Glasshoughton Bowling Club has considered its responsibilities to the vulnerable adults and young people participating in bowls on our premises and within our club very carefully and has produced the following Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy and underpinning procedures in order to set out the standards we wish to uphold in providing activities for children and safeguarding the welfare of children in our care.

Glasshoughton Bowling Club affiliates to the National Governing Body and the club recognises the policies of their Governing Body, as set out in the “Safeguarding Bowls Guidelines”.

1. Policy Statement

Glasshoughton Bowling Club acknowledges its duty of care to safeguard the welfare of all young people (defined as those under 18) involved in bowls within the club. All young people have the right to protection, and have their particular needs taken into account.

Glasshoughton Bowling Club will therefore endeavour to ensure the safety and protection of all young people involved with the club through the Child Protection guidelines adopted by the Management Committee of the club. It is the responsibility of all adults within the club to assist the Committee in this endeavour.

2. Policy Aims

To provide young people with appropriate safety and protection whilst in the care of
the club and also to enable them to enjoy their experience of the sport of bowls.

To reassure parents/guardians that their children will receive the best practicable care possible whilst participating in activities within the club.

To provide support to club members and volunteers to make informed and confident
responses to specific child protection issues and to fulfil their role effectively.

3. Principles

The welfare of young people is paramount.

All young people whatever their age, culture, disability, gender, language, ethnic origin and religious beliefs have the right to protection from abuse.

All suspicions and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately.

All staff and volunteers working in bowls have a responsibility to report concerns to their Club Welfare Officer.

Adults – club members, volunteers, coaches, referees and members will be supported to understand their role and responsibility with regard to the duty of care and protection of young people by the club and the National Governing Body.

Individuals will receive support through education and training, coordinated by the club/national governing body to be aware of and understand best practice and how to manage any welfare or child protection issues that may come to light.

Glasshoughton Bowling Club will work in partnership with young people and parents to review and implement child protection and safeguarding procedures.

Glasshoughton Bowling Club’s policy and procedures are based on the above principles and UK and international legislation and government guidance and take the following into consideration:

The Children Act 1989 and 2004

Working Together to Safeguard Children 2015 The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child

Any subsequent legislation relating to child protection would implicitly be incorporated into this document.

4. Responsibilities and Communication

The Glasshoughton Bowling Club Child Protection Policy will be available to all members, parents, staff, volunteers and participants.

The policy will be reviewed every three years by the Committee and amended as appropriate. Guidance from Bowls National Governing Bodies will be sought as part of the review process.

The Committee has responsibility for ensuring that the policy and procedures are implemented, including referring any appropriate disciplinary action to the governing body as appropriate.

The Club Welfare Officer has responsibility for responding to any allegations, concerns or child protection incidents, passing information to the appropriate National Governing Body Designated Safeguarding Officer and informing the appropriate club staff where relevant.

Parents have a responsibility to work together with the club in implementing procedures and providing their children with the necessary information to keep themselves safe.

5. Monitoring and Review

This policy will be reviewed one year after being introduced and then every three years or in response to significant new legislation.
The policy will be monitored in partnership with the National Governing Body.

The Club Safeguarding Officers

At our bowling club, the safety and well-being of our members, especially our younger and vulnerable participants, is of utmost importance. We are committed to maintaining a safe and secure environment for everyone involved. To ensure this, we have dedicated safeguarding officers who are responsible for overseeing and implementing our safeguarding policies and procedures.

Our safeguarding officers are individuals who have undergone specific training and possess the necessary knowledge and expertise in safeguarding practices. They are here to ensure that all members, regardless of age, can enjoy their time at our club without any concerns for their safety or welfare.

We are pleased to introduce our current safeguarding officers:

These dedicated individuals are here to listen, support, and take appropriate action in response to any safeguarding concerns raised within our club. They understand the sensitivity and confidentiality involved in these matters and will handle them with the utmost care and professionalism.

If you have any safeguarding concerns or questions, or if you need to report an incident, please do not hesitate to reach out to one of our safeguarding officers. They can be contacted directly at the club or by using the dedicated email address specifically for this purpose. Please note that this email address is strictly confidential and can only be accessed by our safeguarding officers.

safeguarding@glasshoughtonbowlingclub.co.uk

When you send an email to this address, your message will be treated with the utmost confidentiality and will only be seen by the designated safeguarding officers. They are trained in handling sensitive matters, and they will handle your email with the highest level of care and discretion.

To ensure the privacy and security of your communication, we kindly request that you refrain from including any personal information or details that are unnecessary for addressing the concern. Please focus on providing a clear and concise description of the issue at hand, ensuring that you provide enough information for our safeguarding officers to understand the nature of the concern.

We want all our members to feel safe, secure, and respected while enjoying their time at our bowling club. Our safeguarding officers play a crucial role in upholding these values, and we encourage open communication and collaboration to ensure the well-being of everyone involved.

Please remember that safeguarding is a shared responsibility, and we appreciate the support and cooperation of all our members in creating and maintaining a safe environment at our bowling club.