Child Protection
Statement on Safeguarding and Protecting Young People and Vulnerable Adults
The T&RA is committed to creating and maintaining the safest possible environment for children, young people and vulnerable adults to participate in Real Tennis and Rackets and recognises its responsibility to safeguard their welfare by protecting them from poor practice, abuse or bullying. The T&RA believes that the welfare of children and young people is everyone's responsibility.
The policy and procedures of the T&RA apply to everyone, whether in a paid or voluntary capacity, including professionals, volunteers and officials in clubs, markers, referees, and helpers on external trips. Everyone has a responsibility.
Principles
- Anyone under the age of 18 will be considered a child or young person in relation to the Safeguarding and Protecting Young People and Vulnerable Adults in Real Tennis and Rackets Policy and Procedures
- The welfare of the child, young person or vulnerable adult is the first consideration
- All children, young people and vulnerable adults, regardless of age, ability, gender, ethnic origin, religious belief, race or sexual identity have a right to protection from abuse
- The rights, dignity and worth of all young people should always be respected
- Anyone who administers or plays the games of Real Tennis and Rackets has a responsibility and failure to comply may lead to disciplinary action
- All concerns will be taken seriously and managed accordingly within the Safeguarding and Protecting Young People and Vulnerable Adults in Real Tennis and Rackets Policies and Procedures
- All allegations will be taken seriously and responded to quickly and fairly in line with the T&RA's Policy and Procedures
- It is the responsibility of safeguarding and child protection experts to determine whether or not abuse has taken place but it is everyone's responsibility in Real Tennis and Rackets to act appropriately and report concerns
- The T&RA recognises the role and responsibilities of the statutory agencies safeguarding children and young people and is committed to complying with the procedures of the Local Safeguarding Children's Boards
- Working in partnership with parents and carers is essential for the safeguarding and protection of young people and vulnerable adults
- Confidentiality should be upheld in line with legislation and government guidance
The T&RA is committed to creating and maintaining a safe and positive environment for all young people to play and enjoy Real Tennis and Rackets.
It recognises the responsibility to safeguard their welfare and protect them from poor practice, bullying and abuse.
It also recognises the responsibility to protect those who work with children from personal risk
The T&RA fully accepts its responsibilities for the protection of young people by providing and implementing procedures to safeguard their well-being and protect them from abuse. The Association will respect the rights, wishes and feelings of young people. It will encourage Clubs to adopt good practice in their recruitment, training and supervision of professionals and volunteers, and encourage these people to safeguard and protect young people from abuse, and themselves against allegations. It will require professionals and volunteers in Clubs to adopt and abide by the Code of Ethics and the Association's Safeguarding and Protecting Young People in Real Tennis and Rackets - Policy, Procedures and Guidelines: and it will respond to any allegations appropriately, and implement any appropriate disciplinary and appeals procedures.
Safeguarding Resources
The Appendices below are the relevant detail from the Safeguarding and Protecting Young People Policy, Procedures and Guidelines.
The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) is essential for all professionals and volunteers who have any interaction with young people. This was formerly known as a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check.
DBS disclosures need to be updated at least every three years, and are not considered ‘portable’ from one job to another unless they have been obtained through the new online DBS system, the applicant has signed up for the yearly online DBS update service, and their update service account is current. For more information on the online update service: www.gov.uk/dbs-update-service
Additional Child Protection Resources
For further information contact the T&RA Chief Executive in the office at Queen's Club or Kambra Clifford communications@tennisandrackets.com