Good Practice

What is Child Abuse

Indications of Child Abuse

If you have concerns about the Welfare of a child

If a child tells you that he / she is being abused

If you are a member, or the parent / carer

If you are a club officer or event organizer you can

If you have allegations made against you

Remember

Appendix I

Guidance for Photography and Video Use

PDF Version

The club believes that the welfare of children is everyones responsibility, particularly when it comes to protecting young people & vulnerable adults from abuse. All those involved in the venue and Kitesports can help club members, instructors, parents friends and young people themselves.

Abuse can occur wherever there are children at home,school, in the park, at the club. Unfortunately there are some people who will seek to be where young people are, simply in order to abuse them. We believe that everyone involved in Kitesports has a moral responsibility and therefore a part to play in looking after young people and vulnerable adults with whom we are working.

Whilst the safeguarding of young people is our primary consideration in producing this procedure it is also seen that the interests of instructors, volunteers and staff need to be taken account of, particularly where falsely accused of abuse. For this reason there we have produced guidance for adults within this documentation.

These child protection procedures stem from the following principles:

• Awareness: Ensuring all staff / volunteers and others are aware of the problem of child abuse and the risks to children.
• Prevention: Ensuring, through awareness and good practice, that staff / volunteers and others minimise the risk to children.
• Reporting: Ensuring that staff / volunteers and others are clear of the steps to take where concerns arise regarding possible abuse.
• Responding: Ensuring that action is taken to support and protect children where concerns arise regarding possible abuse.

Good practice guidelines for staff / volunteers:

• Avoid situations where you are alone with one young person. The club acknowledge that there may be the odd occasion where there may be no alternative such as taking a child to hospital from the club. One to one contact on a regular basis must never occur.
• If any form of physical support is required ask the persons permission, explain what you are doing and why to the child / parents / carers.
• Where possible ask parents / carers to be responsible for children in changing rooms.
• Mixed groups should be accompanied by staff / volunteers who are male /female.
• Dont allow physically rough or sexually provocative games, or inappropriate talking or touching.
• Ensure that any claims of abuse by a child are taken seriously; Report the findings as soon as possible.
• Ensure that the nature and intensity of training / kiting does not exceed the capacity of a childs growing body.
• Follow the club guidance for photography and video use (see appendix I)
• Publicise the NSPCC Child protection helpline
• 0800 800 500

What is Child Abuse?

Its generally acknowledged that there are four main types of abuse Physical, Sexual, Emotional and Neglect

Physical Abuse

Hurting or injuring a child e.g. by hitting, shaking, squeezing, burning or biting. In sport this might result if the nature or intensity of training is inappropriate for the capacity of the young person or where drugs are tolerated or advocated. Bullying is likely to come into this category - see below.

Sexual Abuse

Where young people are used by adults to meet their own sexual needs. It could range from sexually suggestive comments to full intercourse and includes the use of pornographic material.

Emotional Abuse

Where a child is not given love, help and encouragement and is constantly derided or ridiculed e.g. racial or sexual remarks.

It can also occur where an instructor has unrealistic expectations of what a child can achieve.

Neglect

Failing to meet the children's basic needs such as food, warmth, adequate clothing, and medical attention or constantly leaving them alone. It could also mean failing to ensure their safety or exposing them to harm or injury.

Bullying

The bully could be an adult or a child - the parent / carer / instructor who pushes too hard or the local youth who pick on someone for little or no reason.

Indications of Child Abuse

• There are physical and behavioral signs that might raise your concern about the welfare or safety of a child. They are only indicators - NOT CONFIRMATION. Some examples are:
• Where the child(s)

• Say that he / she is being abused, or another person says they believe (or actually know) that abuse is occurring
• Has an injury for which the explanation seems inconsistent
• Behavior changes, either over time or quite suddenly, becoming aggressive, withdrawn or unhappy.
• Appears not to trust adults, e.g. a parent or instructor with whom she /he would be expected to have, or once had a close relationship.
• Shows inappropriate sexual awareness for his / her age and sometimes behaves in a sexually explicit way.
• Becomes increasingly neglected-looking in appearance, or loses or puts weight on for no apparent reason.
• Bear in mind that physically disabled children and children with learning difficulties are particularly vulnerable to abuse and may have added difficulties in communication what is happening to them.

If you have concerns about the Welfare of a child

Please remember the GOLDEN RULE, it is not your responsibility to decide whether a child is being abused but we are asking you to fulfill your legal requirements and act on your concerns. Make a DETAILED note of what you’ve seen or heard but don’t delay passing on the information

If a child tells you that he / she is being abused

• Stay calm.
• Don’t promise to keep it to yourself.
• Listen to what the child says and, please take the allegation seriously.
• Only ask questions if you need to identify what the child is telling you - don’t ask the child about explicit details.
• Make a detailed note of what the child has told you but, as advised in the previous section please don’t delay in passing on the information
• Pass the information on to:
• The club child protection officer
Or
• If you need urgent advice contact the NSPCC Child Protection 24 Helpline 0800 800 500

If you are a member, or the parent / carer or friend of a member of the kite club you should:

• Tell an appointed Child Protection officer, or at an event, the organizers unless, of course you suspect them of being involved.
Or
• If you need urgent advice contact the NSPCC Child Protection 24 Helpline 0800 800 500

If you are a club officer or event organizer you can:

• Talk to the child’s parents / carers about the concerns if you think there may be an obvious explanation such as a bereavement or pressure from their studies / exams
• If you need urgent advice contact the NSPCC Child Protection 24 Helpline. Contact your local Social Services Department or, in an emergency the Police.
• If you are working with a school group - inform the head teacher.
• If you are involved with a scheme from a Local Education Authority refer to their Child Protection procedures.
• Make a detailed note on your observations / or the comments by the young person.

What you should do as an instructor, volunteer, club member, if you have allegations made against you.

• Remove yourself from contact with the young person completely until the authorities have investigated.
• Make a detailed note of any allegations and instances where you believed the allegation had come from.
• Co-operate fully with the investigating authority
• Contact the Citizens Advice Bureau or Sport England for impartial advice.

Remember:

Instances of child abuse are still thankfully rare, most clubs and activities happen safely; only by protecting children and others can we ensure that sporting opportunities survive. Hangtime Ltd appreciates your help and the voluntary work you do with us.

Appendix I

Guidance for Photography and Video Use

There is evidence that people have taken and used images of young people from sporting events inappropriately. This led the NSPCC Child Protection in Sport Unit to publish guidance. Please observe the following guidance when taking and storing photographs & video.

• The media and / or professional photographers wishing to record an event or kitesport feature must register with Fleetwood Kite Club and be accompanied by proof of their professional identification. This should be in advance of the event being filmed.
• Anyone wishing to take zoom photographs or video at close range of young people must register with Fleetwood Kite Club as above in addition club volunteers / organisors will issue an I.D. to the photographer.
• Concerns regarding inappropriate or intrusive photography should be reported to the event organizer or official and recorded in the same manner as any child protection concern.

NB this does not apply to instructors and helpers using video as a legitimate coaching aid but these images will only be stored for short duration and parental permission will be sought from parents / carers.

There is also concern that photographs of children used in the media (including the World Wide Web) can make children vulnerable to abusers if accompanied by personal information. Fleetwood Kite Club encourages the celebration of young people’s sporting achievements in the media but would ask you to please follow the following guidelines.

• When using a photo don not use full name linked with an address.
• Ask the parent or carer and the young person for permission to use their image.

Our thanks to the NSPCC and the British Canoe Union for the use of their publications when compiling this procedure.