Certification · entry screen

Eligibility comes before scoring.

The free improvement pathway is open to everyone. These pass/fail rules apply only when an organisation submits a formal certification application.

Draft operating policy v0.1: these rules structure development and remain subject to council approval before formal applications open.

All entry conditions are required

  • A legal entity operating with athletes for at least 12 months
  • A legal representative with authority to apply
  • A named safeguarding-accountable officer already in post
  • An exact scope covering the entity, sites and programmes requested
  • Truthfulness and continuing-notification attestations

Automatic ineligibility

These conditions cannot be offset by a strong score or a new policy.

  • Current welfare or integrity ban or suspension by a competent sport authority
  • An unspent conviction for offences against persons where a leader retains athlete contact
  • Fabricated or knowingly false application content
  • A prior MindsMelt revocation within the previous 24 months

Serious ongoing investigations create a deferral

An external investigation into serious athlete harm temporarily defers certification until it is resolved. A badge must never be awarded mid-investigation in the exact domain it claims to verify.

Four recorded outcomes—with reasons

Eligible
Eligible with due diligence
Temporarily ineligible
Ineligible

Every decision records its reasons and the appeal route. Ineligibility normally stands for six months unless the underlying condition resolves sooner.

Next trust test

Eligibility is followed by integrity disclosure.

Read the disclosure duty