Policy and procedures for the protection of children and vulnerable adults
1. Policy
1.1 The Club has an obligation to provide a duty of care to protect all children (and vulnerable adults) and to safeguard their welfare, irrespective of age, gender, racial origin, religious belief, sexual identity and any disability.
1.2 The Club will take all reasonable practical steps to protect children from harm and discrimination and will respond quickly to all reported suspicions and allegations.
1.3 The Club recognises that the key to good practice is having an awareness of the principles required to promote a safe environment. The Club will adopt the Guidance Notes on good practice, poor practice and abuse as set down in Section 2 of the Document on Child Protection in Cycling issued by British Cycling and endorsed by Cycling Time Trials and other leading National Cycling Organisations.
1.4 The Committee will be responsible for ensuring suitable procedures exist to meet this policy.
2. Procedures
2.1 It is the responsibility of every member of the Club to report any concerns about the welfare of any child separately to two members of the Committee who will normally be the General Secretary and the Chairman.
2.2 It is not the responsibility of the Committee to determine whether or not abuse has taken place. This is the domain of the child protection professionals, the social services and the police force.
2.3 The Club is affiliated to British Cycling and a member of Cycling Time Trials. It is the responsibility of the Committee to report any concerns about the welfare of a child to the designated National Child Protection Officer of British Cycling. The National Child Protection Officer will be responsible for referring the allegation to the Social Services Department in accordance with the procedures laid down in the Document of Child Protection in Cycling. The Committee should also notify the National Secretary of Cycling Time Trials of any allegation reported to the National Child Protection Officer of British Cycling.
2.4 British Cycling and all national cycling organisations who are parties to the Document on Child Protection in Cycling have given a commitment that all suspicions will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately through laid down suspension, disciplinary and appeals procedures.
2.5 The Committee shall be responsible for making a detailed report at the time of any disclosure of concern. This information should be written in factual format and avoid any opinion or hearsay. This report should be sent to the National cycling Protection Officer or British Cycling with a copy to the National Secretary of Cycling Time Trials.
2.6 Where time is of the essence and the National Child Protection Officer or the nominated deputy is unavailable, the Club Committee may instruct the Chairman or General Secretary to contact the NSPCC Helpline (0808 800 5000), the duty officer at Hampshire County Council Social and Caring Services (02380 618722), out of hours (01489 589627) or Child Protection Personnel with Hampshire Police (0845 0454545).
2.7 The Committee shall have the power to suspend members of the Club accused of alleged abuse whist the matter is being investigated by the appropriate authority.