Home
Chester-le-Street
Lockhaugh Farm
Tees Valley
Gateshead Stadium
The Cycles
Events
News
Information for Volunteers
Information for Members
Contact
Past Rides
Sponsorship Form
Links
Purpose:
The welfare of children and young people is a key concern of Gateway Wheelers, which aims to provide an environment within which children and young people are safe and secure.
Gateway Wheelers are committed to ensuring that all those associated with the club have positive and enjoyable disabled cycling and social experiences. Consequently we are committed to ensuring that all children and young people who take part in our activities are safeguarded and kept free from harm. We will ensure that:
Service Definitions:
‘Abuse’ can include:
Physical abuse:
The intentional, non-accidental use of physical force on the part of a parent/primary carer or care giver that aims to hurt, injure or destroy that child.
Emotional/phsychological abuse:
The persistent emotional ill-treatment of a child such as to cause severe and persistent adverse effects on the child’s emotional development. It may involve conveying to the child that they are worthless or unloved, inadequate, or valued only insofar as they meet the needs of another person. It may involve causing children frequently to feel frightened or in danger, or the exploitation or corruption of children.
Sexual abuse:
The involvement of dependent, developmentally immature children or adolescents in sexual activities they do not fully comprehend, or to which they are unable to give informed consent, or that violate the social taboos of family roles.
Neglect:
When chronic inattention is given to the child by their parents/primary carers or care givers in the areas of medical, educational, stimulative, environmental, nutritional, physical or emotional needs.
Discriminatory:
Swearing and name calling which involve racist remarks or about a person’s disability, age or gender.
Financial or material:
Theft, fraud, exploitation, possessions or benefits
Procedures:
This policy operates alongside Gateway Wheelers:
And is reviewed annually against the County Durham and Darlington Local Safeguarding Children’s Board (LSCB) Child Protection procedures and guidelines.
Gateway Wheelers is committed to including the views of children and young people in its policy development and review procedures.
Role of Secretary and Designated Person:
Whilst all committee members, staff and volunteers must work co-operatively, a co-ordinating responsibility rests with the secretary, or in her/his absence a designated person.
The duties of the Secretary and Designated Person are:
Responding to Disclosure – Advice for Staff, Committee Members and Volunteers:
Possible signs of child abuse:
Staff, committee members and volunteers associated with the club will look out for the following signs of child abuse. However, it is understood that not all young people manifesting these symptoms will necessarily be suffering abuse. Caution, sensitivity and common sense will shape precisely how to respond to these symptoms.
If a young person:
We will take steps to establish whether the young person is suffering abuse.
If child abuse is suspected, staff, committee members and volunteers associated with the club will:
Advice about initial disclosures deriving from young people.
Staff, committee members and volunteers will:
Staff, committee members and volunteers will not:
When recording allegations of, or suspicious about, child abuse staff, committee members and volunteers will try to provide the following information:
If allegations are made by a young person against a person not associated with the club, Social services will be immediately notified and action taken on their advice. The decision as to whether to notify the young person’s parents/primary carers will be made in consultation with social services.
If allegations are made by a young person or parent/primary carer against another young person in the club, Social services will be immediately notified and action taken on their advice. If there are genuine grounds for concern, the parents/primary carers of both children will be notified. If it proves impossible for both young people to remain within Gateway Wheelers as an enquiry into the allegations is undertaken, the young person accused of abuse will not be allowed to attend. The outcome of the enquiry will determine whether the young person accused of abuse is allowed to return to the club.
If allegations are made by a young person or parent/primary carer against a staff member, committee member or volunteer associated with the club, Social services will be immediately notified and action taken on their advice. If there are genuine grounds for concern, the person associated with the club will be immediately notified of the allegation made against them and they will not be allowed to work in any shape or form with the young people in the club. Others associated with the club are advised that they should not discuss with the accused any aspect of the alleged incident/s or the enquiry that follows disclosure, as this may seriously affect the outcome of the enquiry. The outcome of the enquiry will determine whether the person accused of abuse is allowed to continue to work with the club.
Early police intervention may be required in cases of extreme abuse. Advice about police intervention will be taken from social services.
Monitoring and evaluation:
Once a year staff and committee members associated with the club will meet to discuss the extent to which practice conforms with the content of the policy. This will inform the annual review of policy which will include consultation with the children and young people in the club.
This policy was first adopted on: 4 July 2003
This policy was reviewed and amended June 2007.
This policy is to be updated on : June 2008
Gateway Wheelers
Bullion Hall, Bullion Lane, Chester le Street, Co. Durham, DH2 2ES
Registered Charity No: 1084149
Created by Kwezi Web and Hosted by Trident-UK