measures in place that cover every eventuality. We are governed by the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) and Maritime Coastguard Agency (MCA), independent bodies that visit the centres and vessels several times a year to monitor standards.

Safety is at the forefront of everything we do. Our activities are adventurous and it would be misleading to say that they were free from any risk. However, awareness and understanding of the potential of risks is the first step to controlling them. Risk management & safety training are essential parts of our programmes and are integrated in many specific ways.

 

Programme design & structure

Safety is the foremost consideration of every aspect of programme design. Since Sail Camp and Dive Camp is all about hands-on learning, our staff place high emphasis on safety and risk awareness, passing these critical elements on to their team at all times.

Throughout the voyage, crew members learn safety procedures and take responsibility for themselves and their actions. There will be a daily briefing from the leading skipper, and one before the start of each activity by the member of staff conducting it.

This learning is reinforced through practical application, as crew members demonstrate safe practices during every day activities. Through repetition, simple precautions to mitigate risk will become second nature.

 Quaystage Training's professional  team

The quality and experience of our staff plays a vital role in our safety policy. These full-time professionals ensure the highest level of safety and instruction.

We take great pride in the knowledge that our staff are amongst some of the best qualified and sought after professionals in yachting, diving and outdoor education industries. All our senior staff undertake an active role in delivering the programmes we offer, including our Director, Ben Swain. Ben is an experienced sail trainer, with over 20 years sail training experience. He sails with one of our fleets every summer, preferring to keep a hands-on active role within the programme delivery.

In addition, all our seasonal instructors are specially selected for their professionalism, ability to work with young people and their enthusiasm to deliver to the high standards we set ourselves at Quaystage Training Ltd.  Many of these instructors will have come through our own internship training programme; some of them are even former crew from one of our camps.

Meet the team behind Quaystage Training's  Sail Camp and Dive Camps       

 

Life jackets

Whether aboard our larger sailing vessels or our smaller dinghies, wearing a life jacket is a requirement when underway. Safety preparedness is as critical in times of blue skies and calm seas as it is in rough weather. The RYA, the national governing body for sailing, requires all crew to wear life jackets, to be worn whenever training for youth groups is being undertaken. At Quaystage Training Ltd we insure that all persons on board our vessels, including our staff, adhere to this when at sea.

Staff interaction and child welfare policy

Quaystage Training Ltd's skippers, staff and instructors live full-time with their young crew members. Much of the success of the programmes we deliver comes from the strong working friendships that form as a result. All of Sail Camp and Dive Camp's staff are DBS checked for working with young people.

Staff and Voyage Crew are truly on an expedition together. At times and locations deemed appropriate and safe by the Lead Skipper, crew members will be granted free time to explore ashore in small groups of no less than 3, yet for the most part our staff are with their teams. This forms part of our Child Welfare Policy.

 

31.1 Logo  - Safeguarding Support

Quaystage Training is a national member of ThirtyOne:Eight a national Safeguarding Agency, that provides us with 24/7 safeguarding advice and support for all our programmes. 

 

 

Code of conduct

Participants arrive with the understanding that they will be part of the crew in training, ready to share the work of the vessel, from maintenance to food preparation to navigation, and everything in between.

Young people alternate positions of responsibility each day for diversity of skills and learning. Evenings are largely devoted to programme material aboard. These are dry ships - no alcohol or illegal drugs, and no smoking.

We expect all crew members to maintain an atmosphere of respect and consideration. 

We will not tolerate actions or attitudes detrimental to group cohesion or to the healthy and pleasant environment aboard. Additionally, we are a co-ed program. Girls live in separate cabins. Privacy is thus maintained even with up to ten to twelve students all living within 50 feet of each other!

In accordance with the  Protection of Young Persons act, no sexual activities between participants are allowed for the duration of the programmes.

Much is gained simply from living closely and in cooperation. In short, we are proud of our good reputation and maintain the tone of the programme as one of positive, highly experiential, healthy, active fun.

Any person breaking this code of conduct will be sent home immediately!

 

Covid-19 Policy and other medical emergencies 

We are still part of a global Covid-19 pandemic and whilst we live again in society enjoying social freedoms the last two years have highlighted the need to have a robust policy of medical response and prevention.  

  • Prevention
    • All our vessels are cleaned prior to charter to a high professional standard. 
    • All participants including young people and staff to be 14 days clear of symptoms.
    • All food preparation areas and equipment will be wiped down prior to being used.
    • All other service will be cleaned with sanitised wipes after any teaching and at least four times a day as part of a cleaning regime.  
    • All persons below deck will be required to wear a face mask.
    • All crew and staff will be issued with hand sanitiser to be carried on their persons.
       
  • Containment 
    • Should any person on board develop symptoms, we will seek immediate medical advice and return back to an agreed port. Arrangements will be made for all young people on board to be collected by parents and arrangements made to self isolate. This will include crew. 

Medical - First Aid 

  • All our professional staff are first aid trained. Our skippers are all First Aid certified at a minimum and briefed in action to follow should a medical condition occur. 

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