1. Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to protect and safeguard all young people under the age of 18 who participate in activities organised by or on behalf of Atherstone Adders Hockey Club.
The policy sets out the standards of behaviour and good practice expected from everyone involved with the Club, including coaches, managers, captains, officers, volunteers, helpers, parents/carers and players, whether acting in a paid or voluntary capacity.
It also explains the Club's approach to Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks, safeguarding responsibilities, supervision, communication and the reporting of concerns.
Atherstone Adders Hockey Club is committed to providing a safe, welcoming, inclusive and enjoyable environment in which young people can participate in hockey and develop their skills without fear of abuse, bullying, discrimination, harassment or inappropriate behaviour.
This policy should be read alongside the current England Hockey safeguarding policies, regulations, reporting procedures and SafeGuard guidance.
England Hockey Safeguarding:
https://www.englandhockey.co.uk/governance/safeguarding/safeguard
England Hockey Safeguarding Regulations:
https://www.englandhockey.co.uk/governance/rules-and-regulations/safeguarding-regulations-in-hockey

2. Our Commitment
Atherstone Adders Hockey Club adopts the principles and requirements of England Hockey's safeguarding framework.
The Club recognises that safeguarding is everyone's responsibility.
We are committed to:

Putting the welfare and safety of young people first.
Providing a safe and positive environment for all participants.
Treating all young people with dignity, respect and fairness.
Not tolerating bullying, abuse, harassment, discrimination or inappropriate behaviour.
Ensuring concerns about the welfare of a young person are taken seriously and acted upon.
Following England Hockey's safeguarding policies, procedures and regulations.
Ensuring appropriate safeguarding training and DBS checks are completed by those whose roles require them.
Providing clear routes for young people, parents/carers, volunteers and members to raise concerns.
Supporting anyone who raises a genuine safeguarding concern.

3. Responsibilities of Atherstone Adders Hockey Club
The Club will:

Take reasonable steps to provide a safe environment for all young people participating in hockey.
Not tolerate bullying, abuse, harassment, discrimination or any other behaviour that places a young person at risk.
Identify roles that involve working with or having responsibility for under-18s and ensure the appropriate safeguarding requirements are met.
Ensure individuals undertaking roles requiring a DBS check complete the appropriate level of check in accordance with current England Hockey guidance.
Ensure anyone undertaking regulated activity with under-18s has the required Enhanced DBS check with a Children's Barred List check.
Ensure DBS applications are made within four weeks of an individual being appointed to a role where a DBS check is required.
During the period while a required DBS check is being processed, ensure the individual is appropriately supervised by a person who has completed the required DBS process.
Ensure that anyone who refuses to undertake a required DBS check does not continue in a role where that check is mandatory.
Inform individuals before they accept a role whether that role requires a DBS check, safeguarding training or other safeguarding requirements.
Maintain appropriate records of DBS status, safeguarding training and relevant role requirements, in accordance with England Hockey guidance and applicable data protection requirements.
Ensure concerns about an individual working with young people are reported to England Hockey where appropriate, regardless of whether that individual has a DBS check.
Immediately notify England Hockey where an individual has been removed from or has ceased a role for safeguarding or disciplinary reasons, where required under England Hockey's procedures.
Ensure that safeguarding concerns are dealt with promptly and in accordance with England Hockey's reporting procedures.

4. Good Practice Guidance
A DBS check is an important safeguarding measure, but it is not a guarantee that an individual is suitable to work with young people.
Safeguarding is about behaviour, awareness, supervision, appropriate boundaries and creating a culture where young people feel able to speak up.
All members and volunteers should therefore follow the following good practice.

4.1 Supervision

Adults should avoid being alone with an individual under 18 wherever reasonably possible.
Where one-to-one interaction is necessary, it should take place in an open or observable environment wherever possible.
Coaches, managers and volunteers should ensure that appropriate supervision arrangements are in place for training sessions, matches, tours and other Club activities.
Young people should not be left unsupervised at venues or Club activities because a parent/carer has not arrived.

4.2 Changing Rooms and Toilets
The Club recognises that some hockey activities involve mixed-age teams and shared facilities.
Where U18 players and adults are required to use the same changing facilities, the Club will take reasonable steps to protect privacy, dignity and safeguarding.
In particular:

Adults should avoid changing or showering at the same time as young people wherever reasonably practicable.
Coaches, managers and other adults should not enter changing areas unnecessarily.
Adults should never be alone in a changing room with a young person.
Young people should be given appropriate privacy when changing and showering.
Any concerns raised by a young person or parent/carer about changing arrangements should be taken seriously and discussed with the Club Welfare/Safeguarding Officer.
Where facilities allow, separate changing arrangements should be used.
The Club will seek to make reasonable adjustments where a young person is uncomfortable with particular changing arrangements.

