Safeguarding

UCKFIELD CHESS CLUB

SAFEGUARDING   July 19

We are a growing chess club and our very survival depends on the development of young players towards joining adult members in competition, with the aim of continuing success, but more so the full enjoyment of the participants as they develop in this wonderful game.

To gain the full benefits, junior members must be able to rely on their safety and care whilst in the company of adult members. We are fortunate indeed to presently have five adult members with DBS clearance, two of whom are regularly coaching junior players currently.

This policy is designed to ensure that children are safe:-

1)      Junior members arriving at a chess session must sign in.

2)      On leaving, junior members must be collected by a parent or guardian. If not the usual parent or guardian then authority to collect must be notified by a parent or guardian to the Safeguarding Officer. The parent or guardian must enter the club session to collect their youngster, and they must be signed out by the adult.

3)      During club sessions at the Luxford Centre, junior members must use the disabled toilet (first door on the right on leaving the clubroom).

4)      When juniors are present, no adult will use the disabled toilet.

5)      When playing for a club team, junior or adult, junior members can only be transported by their own parent or guardian, or an adult member with DBS clearance.

6)      Whatever the arrangement for transporting children as at 5) above, express permission must be given in writing – an email is acceptable – before the event(s).

7)      If any premises is evacuated whether due to an alarm or a real threat whilst junior members are in our care, unless the parent is present the Safeguarding Officer or his nominee will take responsibility for mustering the juniors to an evacuation point and ensuring their safety.

8)      If a child is not collected by a parent or guardian at the end of a session, then the Safeguarding Officer or his nominee will use the contact details provided to ensure the child is returned home safely.

It is not expected that all members will be fully conversant with the document Working Together to Safeguard Children 2015, but any adult may recognise concerns regarding the welfare of a child, especially as many adult members will be parents.  If there are any concerns, then no leading questions should be asked of the junior member, but the concern should be immediately reported to the Safeguarding Officer, Brian Stockham.

Nothing is more important than the safety of our junior members.