Child Protection Policy

Child Protection Policy

We take our responsibility very seriously.
(as adopted by the ECB’S Safe Hands Policy for protecting children).
It is widely accepted that it is the responsibility of every adult to protect children from abuse. Child abuse and particularly child sexual abuse can arouse strong emotions in those facing such a situation. It is very important to understand these feelings and not allow them to interfere with your judgement about any action to take.
Abuse can occur within many situations including the home, school and sporting environments. It can happen to your children. Some individuals will actively seek employment and voluntary work with children in order to harm them. Everyone working within Cricket, either in a paid or voluntary capacity, together with those working in affiliated organisations has a role to play in safeguarding the welfare of children and preventing their abuse. All adult club members and Coaches may have regular contact with children and can be a very important link in identifying cases where a child needs protection.
When establishing guidelines concerning the protection of children it is important to recognise that the club has both a moral and legal obligation to ensure that, when it is given responsibility for children, it provides them with the highest possible standard of care.
The junior cricket committee and members of Gomersal Cricket Club, Heavy Woollen Cricket, Schools Cricket, Yorkshire Cricket, and The ECB recognise that they have that high degree of responsability:

• To safe guard and promote the interests and well being of all children with whom they are working.
• To take all reasonable practical steps to protect children from harm, discrimination or degrading treatment.
• To respect their rights wishes and feelings
• Child protection procedures will:
• Offer safeguards to the children with whom we work, to all our club members, volunteers and Coaches.
• Help to maintain the professionalism and the safeguards of good practice, which we are associated with the ECB and its SPIRIT OF CRICKET campaign.

It is recognised that any procedure is only as effective as the ability and skill of those who operate them. Gomersal Cricket Club is committed to the sound recruitment, provision of support and appropriate cricket practice of all their volunteers and Coaches. This cricket practice will enable them to work together with parents / carers and other organisations to ensure that the needs and welfare of the children remain paramount.
Gomersal Cricket Club supports all aspects of child protection and as such we encourage total openness in our work with young people.

Therefore Coaches will not:

• Spend time alone with a child away from others.
• Take a child alone on car journeys.
• Take a child to their homes.

Gomersal Cricket Club requires all Coaches and those involved with the Junior players of the club to be checked and cleared by the CRB.
A list of all those who have been DBS – Disclosure and Baring Service (CRB) checked is available on request.

Gomersal Cricket Club Child Protection Officers

Steve Pollard Tel: 01274 871141 Mobile: 07900478205
Karen Wilby Tel: 01274 871478 Mobile: 07415112484

They can be contacted if parents or children have any concerns or require information on this subject. The club has the complete and detailed Child Protection Policy Manual. A copy is retained in the clubhouse where it can be viewed through the committee.

Issued 19/11/2013 Version 1