Safeguarding | UK Cornhole League

United Kingdom Cornhole League (UKLC) Safeguarding Policy

UKLC strive to ensure that all children, young people and adults at risk are safeguarded from abuse and have an enjoyable cornhole experience.

Everyone who is involved in cornhole has a shared responsibility to support this by promoting the welfare of all children, young people and adults at risk.

Reporting a Safeguarding Concern within the Cornhole Environment. (Link to secure online form)

Useful Contacts

If you'd like to speak to someone outside of office hours, you can call the NSPCC on 0808 800 5000.

If someone is in immediate danger, call the police (999).

Email:

United Kingdom Cornhole League (UKLC) : ukcornholeleague@gmail.com

Phone Number: 01706 564 290

Safeguarding Policy

1. Policy statement

UKCL is committed to prioritising the well-being of all children and adults at risk, promoting safeguarding in our organisation and clubs at all times, including all programmes and events we run. This Policy strives to minimise risk, deliver a positive tennis experience for everyone and respond appropriately to all safeguarding concerns/disclosures.

2. Use of terminology

Child: a person under the age of eighteen years.

Note that some legislation in Scotland defines a child as a person under sixteen years old. However, where there is any safeguarding concern, anyone under the age of 18 is regarded as a child unless advised otherwise by the UKCL Safeguarding Team.

Adult at risk of abuse or neglect: a person aged eighteen years or over who is, or may be, in need of community care services by reason of disability, age or illness; and is, or may be, unable to take care of, or unable to protect him or herself against abuse or neglect.

Safeguarding children: protecting children from abuse and neglect, preventing the impairment of children’s health or development, ensuring that they grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care, and taking action to enable all children to have the best life chances.

Safeguarding adults at risk: protecting adults from abuse and/or neglect. Enabling adults to maintain control over their lives and make informed choices without coercion. Empowering adults at risk, consulting them before taking action, unless someone lacks the capacity to make a decision, or their mental health poses a risk to their own or someone else’s safety, in which case, always acting in his or her best interests.

3. Scope

This Policy is applicable to all staff, volunteers, committee members, coaches and club members.

It is in line with national legislation and applicable across the UK.

Advice, guidance and support is available from the UKCL Safeguarding Team.

4. Responsibility for the implementation of the Safeguarding Policy, Code of Conduct and Reporting Procedure

SAFEGUARDING IS EVERYONE’S RESPONSIBILITY: NOT RESPONDING TO A SAFEGUARDING CONCERN IS NOT AN OPTION.

· UKCL committee has overall accountability for this Policy and its implementation ·

Our league Welfare Officer, Daniel Lilley is responsible for updating this Policy in line with legislative and club developments. · All individuals involved in/present at the club are required to adhere to the Policy and Code of Conduct · The UKCL Safeguarding Team leads can offer support to help clubs proactively safeguard.

Where there is a safeguarding concern/disclosure:

· The individual who is told about, hears, or is made aware of the concern/disclosure is responsible for following the Reporting a Safeguarding Concern Procedure. Unless someone is in immediate danger, they should inform the club Welfare Officer, UKCL Safeguarding Team.

· The club Welfare Officer and Safeguarding Leads are responsible for reporting safeguarding concerns to the UKCL Safeguarding Team.

· The UKCL Safeguarding Team is responsible for assessing all safeguarding concern/disclosures that are reported to them and working with the club Welfare Officer to follow up as appropriate on a case-by-case basis, prioritising the well-being of the child/ adult at risk at all times. Dependent on the concern/disclosure, a referral may be made to:

o The police in an emergency (999);
o Local Authority Children’s Services 01467 534555 (out of office hours 03456 081 206). o Local Authority Adult Services 01467 533100 (out of office hours 03456 0812 06)

Codes of Conduct

All members of staff and volunteers agree to:

· Prioritise the well-being of all children and adults at risk at all times
· Treat all children and adults at risk fairly and with respect
· Be a positive role model. Act with integrity, even when no one is looking
· Help to create a safe and inclusive environment
· Not allow any rough or dangerous behaviour, bullying or the use of bad or inappropriate language
· Report all allegations of abuse or poor practice to the club Welfare Officer
· Not use any sanctions that humiliate or harm a child or adult at risk
· Value and celebrate diversity and make all reasonable efforts to meet individual needs
· Keep clear boundaries between professional and personal life, including on social media
· Have the relevant consent from parents/carers, children and adults before taking or using photos and videos
· Refrain from making physical contact with children or adults unless it is necessary as part of an emergency or congratulatory (e.g. handshake / high five)
· Refrain from smoking and consuming alcohol during club activities or coaching sessions
· Ensure roles and responsibilities are clearly outlined and everyone has the required information and training
· Avoid being alone with a child or adult at risk unless there are exceptional circumstances
· Refrain from transporting children or adults at risk, unless this is required as part of a club activity and there is another adult in the vehicle
· Not abuse, neglect, harm or discriminate against anyone; or act in a way that may be interpreted as such
· Not have a relationship with anyone under 18 for whom they are responsible for

All children agree to:

· Be friendly, supportive and welcoming to other children and adults
· Play fairly and honestly
· Respect club staff, volunteers and Officials and accept their decisions
· Behave, respect and listen to your coach
· Take care of your equipment and club property
· Respect the rights, dignity and worth of all participants regardless of age, gender, ability, race, culture, religion or sexual identity
· Not use bad, inappropriate or racist language, including on social media
· Not bully, intimidate or harass anyone, including on social media
· Not smoke, drink alcohol or drugs of any kind on club premises or whilst representing the club at competitions or events
· Talk to the club Welfare Officer about any concerns or worries they have about

