Acocks Green YBC
Youth Bowling Club
January 2024
Our Safeguarding Policy (Child Protection Policy)
This policy applies to all Officials, Instructors, Licensed helpers, bowlers & parents of bowlers of Acocks Green Youth Bowing Club
The purpose of this policy is:
• to protect children and young people who attend Acocks Green Youth Bowling Club
• to provide volunteers with the overarching principles that guide our approach to safeguarding
• to provide a safe environment for the enjoyment of the sport of Ten Pin Bowling
Acocks Green Youth Bowling Club believes that a child or young person should never experience abuse of any kind. We have a responsibility to promote the welfare of all children and young people and keep them safe.. We are committed to practice in a way that protects them.
Legal Framework
This policy has been drawn up on the basis of law and guidance that seeks to protect children, namely:
• Children Act 1989
• United Convention of Rights of the Child 1991
• Data Protection Act 1998
• Sexual Offences act 2003
• Children Act 2004
• Protection of Freedoms Act 2012
• Relevant Government guidance on the safeguarding of children
We recognise that:
• The welfare of the child is paramount, as enshrined in the Children Act 1989
• All children, regardless of age, disability, gender, racial heritage, religious belief, sexual orientation or identity, have a right to equal protection from al types of harm or abuse.
• Some children are additionally vulnerable because of the impact of previous experiences, their level of dependency, or communication needs or other issues.
• Working in partnership with children, young people, and their parents, careers and other agencies is essential in promoting young peoples welfare.
We will seek to keep children and young people safe by:
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• valuing them, listening to and respecting them
• adopting child protection practices through procedures and a code of conduct for officials, volunteers, children and their parents.
• recruiting officials, instructors, licensed helpers safely, ensuring all necessary checks are made
• sharing information about child protection and good practice with children, parents, officials, instructors and licensed helpers
• sharing concerns with agencies who need to know, and involving parents and children appropriately
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We wish to
• Establish supportive, positive environments to encourage healthy competition, skill development, fun and achievement
We ask the following in return:
• Respect the dignity and spirit of other members
• Treat all members fairly
• Avoid any contact or conduct that may be interpreted as having sexual connotations or which the sport defines as inappropriate
• Do not take part in or tolerate any behaviour that frightens, embarrasses or demoralises a member or that
• Do not take part in or tolerate acts of aggression – report them to the Club’s Child Protection Officer
• Be prepared to intervene if you think a child or young person under 18 is being abused or neglected – report any i. incidences to the Club’s Child Support Officer
• Practice fair play both during and outside of all sports activities. 'Fair play' is defined as showing considerate regard for members, officials, volunteers, parents and spectators; abiding by the rules of the sport; abiding by the officials' decisions
• Adhere to the rule and policies of The British Tenpin Bowling Association (BTBA)
• Report any incidents which you feel may need investigating to the Club’s Child Protection Officer
• Enjoy Yourself
Bullying
The following definitions are extracted from various Child Protection sites on the web
Bullying is a behavior that hurts someone else – such as name calling, hitting, pushing, spreading rumours, threatening or undermining someone.
It can happen anywhere – at school, at home, or online.
It is usually repeated over a long period of time and can hurt a child both physically and emotionally.
Bullying that happens on line, using social networks, games and mobile phones, is often called ‘cyber bullying”. A child can feel like there is no escape because it can happen wherever they are, at any time day or night.
Emotional Abuse
Emotional abuse happens when someone regularly behave nastily to you.
It could be someone you care about, someone who looks after you, or someone you often have to spend time with.
Emotional abuse includes, but is not restricted to, when someone:
• Calls you names or keeps shouting at you even if you have done nothing wrong.
• Puts you down or says you aren’t good enough.
• Makes nasty comments about you to others knowing that you can hear them.
• Ignores you or leaves you out of things.
• Says or does things that make you feel bad about yourself.
• Pushes you away or makes you feel that you don’t belong.
• Tries to control you or push you too hard.
• Treats you differently from everyone else.
• Encourages any one else to treat you in any of the above ways.
Cyber Bullying
Includes:
• Sending abusive or threatening text messages.
• Creating and sharing embarrassing images or videos.
• “Trolling” - the sending of menacing or upsetting messages on social networks, chat rooms or on line games.
• Excluding children from online games, activities or friendship groups.
• Setting up hate sites or groups about a particular child.
• Encouraging people to self harm.
• Voting for or against someone in an abusive poll.
• Creating fake accounts, hijacking or stealing online identities to embarrass a young person or cause trouble using their name.
• Sending explicit messages (sexting).
• Pressuring children into sending sexual images or engaging in sexual conversations
AGYBC will ot publish any photographs of our under 18 members on this site or our Facebook page without parental approval. We will not publish any photographs of over 18's without the bowlers permission.
Safeguarding Contact Details
Birmingham City - 0121 303 1888 – office hours only
outside office hours 0121464 9001 – http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/child-protection
Solihull MBC - 0121 788 4333 - office hours
0121 605 6060 – outside office hours
https://eservices.solihull.gov.uk/ChildrensSocialWorkServiceReferral
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NSPCC
0800 800 5000 Text on 8885000
We are committed to reviewing our policy and good practice annually.
This policy was last reviewed on: 19th January 2024