Ribblesdale Wanderers Cricket and Bowling club ( The Club ) is committed to ensuring all the children ( the word “ children” should be taken to mean all persons under the age of 18 ) participating in cricket and bowls have a safe and positive experience.

We will do this by :

Recognising all children participating in cricket and bowls ( regardless of age, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, ability or disability ) have a right to have fun and be protected from harm in a safe environment.

Ensuring individuals working within cricket and bowls at, or for, our club provide a safe, positive and fun cricketing or bowling experience for children.

Adopting and implementing the England and Wales cricket board ( ECB )” Safe Hands “ – cricket policy for Safeguarding children” and any future versions of this. Appointing a club Welfare officer and ensuring they attend all current and future training modules required by the ECB, so they have the necessary skills to undertake their role effectively.

Ensuring all people who work in cricket and bowls at, or for, our club ( such as staff, officials, volunteers, team managers, coaches and so on) understand the “ Safe Hands policy” applies to them according to their level of contact with children in cricket and bowls.

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

Ensuring all individuals working within cricket and bowls 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.

Ensuring the name and contact details of the club Welfare Officer is available

• As the first point of contact for parents, children and volunteers/staff in the club .

• As a local source of procedural advice for the club, its committee and members .

• As the main point of contact within the club for the ECB County Welfare Officer

• And the ECB Child Protection Team .

• As the main point of contact within the Club for relevant external agencies in connection with child safeguarding.

Ensuring correct and comprehensive reporting procedures exist for raising and managing child safeguarding concerns. Such procedures should recognise the responsibility of the statutory agencies and be in accordance with predefined child safeguarding procedures as set down by the ECB, statutory Agencies and local Safeguarding Children Board ( LSCB ) guidelines and policies.

Providing everyone connected with the club ( Including parents, children and volunteers ) with the opportunity to voice any concerns they have ( about possible suspected child abuse, and/or about poor practice ) to the club Welfare Officer.

Ensuring all suspicious concerns and allegations are taken seriously and dealt with swiftly and appropriately.

Ensuring access to confidential information relating to child safeguarding matters is restricted to the club Welfare Officer and the appropriate external authorities, such as the local Authority Designated Officer ( LADO ), as specified within the ECB child safeguarding procedures.

RWCBC Welfare Officer : Mr Stewart Trotter