CROQUET ASSOCIATION – CHILD SAFEGUARDING (9th February2021)
As we all anticipate the post-Covid return to Croquet this summer, hopefully including recruiting and training more junior players, the CA Council has approved and published a very timely revised and updated ‘Child Safeguarding Policy ‘. This incorporates the comprehensive changes required at all levels of our Sport to improve our ‘Safeguarding’standards for youngsters under 18.
As a first step towards setting up and running the new system:
All Clubs, Federations and Academies must appoint their own Local Safeguarding Officer (Welfare Officer) and register him/her with the CA.
This register will be maintained by our newly appointed National Safeguarding Officer, Dr. Ron Carter, and we have set an implementation date of 1st May 2021 so that it is actively operating for the summer playing season.
A separate Register of CA Members holding a current DBS Enhanced certificate and willing to volunteer their help with juniors will also be maintained.
Please read the attached summary of this Policy, which has links to the CA website where the comprehensive and detailed policy documents are available for reference.
The updated Policy must apply to all croquet related activities in England from the 1st May 2021. This includes everything from club sessions to top class tournaments, and Open Days or other events involving the public. It reflects the requirements placed upon the National Governing Bodies of all sports by UK legislation, Sport England, the NSPCC, and other national organisations to significantly improve safeguarding standards
If your club has an existing child safe-guarding policy then you should review it, taking into account the new CA policy. In particular, you may need to change the contact details of the CA’s National Safeguarding Officer since Jean Hargreaves has now retired from the role. If your club already has a safeguarding (welfare) officer then please send details to Ron Carter as soon as possible.
Ron Carter is available to give advice and to answer questions as they arise. Contact details as listed on the CA Members’ Directory:
Tel: 07973 239319 (email: dr.roncarter@gmail.com)
See the Summary of the Child Safeguarding Policy HERE