Safeguarding Policy and Guidance for cricket clubs

The Cricket Ireland Child Safeguarding Policy and Guide is designed to be a source of policy statements relating to safeguarding and a practical guide and reference document for cricket clubs and all those involved in cricket.

This pack is a collection of best practice guidelines and templates that your club can use to help promote children’s wellbeing and help to keep them safe in our sport. It will be regularly reviewed (every three years or in response to relevant legislation or government guidance) and incorporates any new and updated child wellbeing and will incorporate protection guidance and legislation.

In this document a child or young person is defined as someone under the age of 18.

To ensure your club is a safe environment for children and young people it is recommended that all sections of this pack are implemented. Clubs are at liberty to supplement the information in this pack, but they are expressly prohibited from departing from the information which is now being made available in this document.

You can use it:

- in its entirety or select only the relevant sections when needed
- to look at what is already in place at your club to confirm the positives and/or identify any gaps
- to develop policies and procedures templates can be used as is or added to suit your club’s needs

It provides guidance and support for staff and volunteers working with children in our clubs and any member of staff or volunteer taking on the role of Children’s Officer, Designated Liaison Person, or working/volunteering with children. It should be read in conjunction with other Cricket Ireland policies and all other relevant policies and procedures.

Throughout this guidance we will refer to Cricket Clubs’ volunteers/staff. By this we mean anyone involved in the delivery of the sport, for example, paid or unpaid staff including volunteer coaches, parent helpers, officials, etc.

Downloads

Download the Cricket Ireland Safeguarding Policy and Guide below:

  • Child Safeguarding Policy and Guidance
  • Introduction to the Safeguarding Pack
  • Section 1 - Roles and Responsibilities
  • Section 2 - Codes of Conduct
  • Section 3 - Vetting Documents and Policy
  • Section 4 - Safe Recruitment and Training Policy
  • Section 5 - Dealing with Child protection concerns
  • Section 6 - Policies

Club Compliance

Cricket Ireland is committed to safeguarding the wellbeing of its members.  Every Cricket Club with youth teams and/or youth players has a duty of care not only to children but all the members of their club.

The following documents provide templates for all clubs to complete in order to meet compliance with safeguarding obligations:

  • Club Safeguarding Statement
  • Club Safeguarding Risk Assessment
  • Safe recruitment and training policy

Steps required to achieve compliance in Child Safeguarding

Step #1. Review and complete the Child Safeguarding statement

  • Review your Child Safeguarding Statement, complete the blank sections and sign and date the document. 
  • Display and promote it to members and stakeholders as per Section 11 of the Children First Act 2015, you are required to display your Child Safeguarding Statement in a prominent place in your club (notice board, public area etc).
  • We suggest that you also distribute your signed Child Safeguarding Statement to all members by mail/email/web or social media on an annual basis.
  • If you do not have a club house or website/social media page to display and distribute your Child Safeguarding Statement, you should display it at your matches as a temporary sign or poster.

Step #2. Review and complete Safeguarding Risk assessment

  • The Risk Assessment has been pre-populated for you to review at your club meeting.
  • Each risk identified has been ranked and any supporting policies and guidance indicated.
  • You may wish to include other risks of potential harm that are specific for you or some risks listed may not be applicable to your club.
  • After you review your Risk Assessment, minute it at your meeting and get your Chairperson and Children’s Officer to sign and date it.

Step #3. Appoint a Club Children’s officer and Designated liaison person (ROI)

  • These persons should be appropriately vetted and complete appropriate Safeguarding training.

Step #4. Implement Cricket Ireland Safe recruitment Policy

  • Ensure all coaches /volunteers working with children attend appropriate Safeguarding training, are vetted and made aware of Cricket Ireland’s code of conduct and reporting procedures. 

Step #5. All persons in the club who will be in continuous or regular contact with children must complete their Garda vetting or Access NI check prior to beginning their role.

Send a confirmation email to your Provincial Union to confirm all the above. Scan and email your Safeguarding statement with a link to where it is displayed on your website, or a picture of it displayed publicly if you have no website. Please include name and contact details of persons in named positions (Designated Liaison / Children’s Officer positions)