Child Protection Policy Statement
Thornton Hough Angling Club (THAC) acknowledges the duty of care to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and is committed to ensuring safeguarding practice reflects statutory responsibilities, government guidance and complies with best practice and The Child Protection in Sport requirements.
The policy recognises that the welfare and interests of children are paramount in all circumstances. It aims to ensure that regardless of age, gender, religion or beliefs, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation or socio-economic background, all children:
- have a positive and enjoyable experience of sport in all activities run and supported by the THAC and are able to do so in a safe and child centred environment
- are protected from abuse whilst participating in angling or outside of the activity. The THAC acknowledges that some children, including disabled children and young people or those from ethnic minority communities, can be particularly vulnerable to abuse and we accept the responsibility to take reasonable and appropriate steps to ensure their welfare.
As part of our safeguarding policy the THAC will:
- Promote and prioritise the safety and wellbeing of children and young people.
- Ensure everyone understands their roles and responsibilities in respect of safeguarding and is provided with appropriate learning opportunities to recognise, identify and respond to signs of abuse, neglect and other safeguarding concerns relating to children and young people.
- Ensure appropriate action is taken in the event of incidents/concerns of abuse and support provided to the individual/s who raise or disclose the concern.
- Ensure that confidential, detailed and accurate records of all safeguarding concerns are maintained and securely stored.
- Prevent the employment/deployment of unsuitable individuals.
- Ensure robust safeguarding arrangements and procedures are in operation.
- Support the training and development of all those supporting safeguarding standards in angling.
- Work collaboratively and collectively with other organisations, outside of angling, to develop and maintain safeguarding for children and young people.
The policy and procedures will be widely promoted and are mandatory for everyone involved in the THAC. Failure to comply with the policy and procedures will be addressed without delay and may ultimately result in dismissal/exclusion from the club.
Principles
The principles followed, and guidance given in this document are based on the following.
- The child’s welfare is of paramount consideration.
- All young people, whatever their age, culture, any disability they may have, gender, language, racial origin, religious belief and sexual identity have the right to protection from abuse.
- All incidents of poor practice or suspicions of poor practice and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately.
- A young person is recognised as being under the age of 18 years (Children’s Act 1989 definition)
- Adults with responsibility for children have a moral and legal duty for the care.
- All young people have the right to participate in the sport of angling in an enjoyable and safe environment.
- Young people have the right to expect appropriate support in accordance with their personal and social development in relation to their involvement in the sport of angling.
- It is the responsibility of the child protection experts and agencies to determine whether or not abuse has taken place. It is everyone’s responsibility to report any concerns.
- Confidentiality should be upheld in line with the Data Protection Act1998, Human Rights Act 2000 and General Data Protection Regulations 2016/679 May 2018
Responsibilities
Working in partnership with young people, their parents and other agencies is essential for the protection of young people. Although THAC with the AT and the Governing Bodies who recognise the statutory responsibility of Children’s Social Care Services to ensure the welfare of young people and work with the Local Safeguarding Children’s Board (LSCB) to comply with its procedures, child protection has a broader remit within the sport of angling. All those involved in the management of young people in the sport of angling have a duty to ensure that they are:
- Allowed access to the sport in a way that is appropriate for their age and ability.
- Coached and trained by appropriately qualified staff.
- Not required to participate in so many competitions, or to attend training sessions, as to become a threat to their wellbeing.
- Not subjected to any form of discriminatory abuse from any source.
- Not subjected to bullying or undue pressure from any source.
- Encouraged to achieve their full potential at all levels.
- Instructed how to behave around water-based venues.
- Afforded respect, confidentiality and privacy in a competing and training situation and any other angling environment.
Implementation
The AT Safeguarding Children and Young People in Angling Policy shall be adopted in accordance with the following:
- The AT, the National Governing Body and its members.
- All other bodies working in partnership with the AT to provide opportunities for work with children and young people up to the age of 18 (either on a paid or voluntary basis) within the sport of angling in England.
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Club Equity Policy Statement.
Thornton Hough Angling Club (THAC) respects the rights, dignity and worth of every person and will treat everyone equally within the context of their sport, regardless of age, ability, gender, race, ethnicity, religious belief, sexuality or social/economic status. THAC is committed to ensuring that equity is incorporated across all aspects of its development. In doing so it acknowledges and adopts the following Sport England definition of sports equity:
Sports equity is about fairness in sport, equality of access, recognising inequalities and taking steps to address them. It is about changing the culture and structure of sport to ensure that it becomes equally accessible to all members of society, whatever their age, ability, gender, race, ethnicity, sexuality or socio-economic status.
THAC is committed to everyone having the right to enjoy their sport in an environment free from threat of discrimination, intimidation, harassment and abuse.
All Club members have a responsibility to challenge discriminatory behaviour and promote equality of opportunity.
THAC will deal with any incidence of discriminatory behaviour seriously, according to our disciplinary procedure.
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Social Network Policy Statement & Rules
Thornton Hough Angling Club, (THAC) does its best to keep our WhatsApp group and Forum safe, but we cannot guarantee it. We need your help to keep both safe, which includes adhering to the following rules:
- Thornton Hough Angling Club (The Club) members over the age of 16 can have access to the Club’s Members Only WhatsApp group and Forum.
- Users of the Club’s Members Only WhatsApp group and Forum must agree and abide by the following rules.
- Any content posted on the Members Only WhatsApp Group and Forum must not be copied and or shared with any other account or social media platform that is not controlled by Thornton Hough Angling Club.
- Users can use the Club’s Members Only WhatsApp Group and Forum to share ideas, institutions, and practices. Such discussion can promote debate and greater understanding of our club and fishing in general. Of course, we allow humour, satire or social commentary related to these topics, however, we urge people to be conscious of their audience when sharing this type of content and be mindful of the Club’s Social Network rules before posting on the WhatsApp Group or Forum
- Users of the Club’s Members Only WhatsApp Group and Forum will not post content that: is hate speech, threatening, or pornographic; incites violence; or contains nudity or graphic or gratuitous violence.
- Users of the Club’s Members Only WhatsApp Group and Forum will not post content, which includes content that directly attacks people based on their: age, disability, race, ethnic origin, nationality, colour, parental or marital status, pregnancy, religious belief, social status, sexual orientation, political belief, sex, gender or gender identity, or serious disabilities or diseases.
- Users of the Club’s Members Only WhatsApp Group and Forum will not use WhatsApp or any other social network to do anything unlawful, misleading, malicious, or discriminatory.
- Users of the Club’s Members Only WhatsApp Group and Forum will not use either to bully, intimidate, or harass any user.
- Any Club member making derogatory comments, about the Club or any other member, on any social networking site or forum will be deemed to have brought the Club into disrepute and may be expelled or suspended by the Committee.
- Users of the Club’s Members Only WhatsApp Group and Forum have a responsibility to report any content which breach the Club’s Social Networking Rules to the Committee.
- Thornton Hough Angling Club committee reserve the right to remove any content posted on either the Members Only WhatsApp Group or Forum.
- Thornton Hough Angling Club committee reserve the right to remove users from both the Members Only WhatsApp Group and Forum at any time.
13 Thornton Hough Angling Club committee reserve the right to cancel Thornton Hough Angling Club membership if these social networking rules and or WhatsApp or any other Social Network’s own Terms or Polices are broken without recall to any refund of monies paid
