LCMHC is one of over 950 clubs affiliated to England Hockey Board.
The England Hockey Board (EHB) is the national governing body for the sport of hockey in England. As part of its commitment to ensuring that young people are able to enjoy the sport of hockey, EHB has developed a Policy and guidance on Safeguarding and Protecting Young People in Hockey to which LCMHC fully endorse.
EHB believes that all young people involved in hockey have a fundamental right to be protected so that they can enjoy the sport free from all forms of abuse and exploitation. It therefore seeks to help protect and promote the welfare of all young people in hockey by having in place clear policies and guidance for its affiliated clubs and associations and all others involved in the sport.

EHB views all those within hockey as part of the Hockey Family. This includes all clubs, associations, other organisations and individuals with any involvement at any level. The EHB believes that all members of the Hockey Family have responsibilities to help protect young people and the EHB has developed this Safeguarding and Protecting Young People policy to help ensure that this happens.

Safeguarding means promoting the safety and welfare of young people. Safeguarding is a term used to incorporate good practice and is wider than “Child Protection”. Child protection is still an essential element of this policy and is about acting on concerns about a young person or individual.

This policy has been formulated in accordance with guidance from the NSPCC Child Protection in Sport Unit (CPSU) and in line with Government guidance.

The guidance is set out in four sections to make it as user friendly as possible. Please visit the EHB website for more information: www.englandhockey.co.uk

General Safeguarding and Protecting Young People principles:

• the safety and welfare of young people is paramount
• all young people, regardless of age, ability, sex, race, religion
or belief, ethnic origin, social status or sexual orientation have
the right to be protected from harm
• the rights, dignity and worth of all young people should always
be respected
• the EHB wishes to promote a TELLING culture – everyone
within hockey must therefore report all concerns in
accordance with the EHB reporting procedures
• it is the responsibility of child protection experts to determine
whether or not abuse has taken place, but it is everyone’s
responsibility in hockey to report concerns
• the roles and responsibilities of the statutory agencies in
safeguarding young people must be recognised and the
procedures of the Local Safeguarding Children Boards must
be complied with
• any policy or procedure is only as effective as the ability and
skill of those who operate it
• the EHB is committed to encouraging, and everyone within
hockey must recognise and regard as essential, the effective
and safe recruitment of all individuals working with young
people in hockey
• all those working in hockey, in a paid or voluntary capacity,
must abide by the EHB’s Code of Ethics and Behaviour.