Safeguarding

Cricket Dorset Ltd Safeguarding Statement

Cricket Dorset Ltd, operating under the Dorset Cricket Board and Dorset Cricket names, is committed to safeguarding and protecting children, young people and adults at risk to enable them to enjoy the game of cricket.

We are very clear that cricket should be a game for everyone.

Cricket Dorset Ltd recognises our collective and individual safeguarding responsibilities and accountabilities.

We adopt and implement the ECB “Safe Hands – Cricket’s Policy for Safeguarding Children”. We will continue to subscribe to any future versions of the policy and are committed to delivering the ECB Safeguarding Standards.

A child or young person is anyone under the age of 18 engaged in any club cricket activity.

An adult at risk is any person who is aged 18 years or over and at risk of abuse or neglect because of their needs for care and/or support.

We commit to:

• Implementing preventative safeguarding measures that create safe and enjoyable cricket settings.
• Ensuring safeguarding concerns regarding children and adults at risk are managed appropriately and thoroughly in conjunction with the ECB, Statutory agencies, and other organisations as appropriate.
• Recognising that all people participating in cricket regardless of age, gender, race religion, sexual orientation, ability, or disability have a right to have fun and be protected from harm in a safe environment.
• Ensuring that individuals working within cricket provide a safe, positive, and fun cricketing experience for all.

We do this by:

• Putting things in place
• Adopting and implementing the ECB’s “Safe Hands – Cricket Policy for Safeguarding Children” and ECB’s “Safeguarding Adults Policy Statement”
• Ensuring that all people who work in cricket at, or for Cricket Dorset Ltd, such as staff, officials, volunteers, Team Managers, Coaches etc. understand that the policies apply to them according to their level of contact with the children and/or young people in cricket.
• Ensuring access to confidential information relating to child safeguarding matters is restricted to the County Safeguarding Officer and the appropriate external authorities, such as the Police or Children’s Social Care Services, as specified within ECB child safeguarding procedures in line with data protection legislation and guidance.
• Creating and maintaining an anti-bullying environment and ensuring that we have a policy and procedure to help us deal effectively with any claims of bullying.
• Listening to the children participating in our activities, valuing their comments and showing them respect.

Having the Right People in Place:

• Ensuring that individuals working within cricket at, or for Cricket Dorset Ltd, provide a safe, positive, and fun cricketing experience for all.
• Ensuring that all individuals working within cricket at, or for Cricket Dorset Ltd, are recruited and appointed in accordance with ECB guidelines and Safer Recruitment practices.
• Ensuring that all individuals working within cricket at, or for Cricket Dorset Ltd, are provided with support through education and training so that they are aware of and can adhere to good practice and Code of Conduct guidelines defined by both the ECB and Cricket Dorset Ltd.

Dealing with concerns:

• Ensuring that the name and contact details of the County Safeguarding Officer for the Board are available:

1. as the first point of contact for parents, children, volunteers, and staff within cricket in Dorset.
2. as a local source of procedural advice for Cricket Dorset Ltd, its committee and its members and affiliated clubs and/or leagues in the County;
3. as the main point of contact within Cricket Dorset Ltd for the ECB Safeguarding Team; and
4. as the main point of contact within the County for relevant external agencies in connection with child welfare.

• Having a clear, simple process in place for reporting concerns. Ensuring that correct and comprehensive reporting procedures exist for raising and managing safeguarding and child protection concerns. Such procedures recognising the responsibility of the statutory agencies and in accordance with pre-defined safeguarding and child protection procedures as defined by the ECB, statutory agencies, and Local Safeguarding Child Board (LSCB) guidelines and policies.
• Ensuring that all suspicions, concerns, and allegations are taken seriously and dealt with swiftly and appropriately.

Our Safeguarding Policy can be found here.

For guidance on Safeguarding at your club, please contact:

Louise Sillitto-Ferretti - County Safeguarding Officer - Email: safeguardingofficer@dorsetcricketboard.co.uk

Please use the menu on the left to find out more information about safeguarding including our courses.