1.1 Hendon Chess Club (the Club) is a non-profit organisation run for the purpose of providing competitive and social chess-playing opportunities for its members.
1.2 The Club is based at The Cumberland Lawn Tennis Club, 25 Alvanley Gardens, London NW6 1JD.
1.3 The Club has adopted this Safeguarding Children Policy and expects every adult to support it and comply with it.
1.4 The following definitions should be noted:
1.5 For the avoidance of doubt the Club does not act in loco parentis of juniors.
2.1 This policy is intended to protect juniors; and to provide guidance and overarching principles to those who represent the Club as officers or volunteers in our approach to child protection and safeguarding.
3.1 While we have no reason not to believe that our juniors grow up in a safe and happy environment, and while it is important not to exaggerate or overestimate the dangers to juniors, there are nevertheless situations where juniors need protection, including but not limited to:
4.1 The Club recognises that:
5.1 The Club organises activities open to adults and juniors.
5.2 The Club does not run any events which are mainly or exclusively for juniors.
5.3 At activities open to adults and juniors:
5.4 The Club shall (or shall continue to) -
5.5 The Club may at its discretion apply the whole or any part of paragraph 5.4 to juniors aged 16 and 17.
6.1 The Club offers the following activities for juniors:
6.2 Some of our activities may require adult participants or adult leaders to undergo DBS and/or police checks under the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006. The required level of checking (if any) will broadly reflect the degree and frequency of unsupervised access given to other people’s children.
6.3 The Club will take very seriously any allegation of impropriety on the part of any member of the Club. A member of the Club who discovers anything amiss should get in touch immediately with:
Christopher Rogal (Child Protection Officer)
tel: 07711 960 623; email: csrogal@hotmail.co.uk
6.4 Allegations will be appropriately reviewed by the Committee, who will take into account the likely risk to juniors; and, if appropriate, the Committee will consider banning the member from future activities or revoking his or her membership or both, but only in full accordance with the Constitution and Regulations of the Club.
7.1 We will not tolerate the bullying of juniors either by adults or by other juniors.
7.2 If any incident of child-on-child bullying should arise at an activity, the person in charge will separate those involved immediately, will ask the parents of the juniors involved to deal with the matter, and will as soon as practicable report the incident to the Child Protection Officer.
7.3 The Child Protection Officer will review all incidents of child-on-child bullying and assess the likely future risk to juniors.
7.4 If appropriate, the Child Protection Officer will consider banning a child from future activities, but only in full accordance with the Constitution and Regulations of the Club.
7.5 Allegations of adults bullying juniors will be dealt with in accordance with this Policy.
8.1 No photos will be taken or published of any junior below 16 attending an activity unless prior written permission is obtained from the junior’s parent.
8.2 If any person has any concerns regarding any person taking photos at an activity, that person should contact the Club immediately.
9.1 Adults supervising juniors at activities must never use any form of corporal punishment. If physical restraint is absolutely necessary to prevent injury to any person (including the junior needing restraint) or to prevent serious damage to property, then the minimum necessary restraint may be used — but for that purpose only, without risking injury to the junior, and in accordance with paragraph 9.2 if applicable.
9.2 Unacceptable behaviour at activities for unaccompanied juniors will generally be stopped by separating the juniors from each other and from the group. The person in charge will suitably supervise miscreants and will return them as soon as possible to the care of their parents.
9.3 The Club may apply a further disciplinary sanction; namely the banning of the junior from one or more future activities for such period as the Child Protection Officer may think fit.
9.4 A parent who is aggrieved by this ban may appeal to the Club’s Committee, which will hear the views of all relevant persons. The decision of the Committee is then final.
10.1 This safeguarding policy should be read together with the following document:
10.2 The Club has adopted the foregoing Policy Statement, which acknowledges the duty of care to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people aged up to 18 years and states that safeguarding in that document means the process of protecting children and young people up to the age of 18 from harm, including deliberate abuse, neglect (deliberate or not), bullying, exclusion and prejudiced attitudes.
10.3 The Club acknowledges the need for its officers to maintain vigilance in relation to the safeguarding of juniors aged 16 and 17 - and indeed young adults - from abuse and other threats, but - subject to annual review - does not consider it necessary for this purpose to require such older juniors to be accompanied at events by an adult, or to require them to obtain parental consents which an adult would not be required to provide.
11.1 This policy has been drawn up in accordance with the following legislation and guidance:
11.2 This Policy is approved and endorsed by the Club and is due for review every 12 months.
Signed: Christopher Rogal (Child Protection Officer)
21 October 2022