Grayswood Cricket Club (The Club) is committed to ensuring all Children (i.e all persons under the age of 18 ) participating in cricket have a safe and positive experience. We do this by:

1) Putting things in place
2) Having the Right People in Place
3) What do you do if you have a concern?
4) Cricket Specific Guidance

1) Putting things in place
We recognising all children participating in cricket (regardless of age, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, ability or disability) have the right to have fun and be protected from harm in a safe environment.

We ensure individuals working within cricket at, or for, our club provide a welcoming, safe, and fun experience for children.

We provide an environment where the views of children, parents and volunteers are sought and welcomed on a range of issues. This will help us create an environment where people have the opportunity to voice any concerns (about possible suspected child abuse/neglect, and/or about poor practice) to the Club Welfare Officer (Safeguarding Officer).

We adopt and implement the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) “Safe Hands – Cricket’s Policy for Safeguarding Children”.

We ensure all individuals working within cricket at, or for, the club are recruited and appointed in accordance with ECB guidelines and relevant legislation.

2) Having the Right People in Place
Appointing a Club Welfare Officer (Safeguarding Officer) and ensuring they attend training modules required by the ECB. Our Club Welfare Officer’s (Safeguarding Officer’s) is:
Jo Shaw. Contact Jo via our Contacts Page

The Club Welfare Officer (Safeguarding Officer):

Is the first point of contact for parents, children and volunteers/staff within the club - As a local source of procedural advice for the club, its committee and members.
Is the main point of contact within the club for the ECB County Welfare Officer and the ECB Safeguarding Team.
Is the main point of contact within the club for relevant external agencies in connection with child safeguarding.
Ensures correct and comprehensive reporting procedures exist for raising and managing child safeguarding concerns.

3) What do you do if you have a concern?
We ensure all suspicions, concerns and allegations are taken seriously and dealt with swiftly and appropriately. If the Club Welfare Officer (Safeguarding Officer) is unavailable or if the concern relates to the Club Welfare Officer (Safeguarding Officer), matters should be raised with the Club’s Chairperson, Chris Holmes - contact Chris via our Contacts Page.

We ensure access to confidential information relating to child safeguarding matters is restricted to those who need to know, in order to safeguard children – including the Club Welfare Officer (Safeguarding Office) and the appropriate external authorities, such as the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO), as specified within ECB child safeguarding procedures.

5) Cricket Specific Advice
We ensure all individuals working within cricket at, or for, the club are provided with support, through education and training, so they are aware of, and can adhere to, good practice and Code of Conduct guidelines defined by the ECB, and the club.
We ensure all people who work in cricket at, or for, our club (such as staff, officials, volunteers, team managers, coaches and so on) understand how the “Safe Hands Policy” applies to them.

Date Completed - February 2024