"Squad Safe's training is world class" - Legacy Cheer and Dance Ltd
Squad Safe specialises in Athlete Welfare education and Culture Change for Cheerleading, Dance and Gymnastics.
As a former dancer, athlete and coach, Squad Safe consultant Joey Gamper Cuthbert has witnessed first-hand both the amazing power of cheer, dance and gymnastics to change young people’s lives, but also the urgent need for better safeguarding practice, policy and culture change. Her mission through Squad Safe is to educate, empower and support coaches, teachers and young athletes to create safe, positive, cultures in which everyone can thrive.
Squad Safe offers live and pre-recorded courses and workshops, culture change consultancy and policy writing for teams, gyms, studios, and competition event providers. It aims to bridge the gap between existing safeguarding provision, and the unique needs of cheerleading, dance and gymnastics, not currently being met anywhere else.
Squad Safe offers a bespoke CPD certified training course in Safeguarding that specifically addresses the needs and challenges faced in Cheerleading, Dance and Gymnastics, as well as working with gyms and studios on impactful culture change – embedding athlete welfare and safeguarding practices into every aspect of organisations, to improve the culture, safety and success of everyone.
About Joey Gamper Cuthbert
Squad Safe consultancy is Joey Gamper Cuthbert.
Joey is a freelance consultant offering athlete welfare and safeguarding training, policy writing and culture change consultancy for teams, gyms/studios, and competition event providers.
Joey is a trained dancer and former cheerleading athlete, head coach, national team manager and programme owner. She has 12 years’ experience as a safeguarding lead for various dance and cheerleading organisations, delivering their in-house child protection training. She is a qualified Designated Safeguarding Officer (NSPCC certified) as well as holding various other safeguarding qualifications with the NSPCC, including Safeguarding in Sport and Keeping Children Safe Online.
Joey spent 15 years working extensively as an education manager for dance companies and dance conservatoires in the UK, delivering continuing professional development to dance practitioners, and creating projects and resources for youth dance (with a specialism in inclusive and community dance practice and culture change)
As a founding trustee of charity ParaCheer International she was instrumental in helping develop the Adaptive Abilities division for the sport of cheerleading, and in 2017, Joey managed Team England ParaCheer to their first Gold medal at the ICU World Cheerleading Championships.
Joey is currently the Chair of the Board at SportCheer England, the National Governing Body for Cheerleading in England. In this role she is working tirelessly to see the sport formally recognised, in order to ensure better safeguarding regulation for participants.
Joey is also member of the Professional Body for Sports Leadership and has just successfully completed the PBSL 1 year certification programme in Sports Governance - Leading In the Board Room. Joey has a passion for governance and policy, and strongly believes that when it comes to safeguarding in organisations "You do not rise to the level of your goals - you fall to the level of your systems - James Clear, Atomic Habits"
In September 2021 Joey/Squad Safe was announced as a winner in the WomanWhoUK business awards, start-up category. The judges said of her:
"Joey's passion and dedication to make a difference within a difficult and diverse sector shows in what she has achieved in a very small space of time. Through a belief that change needed to happen within safeguarding policy and delivery throughout Dance, Cheerleading and Gymnastics, she has become a leading force for change. She is gaining rapid results and recognition for her work, and is driving change within Sporting Bodies and Organisations all around the world."
Joey Gamper Cuthbert