4.3 Mobile Phones, Photography and Recording

Mobile phones, cameras and other recording devices must not be used to take photographs or videos inside changing rooms, toilets or other areas where individuals have a reasonable expectation of privacy.
Photography and filming at Club activities must comply with the Club's photography and social media arrangements.
Images or videos of young people must only be taken and used in accordance with the appropriate permissions and Club procedures.
Images should never be taken, stored or shared in a manner that could place a young person at risk.

4.4 Communication with Young People
Adults involved with the Club should maintain appropriate professional boundaries when communicating with U18 players.

Communication with young people should, wherever reasonably practicable, take place through approved Club channels.
Parents/carers should be included in communications where appropriate.
Adults should avoid private or secret communications with U18 players.
Direct messaging between an adult and a young person should only take place where there is a legitimate Club reason and should follow appropriate safeguarding practice.
Communications should be professional, appropriate and capable of being shared with the Club or parent/carer if necessary.
Personal social media accounts should not be used to develop inappropriate relationships with young players.
Messages should never contain inappropriate, offensive, sexual or discriminatory material.

The Club recognises that young players may participate in senior hockey. In such circumstances, appropriate adult/young person boundaries must still be maintained.

5. Transport
Parents/carers are responsible for arranging the safe transportation of their child to and from Club activities unless alternative arrangements have been specifically agreed.
The Club does not automatically accept responsibility for transporting young people to or from training, matches, tournaments or other activities.
Where parents/carers arrange lifts with another adult:

Parents/carers should satisfy themselves that they are comfortable with the arrangements.
The Club recommends that transport arrangements are communicated clearly in advance.
Wherever possible, adults should avoid transporting a young person alone.
If a young person is required to travel alone with an adult because of exceptional circumstances, this should be known to the relevant team manager/Club official and the parent/carer.
Parents/carers should inform the coach or team manager of any changes to collection arrangements, non-attendance or significant delays.

For Club-organised tours, trips or other activities where transport is arranged by the Club, appropriate safeguarding arrangements and risk assessments will be put in place.

6. Bullying and Behaviour
Atherstone Adders Hockey Club does not tolerate bullying in any form.
This includes:

Physical bullying.
Verbal bullying.
Emotional or psychological bullying.
Cyberbullying.
Discriminatory or prejudicial behaviour.
Intimidation, threats or harassment.
Deliberately excluding or isolating another participant.

Concerns about bullying should be reported to a coach, team manager, Club official or the Club Safeguarding/Welfare Officer.
The Club will take concerns seriously and deal with them appropriately.

7. Reporting Safeguarding Concerns
Anyone involved with Atherstone Adders Hockey Club who has a concern about the welfare or safety of a young person must report that concern.
A concern should not be ignored, dismissed or investigated informally by individuals who do not have responsibility for safeguarding.
Concerns should be reported as soon as reasonably practicable to:
Atherstone Adders Hockey Club Safeguarding/Welfare Officer
Email: safeguarding@addershockey.com

Where appropriate, concerns may also be reported directly to England Hockey:
England Hockey Safeguarding Team
Email: safeguarding@englandhockey.co.uk
Telephone: 01628 897500

England Hockey's current safeguarding contacts and reporting information should be used where a concern is serious, urgent, relates to a Club safeguarding officer, or where a person does not feel comfortable reporting the concern internally.
If there is an immediate risk of harm or an emergency, the appropriate emergency services or statutory safeguarding authorities should be contacted without delay.

8. Duty to Refer / England Hockey Notification
The Club recognises that safeguarding concerns may require notification to England Hockey.
Atherstone Adders Hockey Club will cooperate fully with England Hockey and will make any required referrals or notifications.
In particular, England Hockey states that clubs/associations must inform England Hockey immediately if an individual has ceased or been removed from their role for a safeguarding or disciplinary reason.
The Club will follow the current England Hockey safeguarding regulations and reporting procedures when determining what action and notification is required.

9. DBS Checks
The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) helps organisations make safer recruitment decisions.
England Hockey requires people working with children to undertake a DBS check, with the level of check dependent upon the role and whether the activity is supervised.
Where an individual's role constitutes regulated activity with under-18s, an Enhanced DBS check with a Children's Barred List check is required.
DBS checks undertaken through England Hockey are normally required to be renewed every three years.
The Club will follow the current England Hockey DBS Eligibility Guidance when determining whether a particular role requires:

An Enhanced DBS check; or
An Enhanced DBS check with a Children's Barred List check.

The Club will not knowingly deploy an individual in regulated activity with young people where they are barred from such activity.

10. DBS Application Timescale
Where a DBS check is required:

The application must be started within four weeks of the individual being appointed to the relevant role.
While the DBS check is being processed, the individual must be appropriately supervised by a person who has completed the required DBS process.
An individual who refuses to complete a required DBS check must not continue in a role where the check is mandatory.
The Club will follow England Hockey's current DBS process and guidance.

