Child Protection

Child Protection Framework
Guidance and Templates
Independent Safeguarding Authority Factsheets
Links

Sport can have a very powerful and positive influence on people - especially young people. Not only can it provide opportunities for enjoyment and achievement; it can also develop valuable qualities such as self esteem, leadership and teamwork.

These positive effects can only accrue if sport is in the right hands - in the hands of those who place the welfare of all young people first and adopt practices of support, protection and empowerment. Sports organizations have become increasingly aware that some individuals who want to harm children will use sport as a medium to gain access to young people. All sports have a duty to safeguard children from abuse within the sport.

The Welsh Sports Association is committed to working in partnership with its constituent members - the National Governing Bodies of Sport in Wales - to ensure that information and training opportunities are in place to deliver best practice when working with young people.

The Association is committed to developing policy and implementation procedures to allow young people to excel in a safe environment and to transmit a reassuring signal to parents that will also have a positive impact on recruitment into sport.

The Association's approach to child protection is based on the principles recognized within UK and International legislation and Government guidance. The following have been taken into consideration:

• The Children Act 1989
• The Human Rights Act 1998
• The Protection of Children Act 1999
• Working Together to Safeguard Children and Young People (Department of Health et al 1999)
• The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006

The Association is committed to working with its partner organizations - Sport Wales and the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) Child Protection in Sport Unit (CPSU) to raise awareness about the needs of children in sport and how National Governing Bodies of Sport, and their member clubs can act to minimise the risks to children in their care.

Child Protection Framework
The framework for safeguarding and protecting children in and through sport in Wales encompasses an overarching approach to safeguarding children in and through sport, and incorporates:

• Standards
• Support
• Progress and evaluation

There are five standards to the framework.

1. Policy
2. Procedures
3. Practices
4. Education and training
5. Implementing and monitoring

The framework has been developed to meet the needs of the diverse range of NGBs in Wales, and a two year financial arrangement between Sport Wales and the CPSU has been agreed to ensure that NGBs have access to professional guidance and support.

Further information about the Child Protection Framework is available here.

New Welsh NGB Policy Template and Guidance Notes (July 2010)
Sport Wales has commissioned the NSPCC CPSU to develop a Safeguarding Policy Template for NGBs that is specifically for Wales. This new policy template reflects recent legislation. NGBs should now use this policy template and guidance notes to ensure that their policy is up to date.

Guidance and Templates
The following Child Protection documents are available for download:
Free CRB Checks for Voluntary Organisations (WCVA)
A framework for safeguarding and protecting children in and through sport in Wales (CPSU)
Standards for Safeguarding and Protecting Children in Sport (CPSU)
Defining Child Abuse (CPSU)
Club Guidelines for Safeguarding Children in Sport (CPSU)
Good Practice for Safeguarding Children (CPSU)
Example of Child Protection Policy (CPSU)
Photographing participants (CPSU) 
Guidelines on Staffing/Supervision Ratios (CPSU)
Information Sharing (CPSU)
Safeguarding Policy Guidance Notes (NSPCC CPSU)
Safeguarding Policy Template (NSPCC CPSU)
Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy & Procedure (CPSU)
Induction Booklet Sample (CPSU)
Letter to Parents (CPSU)
Medical Details and Consent Proforma (CPSU)
Rights and Responsibilities Matrix (CPSU)
Action Planning Sheets (CPSU)
Sample Policy Statement for Sports Clubs (CPSU)
The Role of Designated Officer (CPSU)
False Allegations (CPSU)

Independent Safeguarding Authority Factsheets
Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act (ISA)
Barred Lists (ISA)
Regulated and Controlled Activity (ISA)

Links
Child Protection in Sport Unit (CPSU)
NSPCC
Independent Safeguarding Authority

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