CHILD PROTECTION POLICY STATEMENT/AIMS

The Guernsey Club (“GSC”) has a duty of care to safeguard all children involved in the GSC from harm. All children have a right to protection, and the needs of disabled children and others who may be particularly vulnerable must be taken into account. The GSC will ensure the safety and protection of all children involved in the GSC through adherence to the Child Protection guidelines adopted by the GSC.

A child is defined as a person under the age of 18 (The Children Act 1989).

Policy aims

The aim of the GSC Child Protection Policy is to promote good practice:

• Providing children and young people with appropriate safety and protection whilst in the care of GSC
• Allow all staff /volunteers to make informed and confident responses to specific child protection issues

Promoting good practice

Child abuse, particularly sexual abuse, can arouse strong emotions in those facing such a situation. It is important to understand these feelings and not allow them to interfere with your judgment about the appropriate action to take.

Abuse can occur within many situations including the home, school and the sporting environment. Some individuals will actively seek employment or voluntary work with young people in order to harm them. A coach, instructor, teacher, official or volunteer will have regular contact with young people and be an important link in identifying cases where they need protection. All suspicious cases of poor practice should be reported following the guidelines in this document.

When a child enters the GSC activity having been subjected to child abuse outside the sporting environment, sport can play a crucial role in improving the child’s self-esteem. In such instances the GSC activity organiser must work with the appropriate agencies to ensure the child receives the required support.

Good practice guidelines

All personnel should be encouraged to demonstrate exemplary behaviour in order to promote children’s’ welfare and reduce the likelihood of allegations being made. The following are common sense examples of how to create a positive culture and climate.

Good practice means:

Always working in an open environment (e.g. avoiding private or unobserved situations and encouraging open communication with no secrets)

Treating all young people equally, and with respect and dignity

• Always putting the welfare of each young person first, before winning or achieving goals
• Maintaining a safe and appropriate distance with surfers (e.g. it is not appropriate for staff or volunteers to have an intimate relationship with a child or to share a room with them)
• Making sport fun, enjoyable and promoting fair play