Safeguarding Policy

Whittington Cricket Club is committed to ensuring all Children (i.e. all persons under the age of 18) participating in cricket have a safe and positive experience.  We believe that taking part in sport should be a positive and enjoyable part of children’s lives. The welfare of each child is of paramount importance to us and we want to ensure that children are protected and kept safe from physical, sexual and emotional harm whilst they are with the Club’s coaches, helpers and other volunteers.

We will do this by:

• Recognising all children participating in cricket (regardless of age, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, ability or disability) have the right to have fun and be protected from harm in a safe environment. 
• Ensuring individuals working within cricket at, or for, Whittington Cricket Club provide a welcoming, safe, and fun experience for children.
• Adopting and implementing the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) “Safe Hands – Cricket’s Policy for Safeguarding Children” and any future versions of this.
• Appointing a Club Welfare Officer and ensuring they attend all current and future training modules required by the ECB.
• Ensuring all people who work in cricket at, or for, our club (such as officials, volunteers, team managers, coaches, etc.)  are aware of their responsibility for safeguarding children and understand how the “Safe Hands Policy” applies to them.
• Ensuring all individuals working within cricket at, or for, the club are recruited and appointed in accordance with ECB guidelines and relevant legislation.
• Ensuring all individuals working within cricket at, or for, the club are provided with support, through education and training, so they are aware of, and can adhere to, good practice and Code of Conduct guidelines defined by the ECB and the club.
• Ensuring the name and contact details of the Club Welfare Officer is available:

• As the first point of contact for parents, children and volunteers within the club
• As a local source of procedural advice for the club, its committee and members
• As the main point of contact within the club for the ECB County Welfare Officer and the ECB Safeguarding Team, and
• As the main point of contact within the club for relevant external agencies in connection with child safeguarding.

• Ensuring correct and comprehensive reporting procedures exist for raising and managing child safeguarding concerns. 
• Providing an environment where the views of children, parents and volunteers are sought and welcomed on a range of issues.  This will help us create an environment where people have the opportunity to voice any concerns (about possible suspected child abuse/neglect, and/or about poor practice) to the Club Welfare Officer.
• Ensuring all suspicions, concerns and allegations are taken seriously and dealt with swiftly and appropriately.
• Ensuring access to confidential information relating to child safeguarding matters is restricted to those who need to know in order to safeguard children – including the Club Welfare Officer and the appropriate external authorities, such as the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO), as specified within ECB child safeguarding procedures. 

The Club Welfare Officer is Beth Kelly who can be contacted on 07595 247374 or 01543 307006 or by e-mail at bethkelly17@btinternet.com.

If the Club Welfare Officer is unavailable or your concern relates to the Club Welfare Officer you can contact the County Welfare Officer, Andy Wheeler on 07791 047073 or by e-mail at WCBwelfare@WCCC.co.uk