February 2026
At Over The Wall Camp (OTWC), we are acutely aware that people who seek to harm children will often attempt to gain access to them through positions of trust in schools, youth groups, church groups, sports clubs, and other children’s activities, including our camps. This is an unfortunate reality faced by all organisations working with children and young people, and it is why robust, preventative safeguarding measures are essential.
Thom O’Neill
We are aware that one of our former volunteers and trustee, Thom O’Neill, has been convicted of sending indecent images to a child he met through one of his colleagues in the NHS and, as a result, has been suspended from the medical register. O’Neill last volunteered at camp in 2020. Although no concerns or incidents raised were related to his time at OTWC, his conviction understandably raises concerns for families who knew him through OTWC.
We want to be open and proactive in addressing these concerns.
Our Internal Review
As soon as we were made aware of the allegations made against O’Neill by the General Medical Council (GMC), OTWC launched a detailed safeguarding review covering all of his activities as a volunteer at OTWC. This included:
- Reviewing all camp records
- Interviewing existing and contacting former senior staff who worked alongside him
- Seeking any indications, formal or informal, of concerns, disclosures, or reports
- Checking incident logs, supervision notes, and safeguarding reporting channels
- Reviewing regulatory information and camp evaluations from the relevant years
These enquiries were extensive, and where we identified any possible line of enquiry we followed through and spoke directly with former campers and parents.
No concerns or incidents related to Dr O’Neill at OTWC were identified.
Our Safeguarding Measures
To protect the children and families we serve, OTWC uses a multi‑layered safeguarding approach, including:
- Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (“DBS”)/Protecting Vulnerable Groups (“PVG”)checks
- These are more than a simple record of criminal convictions. They also identify relevant police‑held information and can include “soft intelligence”, such as concerns or information that has not resulted in a conviction but may still be significant in assessing someone’s suitability to work with children. Enhanced DBS and PVG checks provide the highest level of criminal record screening available in the UK, crucial for roles involving working or volunteering with vulnerable groups.
- Rigorous safeguarding vetting, trainingand application
- Every staff member, volunteer, and contractor must meet our safeguarding standards and be vetted, complete appropriate training, and adhere to strict conduct expectations. These include applying the following policies and procedures:
- The Two Adult Rule (also known as the Two‑Adult Supervision Policy)
- Children must never be in a one‑to‑one situation with an adult. Activities are always overseen by at least two vetted adults and conducted in open, observable, and easily interrupted spaces.
- Low-Level Concerns and active camp monitoring
- OTWC has a Low-Level Concerns policy whereby any adult behaviour deemed to be mildly unusual, or which gives pause for thought, is recorded. This is done so that patterns of behaviour can be identified and addressed more swiftly. Camp staff are always alert to adult behaviour at camp, and daily reporting and debriefings cover any events that take place so that proactive measures can be implemented.
- The Two Adult Rule (also known as the Two‑Adult Supervision Policy)
- Every staff member, volunteer, and contractor must meet our safeguarding standards and be vetted, complete appropriate training, and adhere to strict conduct expectations. These include applying the following policies and procedures:
- External regulation and inspection
- Our camps operating in Scotland are registered with and inspected by the Care Inspectorate, and camps operating in England are inspected by Ofsted. These bodies scrutinise our safeguarding arrangements, staffing structures, and compliance with legal requirements.
We are very proud to have achieved ‘Outstanding’ OFSTED ratings and most recently a ‘Very Good’ rating by the Care Inspectorate (the body that regulates care services in Scotland).
All the above are designed to minimise risk as far as possible. However, as safeguarding experts acknowledge, no preventative system can guarantee that an individual intent on deception will never pass through initial screening processes.
Our Safeguarding Track Record
Over The Wall Camp has been operating camps for 26 years. Across that time, we have never had a report of child abuse at any of our camps. However, we are never complacent, and O’Neill’s conduct and conviction are a timely reminder that we must always keep our guard up and maintain the highest possible safeguarding standards.
Safeguarding children is a responsibility we take extremely seriously and remains at the centre of everything we do.
For Families Who Knew Dr O’Neill Outside OTWC
We understand that some families had contact with O’Neill outside the camp environment, in settings unconnected to OTWC. If any parent, guardian, or young person has any concerns at all about behaviour they experienced or observed outside of camp, we strongly encourage them to:
- Contact the police immediately, or
- Contact OTWC safeguarding team at info@otw.org.uk
Any information shared with OTWC will be handled sensitively and in line with safeguarding best practice.
Our Commitment
We remain committed to creating a safe, joyful, and empowering environment for every child and family we serve. Transparency is an essential part of good safeguarding, and we will continue to uphold the highest possible standards in everything we do.
Alex Copeland
CEO
February 2026