Child Welfare Policy

Overview

This document is to outline the Saddleworth Village Olympics’ Child Welfare Policy and what the charity has put in place to ensure the safety of the competing children.

 

Background

The Saddleworth Village Olympics has been running for 39 years since 1985 and organises sports events for children aged 7-14 in the Saddleworth area every September. Training takes places in the 7 competing villages from April onwards. Each village has a Team Leader, an Administration Team, and Coaches for various sports. The Central Committee is made up of a Chairman, Treasurer and at least 2 members from each competing village. The charity is registered with the UK Charity Officer and its charity number is 1166942. The charity also has 6 trustees and a Child Welfare Officer.

 

Action Plan

After several discussions about child welfare within the Committee and consultation with the NSPCC it was agreed at a meeting on Wednesday 31st July 2024 that all coaches with immediate effect will need to complete, sign, and return our Self-Declaration Form to outline any criminal convictions.  This will be completed on a Google Docs form and stored for Team Leaders, our Chairman and IT Specialist to access. This must be completed by all coaches on a yearly basis. Further to this, all Central Committee Members will be DBS checked every 3 years at the cost of the Committee and must sign the  

Self-Declaration Form every year too.  Any new Committee Members will be DBS checked once they join the Committee.

 

If a Self-Declaration Form confirms a criminal offence, then this will be discussed with the Child Welfare Officer and the relevant person to confirm whether or not the criminal offence is deemed to put children at risk.  If it is deemed that they are a risk to children, then that person will no longer be able to continue within their role.  In addition, if deemed necessary, the Committee will carry out DBS checks on any coach as circumstances dictate.  

 

Parents and children should rest assured that child welfare is taken seriously and if parents / carers / children have any concerns then they should raise them immediately with the Child Welfare Officer, the details of whom can be found on the website in this section.

 

SVO Chairman Stephen Hewitt 07577415550

Child welfare officer Catherine Bardsley