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Blythe CC - Safeguarding & Welfare Policy

Policy Statement

Blythe CC is committed to providing a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment for all members, especially children, young people, and vulnerable adults. We follow the ECB’s Safe Hands – Cricket’s Policy for Safeguarding Children and expect all members, coaches, officials, and volunteers to share this commitment.

 

Club Safeguarding Officer (CSO)

  • CSO: Sammi Gregory, 07516 725612, sammijoy85uk@gmail.com

  • Deputy CSO: [TBC]

  • Details of the CSO are displayed on the club noticeboard inside the pavilion, club website, and play-cricket.

  • CSO is trained to ECB Safe Hands standard and refreshed every 3 years.

 

Safer Recruitment, Vetting & Training

  • All coaches, officials, captains, scorers, and volunteers working with juniors must hold an enhanced DBS check with ECB approval.

  • Training Requirements:

    • Coaches: DBS, ECB coaching qualification & Safeguarding module

    • Team Managers: DBS, Safeguarding for Committee Members

    • CSO: DBS + Safe Hands Workshop

    • All Volunteers: Code of Conduct acknowledgement

A training & DBS compliance spreadsheet is maintained by the CSO and reported to the Exec annually.

 

Photography & Video

  • Parental consent must be obtained before taking or publishing images of juniors.

  • Only first names may be used alongside photos.

  • No images or imaging equipment in changing rooms.

  • Club social media accounts managed by authorised admins only.

 

Changing & Showering

  • Juniors must change separately from adults.

  • If shared facilities are unavoidable, separate times will be allocated.

  • No adults should shower at the same time as juniors.

  • Coaches/volunteers will not assist with changing unless DBS-checked and authorised.

 

Transport

  • The club does not provide transport to matches/training.

  • Parents are responsible for arranging drop-off and collection.

  • If transport is arranged privately between parents, the club holds no responsibility.

  • No coach, captain, or volunteer should transport a junior alone unless in exceptional circumstances (e.g. medical emergency).

 

Late Collection

  • Children will never be left unsupervised after training or matches.

  • Two adults will remain until all children are collected.

  • Persistent late collection will be raised with parents to resolve.

 

Anti-Bullying

  • The club adopts the ECB Anti-Bullying Policy.

  • Bullying (verbal, physical, emotional, online) will not be tolerated.

  • All incidents are to be reported to the CSO.

  • Action: Investigation → Inform parents → Follow disciplinary process.

 

Whistleblowing

  • The club encourages members to raise concerns without fear of reprisal.

  • Concerns should be reported to the CSO, Chair Person, or directly to the County Safeguarding Manager/ECB.

  • Whistleblowers’ identities will be protected wherever possible.

 

Concussion & Head Injuries

  • The club follows ECB guidance on concussion: “If in doubt, sit them out.”

  • Any suspected head injury must result in immediate removal from play and medical assessment.

  • Parents must be informed as soon as possible.

  • Player may only return with medical clearance.

 

First Aid & Medical Provision

  • First Aid kits available in: Pavilion, behind the Bar.

  • Club defibrillator location: on the Pavilion, facing home changing room entrance .

  • At least one trained First Aider present at all home junior training and matches.

  • Parents to provide up-to-date medical info on membership forms.

 

Incident Reporting

  • All safeguarding concerns or incidents must be recorded using the ECB Safeguarding Incident Reporting Form.

  • Copies to be submitted to the CSO within 24 hours.

  • Serious cases must be escalated to the County Safeguarding Manager and ECB immediately.

  • Records stored securely and confidentially by CSO.

 

Codes of Conduct

All players, parents, coaches, and volunteers must sign and adhere to the club’s Codes of Conduct, aligned with ECB guidance.

 

Review

This policy will be reviewed annually by the Executive Committee in consultation with the CSO and sub-committees, or sooner if ECB guidance changes.

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