Child Protection Officers
The Revd. Andrew Swift (07792 809334).
Mrs Jo Hadfield - Gem (07973 371627)
Mrs Kerry Hindle (07954 161941)
All our Welfare Officers are fully trained in their role and details of this may be found on the British Fencing Association's Welfare Register. More information on all three and on their role in promoting mental health in the club can be found here https://www.virtualfencingclub.com/welfare.html
Child Protection Policies
Four of Clubs and its coaches fully subscribe the BFA Child Protection Policy as set out here BFA CHILD PROTECTION POLICY
www.britishfencing.com/policy-zone/welfare-policies-guidelines/
We also have our own bill of Children's Rights at Competitions which may be found here:
The Revd. Andrew Swift (07792 809334).
Mrs Jo Hadfield - Gem (07973 371627)
Mrs Kerry Hindle (07954 161941)
All our Welfare Officers are fully trained in their role and details of this may be found on the British Fencing Association's Welfare Register. More information on all three and on their role in promoting mental health in the club can be found here https://www.virtualfencingclub.com/welfare.html
Child Protection Policies
Four of Clubs and its coaches fully subscribe the BFA Child Protection Policy as set out here BFA CHILD PROTECTION POLICY
www.britishfencing.com/policy-zone/welfare-policies-guidelines/
We also have our own bill of Children's Rights at Competitions which may be found here:
| childrens_rights.pdf |
In order to encourage children to take ownership of their rights in regards to privacy, we also have a child friendly version of our privacy policy available, which may be found here.
INTERNATIONAL EVENTS
Fencers who fence at international events, and their parents, should also be aware of the FIE Safeguarding policy below:
INTERNATIONAL EVENTS
Fencers who fence at international events, and their parents, should also be aware of the FIE Safeguarding policy below:
| 102345-fie_safeguarding_policy.pdf |
Further information on FIE policies can be found here http://fie.org/fie/documents/safe-sport
Assistant Coaches
In addition to our two lead coaches, we have a number of fully qualified assistant coaches working with us in order to develop and further their experience as coaches while also developing their skill as competitive fencers. As such, they occupy a 'middle ground' between being coaches and members for the club. They are fully insured, DBS checked and have undergone Child Protection Training. They are all up to date members of the coaches' register. In line with our club policy, they coach under the supervision of the Lead Coaches. They are not permitted to run any sessions where neither of the Lead Coach is present. We also expect them to adhere to the following code of practice during sessions. We ask parents to support us in ensuring this is followed:
All our coaches must bear in mind the possibilities of adults of both sexes using coaching as a means of 'grooming' children in order to abuse them and that they should be very careful not to engage in any behaviour which could give the impression of this.
In particular, coaching assistants must avoid befriending individual children or their families. This includes chatting to children, especially individual children, away from the main group; offering unsolicited advice; asking children personal/family questions of any kind; touching children; approaching parents to chat about the children; giving gifts or cards to children except where these are official club gifts. Those who seek to groom children do start with ‘befriending’ actions and the head coaches have an obligation to take note of any adult who appears to be doing this.
Before and after sessions and during breaks, coaches should avoid socialising with the children. Children should be encouraged always to socialise with their peer group and not sit apart from these talking to lone adults. If a child appears to be upset, assistant coaches should not approach the child but bring this to the attention of the Lead Coach or the Child Protection Officers as appropriate
All coaches should avoid being alone (or even out of earshot) with any child in the club, in particular the pre-teens, and should always have another adult present as witness. Especial care must be taken where changing rooms are being used.
Individual lessons should only be given to pupils designated by the Lead Coach and general supervision and assistance should be under the direction of the Lead Coach If a child requests individual training during the session, this must be cleared with the Lead Coach first.
UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES should a coaching apprentice make arrangements to meet up with any child for social or training purposes outside the club. This includes offering to meet up at competitions where Four of Clubs is not providing staff. In any case where this is found to have happened, the membership of the assistant coach will be terminated.
We ask all parents to support us in this by not encouraging social ties between assistant coaches and children outside the club and by discouraging children from making contact with them via Facebook and other forms of social media. Please do not ask our coaches to provide transportation to club venues or competitions.
Adults
All our fencers, parents, volunteers and coaches have a right to feel safe and supported in their club. We expect members and parents to take a constructive and courteous approach to resolving difficulties and misunderstandings between themselves and coaches or other members/parents. Aggressive or intimidating behaviour towards anybody in the club will not be tolerated and may result in suspension of membership from the club.
Adults who attend our mixed age sessions are also expected to follow our guide, which may be found here, on interaction with younger members.
In addition to our two lead coaches, we have a number of fully qualified assistant coaches working with us in order to develop and further their experience as coaches while also developing their skill as competitive fencers. As such, they occupy a 'middle ground' between being coaches and members for the club. They are fully insured, DBS checked and have undergone Child Protection Training. They are all up to date members of the coaches' register. In line with our club policy, they coach under the supervision of the Lead Coaches. They are not permitted to run any sessions where neither of the Lead Coach is present. We also expect them to adhere to the following code of practice during sessions. We ask parents to support us in ensuring this is followed:
All our coaches must bear in mind the possibilities of adults of both sexes using coaching as a means of 'grooming' children in order to abuse them and that they should be very careful not to engage in any behaviour which could give the impression of this.
In particular, coaching assistants must avoid befriending individual children or their families. This includes chatting to children, especially individual children, away from the main group; offering unsolicited advice; asking children personal/family questions of any kind; touching children; approaching parents to chat about the children; giving gifts or cards to children except where these are official club gifts. Those who seek to groom children do start with ‘befriending’ actions and the head coaches have an obligation to take note of any adult who appears to be doing this.
Before and after sessions and during breaks, coaches should avoid socialising with the children. Children should be encouraged always to socialise with their peer group and not sit apart from these talking to lone adults. If a child appears to be upset, assistant coaches should not approach the child but bring this to the attention of the Lead Coach or the Child Protection Officers as appropriate
All coaches should avoid being alone (or even out of earshot) with any child in the club, in particular the pre-teens, and should always have another adult present as witness. Especial care must be taken where changing rooms are being used.
Individual lessons should only be given to pupils designated by the Lead Coach and general supervision and assistance should be under the direction of the Lead Coach If a child requests individual training during the session, this must be cleared with the Lead Coach first.
UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES should a coaching apprentice make arrangements to meet up with any child for social or training purposes outside the club. This includes offering to meet up at competitions where Four of Clubs is not providing staff. In any case where this is found to have happened, the membership of the assistant coach will be terminated.
We ask all parents to support us in this by not encouraging social ties between assistant coaches and children outside the club and by discouraging children from making contact with them via Facebook and other forms of social media. Please do not ask our coaches to provide transportation to club venues or competitions.
Adults
All our fencers, parents, volunteers and coaches have a right to feel safe and supported in their club. We expect members and parents to take a constructive and courteous approach to resolving difficulties and misunderstandings between themselves and coaches or other members/parents. Aggressive or intimidating behaviour towards anybody in the club will not be tolerated and may result in suspension of membership from the club.
Adults who attend our mixed age sessions are also expected to follow our guide, which may be found here, on interaction with younger members.