County Safeguarding Officer - Ellen Mutch

safeguarding@gloucestershirecricketfoundation.org
07852 815430

BIRDLIP & BRIMPSFIELD CRICKET CLUB - SAFEGUARDING POLICY

Birdlip & Brimpsfield Cricket Club (the club) is committed to ensuring everyone participating in cricket does so in a safe, friendly, secure, and enjoyable environment. Everyone at the club, whether as a player, coach, official, administrator, staff member, volunteer, spectator, parent, or carer has a role to play. Individually and collectively, it is our actions, both on and off the field which can help create a positive and inclusive culture.

We will do this by:

• Having the right people in place
• Creating the right culture and environment
• Ensuring clear processes are in place for reporting and responding to safeguarding concerns
• Adopting the ECB’s Safe Hands Policy and Guidance

Having the Right People in Place

Whilst everyone at our club has a responsibility for Safeguarding, we also have a designated Club Safeguarding Officer who has completed specialist Safe Hands training provided by the ECB

The Club Safeguarding Officer is:

• The first point of contact for all children, parents/carers volunteers, and members at the Club
• Responsible for ensuring that everyone who is working with children at the Club is subject to appropriate safer recruitment processes
• A member of our committee
• A source of safeguarding advice for the Club, its committee, and members
• The Club’s main point of contact for the County Safeguarding Officer, the ECB Safeguarding Team and other external safeguarding agencies
• The person responsible for ensuring correct and comprehensive reporting procedures exist for raising and managing safeguarding concerns

Creating the Right Culture and Environment

All participants in cricket, regardless of age, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, ability of disability, have the right to enjoy the game in an environment that is safe from abuse of any kind. The Club recognises that safeguarding starts with setting high standards and promoting a positive culture which provides the best environment for participants to enjoy themselves and the game of cricket.

Anyone in a specialist role within the Club is also required to complete the Safeguarding for Specialist Roles training with the relevant additional module. This includes Captains and Team Managers, Coaches and Activators, Officials (Umpires and Scorers) and Committee Members.

We ensure that all individuals working at or for the Club are provided with the necessary support through education, training and continued professional development (CPD)

We ensure that all individuals working at or for the Club are recruited and appointed in accordance with ECB Safer Recruitment guidance and relevant legislation and are committed to providing a welcoming, safe, and fun experience for children

We promote a listening culture where the views of children, parents/carers, volunteers and other club members are proactively sought and acted upon. This helps us to create an environment where people have the opportunity and confidence to raise concerns, including concerns about poor practice, abuse and neglect

We seek to create a partnership with parents/carers so that they know what to expect from us and what we expect of them

We ensure that external organisations who are delivering services on behalf of the Club have safeguarding measures in place which meet the requirements of Safe Hands.

Reporting and Responding to Safeguarding Concerns

It is our aim that everyone at the Club should feel confident to raise a concern, no matter how small. We believe that raising and dealing with concerns quickly, when they occur, supports a proactive safeguarding culture at the Club.

All suspicions, concerns and allegations will be taken seriously. We will follow the 3R’s with every concern:

Responding appropriately, Recording confidentiality and Reporting where necessary, ensuring that concerns are dealt with in a fair and prompt manner.

The Club recognises that it is not the responsibility of club members to determine or investigate if abuse has taken place, but to act upon and report any concerns promptly.

We ensure that confidential information relating to safeguarding matters is shared appropriately and only with those who need to know.

Information may need to be shared with the County Safeguarding Officer, Cricket Regulator Safeguarding Team, or local agencies with statutory responsibility for safeguarding. If we are unsure, we will seek advice from our County Safeguarding Officer.

Adopting the ECB’s Safe Hands Policy and Guidance

The Club has formally adopted the ECB’s Safe Hands Policy and guidance as part of our constitution

The Club works within the ECB Safeguarding Procedure for the management of safeguarding investigations

We ensure that all individuals who work and volunteer at or for our Club understand how Safe Hands applies to them.

Birdlip & Brimpsfield Cricket Club (the Club) is committed to ensuring everyone participating in cricket does so in a safe, friendly, secure, and enjoyable environment. Everyone at the club, whether as a player, coach, official, administrator, staff member, volunteer, spectator, parent, or carer has a role to play. Individually and collectively, it is our actions, both on and off the field which can help create a positive and inclusive culture.

Code of Conduct

All Members & Guests of Birdlip & Brimpsfield Cricket Club will:

• Respect the rights, dignity and worth of every person within the context of Cricket.
• Treat everyone equally and not discriminate on the grounds of age, gender, disability, race, ethnic origin, nationality, colour, parental or marital status, religious belief, class or social background, sexual preference or political belief.
• Not condone, or allow to go unchallenged, any form of discrimination if witnessed.
• Display high standards of behaviour.
• Refrain from loud and/or persistent swearing which might, for example, offend others or set a bad example to Young People (as defined by the ECB) as to how to behave at a cricket club.
• Promote the positive aspects of Cricket, for example, Fair Play.
• Encourage all participants to learn the laws and rules and play within them, respecting the decisions of match officials.
• Actively discourage unfair play, rule violations and arguing with match officials.
• Recognise good performance not just match results.
• Place the well-being and safety of Young People above the development of performance.
• Ensure that activities are appropriate for the age, maturity, experience and ability of the individual.
• Respect Young People’s opinions when making decisions about their participation in Cricket.
• Not smoke, drink or use banned substances whilst actively working with Young People in the Club.
• Not provide Young People with alcohol when they are under the care of the club.
• Follow ECB guidelines set out in the ‘Safe Hands – Cricket’s Policy for Safeguarding Children’ and any other relevant guidelines issued.
• Report any concerns in relation to a Young Person, following reporting procedures laid down by the ECB.
• In addition to the above, all Club Officers & Appointed Volunteers will:
• Hold relevant qualifications and be covered by appropriate insurance.
• Always work in an open environment (i.e. avoid private or unobserved situations and encourage an open environment)
• Inform Players and Parents of the requirements of Cricket.
• Know and understand the ECB’s ‘Safe Hands – Cricket’s Policy for Safeguarding Children’.

Reviewed April 2024

Next Review : November 2024