Where an existing DBS certificate is being used, the Club will follow England Hockey's current requirements concerning portability and the DBS Update Service.

11. Safeguarding Training
A DBS check does not replace safeguarding training.
Atherstone Adders Hockey Club expects people working regularly with young people to complete the safeguarding training appropriate to their role.
This may include:

England Hockey Safeguarding Awareness.
Safeguarding in Hockey Workshop.
Time to Listen for the Club Welfare Officer, where applicable.
Any additional training required by England Hockey or the Club.

The Club will monitor safeguarding training and encourage relevant volunteers and officials to keep their knowledge current.
England Hockey's current safeguarding training guidance should be followed when determining the appropriate training for each role.

12. Recruitment and Appointment
When appointing coaches, managers, volunteers or other people who will work with young people, the Club will consider:

The responsibilities of the role.
The level of contact with young people.
Whether the role involves regulated activity.
DBS requirements.
Safeguarding training requirements.
Relevant qualifications and experience.
References or other appropriate recruitment checks where applicable.
Any safeguarding concerns or information made known to the Club.

The Club will not knowingly appoint or deploy someone in a role where doing so would breach England Hockey safeguarding requirements or applicable law.

13. Senior Hockey and U18 Players
Atherstone Adders Hockey Club recognises that U18 players may participate alongside adult players in senior hockey.
Participation in senior hockey does not remove a young person's safeguarding rights.
Adults involved in senior teams must continue to:

Treat U18 players with respect and dignity.
Maintain appropriate adult/young person boundaries.
Avoid inappropriate private communication.
Follow Club and England Hockey safeguarding requirements.
Report any concerns regarding an U18 player through the appropriate safeguarding channels.

Parents/carers should be provided with appropriate information where a young person is selected to participate in senior hockey.
England Hockey provides specific guidance for parents and adults involved with young players participating in senior hockey.

14. Confidentiality and Information Sharing
Safeguarding information will be treated sensitively and shared only with those who need the information in order to protect a young person or deal appropriately with a concern.
Confidentiality does not prevent safeguarding information being shared where there is a legitimate safeguarding reason to do so.
The Club will follow England Hockey guidance and applicable data protection requirements when handling safeguarding information.

15. Safeguarding Culture
Atherstone Adders Hockey Club aims to create a culture where young people:

Feel safe and welcome.
Are treated with respect.
Know who they can talk to.
Feel able to raise concerns without fear of being ignored.
Understand that inappropriate behaviour is not acceptable.
Are supported by adults who understand their safeguarding responsibilities.

Safeguarding is the responsibility of everyone involved in the Club.

16. Useful Contacts
Atherstone Adders Hockey Club
Safeguarding/Welfare Officer
Email: safeguarding@addershockey.com
Website: www.addershockey.com

England Hockey Safeguarding Team
General Safeguarding Enquiries:
Email: safeguarding@englandhockey.co.uk
Telephone: 01628 897500
Alison Hogg – Ethics and Welfare Manager
Email: alison.hogg@englandhockey.co.uk
Telephone: 01628 897500 / 07738 644171
Debbie Dain – Safeguarding Case Manager
Email: debbie.dain@englandhockey.co.uk
Telephone: 01628 897500 / 07391 412734
England Hockey DBS Enquiries
Sara Davies – Ethics and Welfare Administrator
Email: sara.davies@englandhockey.co.uk
Telephone: 01628 896834 / 07702 258457

17. Related England Hockey Guidance

This policy should be read alongside the latest England Hockey guidance, regulations and procedures.
England Hockey SafeGuard:
https://www.englandhockey.co.uk/governance/safeguarding/safeguard
Safeguarding Regulations:
https://www.englandhockey.co.uk/governance/rules-and-regulations/safeguarding-regulations-in-hockey
DBS Guidance:
https://www.englandhockey.co.uk/governance/safeguarding/safeguard/dbs
Safeguarding Training and Education:
https://www.englandhockey.co.uk/governance/safeguarding/safeguarding-training-education
England Hockey Regulations and Policies:
https://www.englandhockey.co.uk/governance/rules-and-regulations/regulations-and-policies

18. Policy Review
This policy will be reviewed by the Atherstone Adders Hockey Club Committee at least annually.
The policy will also be reviewed sooner if:
• England Hockey safeguarding regulations or guidance change.
• Relevant legislation changes.
• A significant safeguarding incident occurs.
• Club activities or structures change significantly.
• The Club identifies improvements that should be made to its safeguarding arrangements.
Approved by: Atherstone Adders Hockey Club Committee
Policy Year: 2026/27
Effective from: 1 September 2026
Next Review: Before the start of the 2027/28 season