Child Protection Policy

Our Policy Statement on Child Protection is as follows:

1. The child’s welfare is paramount.
2. All children whatever their age, culture, disability, gender, racial origin, religious belief and/ or sexual identity, have the right to protection from abuse.
3. All suspicions and allegations of inappropriate behaviour will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately.
4. As defined in the Children Act 1989, anyone under the age of 18 years should be considered as a child for the purposes of this document.

 Our Code of Practice and Procedures

1. We do not lift children on or off the trolleys, we ask a parent or guardians to do this.
2. We do not have physical contact with the children, except in emergencies or to prevent danger.  
3. We do not take children alone in a car on journeys, however short.
4. We do not take children home.
5. We do not photograph or video children, or publish their pictures, without the knowledge and consent of their parents.
6. We do not publish information, in print or on a website that may enable someone to contact the child.
7. We do not engage in rough, physical or sexually provocative games, including horseplay. 
8. We do not allow or engage in inappropriate touching in any form.
9. We do not allow children to use inappropriate language unchallenged.
10. We do not make sexually suggestive comments to a child.
11. We do not let allegations a child makes go unchallenged or unrecorded; we always act.
12. We do not allow children to enter the operating area unless they are accompanied by a parent or guardian and have the permission of a club steward.