All adults agree to:

· Positively reinforce your child and show an interest in their cornhole journey
· Use appropriate language at all times
· Be realistic and supportive
· Never ridicule or admonish a child for making a mistake or losing a match
· Treat all children, adults, volunteers, coaches, officials and members of staff with respect
· Behave responsibly at the venue; do not embarrass your child
· Accept the official’s decisions and do not go on court or interfere with matches
· Encourage your child to play by the rules, and teach them that they can only do their best
· Deliver and collect your child punctually from the venue
· Ensure your child has appropriate clothing for the weather conditions
· Ensure that your child understands their code of conduct
· Adhere to your venue’s safeguarding policy, diversity and inclusion policy, rules and regulations
· Provide emergency contact details and any relevant information about your child including medical history
This Policy is reviewed every two years (or earlier if there is a change in national legislation).

Appendix A: Glossary of Terms

Safeguarding: protecting children from abuse and neglect, preventing the impairment of children’s health or development, ensuring that children are growing up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care, and taking action to enable all children to have the best life chances. Enabling adults at risk to achieve the outcomes that matter to them in their life; protecting their right to live in safety, free from abuse and neglect. Empowering and supporting them to make choices, stay safe and raise any concerns. Beginning with the assumption that an individual is best-placed to make decisions about their own wellbeing, taking proportional action on their behalf only if someone lacks the capacity to make a decision, they are exposed to a life- threatening risk, someone else may be at risk of harm, or a criminal offence has been committed or is likely to be committed.

Abuse and neglect

Physical abuse: A form of abuse which may involve hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning or scalding, drowning, suffocating or otherwise causing physical harm to a child or adult at risk. Physical harm may also be caused when a parent or carer fabricates the symptoms of, or deliberately induces illness

Sexual abuse: Involves forcing or enticing a child or young person to take part in abuse sexual activities, not necessarily involving a high level of violence, whether or not the child is aware of what is happening. The activities may involve physical contact, including assault by penetration (for example, rape or oral sex) or non-penetrative acts such as masturbation, kissing, rubbing and touching outside of clothing. They may also include non-contact activities, such as involving children in looking at, or in the production of, sexual images, watching sexual activities, encouraging children to behave in sexually inappropriate ways, or grooming a child in preparation for abuse (including via the internet). Sexual abuse is not solely perpetrated by adult males. Women can also commit acts of sexual abuse, as can other children

Emotional abuse: The persistent emotional maltreatment of a child or adult at risk such as to cause severe and persistent adverse effects on their emotional development. It may involve conveying to a child/ adult at risk that they are worthless or unloved, inadequate, or valued only insofar as they meet the needs of another person; not giving them opportunities to express their views; deliberately silencing them or ‘making fun’ of what they say or how they communicate. It may feature age or developmentally inappropriate expectations being imposed, including interactions that are beyond a child or adult at risk’s developmental capability, as well as overprotection and limitation of exploration and learning, or preventing them participating in normal social interaction. It may involve seeing or hearing the ill-treatment of another. It may involve serious bullying (including cyber bullying), causing a child or adult at risk to feel frightened or in danger, or the exploitation or corruption of children. Some level of emotional abuse is involved in all types of maltreatment of a child, though it may occur alone.

Neglect: The persistent failure to meet a child/ adult at risk’s basic physical and/or psychological needs, likely to result in the serious impairment of their health or development. It may involve a parent or carer failing to:
- provide adequate food, clothing and shelter (including exclusion from home or abandonment); o protect a child/ adult at risk from physical and emotional harm or danger;
- ensure adequate supervision (including the use of inadequate care-givers); or o ensure access to appropriate medical care or treatment.

It may also include neglect of, or unresponsiveness to, a child’s or adult at risk’s basic emotional needs. Neglect may occur during pregnancy as a result of maternal substance abuse.

Additional examples of abuse and neglect of adults at risk
Financial abuse: having money or property stolen; being defrauded; being put under pressure in relation to money or other property; and having money or other property misused.

Discriminatory abuse: treating someone in a less favourable way and causing them harm, because of their age, gender, sexuality, gender identity, disability, socio-economic status, ethnic origin, religion and any other visible or non-visible difference.

Domestic abuse: includes physical, sexual, psychological or financial abuse by someone who is, or has been a partner or family member. Includes forced marriage, female genital mutilation and honour-based violence (an act of violence based on the belief that the person has brought shame on their family or culture). Domestic abuse does not necessarily involve physical contact or violence.

Psychological abuse: including emotional abuse, threats of harm or abandonment, deprivation of contact, humiliation, blaming, controlling, intimidation, coercion, harassment, verbal abuse, isolation or withdrawal from services or supportive networks.

Organisational abuse: where the needs of an individual are not met by an organisation due to a culture of poor practice or abusive behaviour within the organisation.

Self-neglect: behaviour which threatens an adult’s personal health or safety (but not that of others). Includes an adult’s decision to not provide themselves with adequate food, clothing, shelter, personal hygiene, or medication (when indicated), or take appropriate safety precautions

Modern slavery: encompasses slavery, human trafficking, criminal and sexual exploitation, forced labour and domestic servitude. Traffickers and slave masters use whatever means they have at their disposal to coerce, deceive and force individuals into a life of abuse, servitude and inhumane treatment.

· A person who is being abused may experience more than one type of abuse
· Harassment, and bullying are also abusive and can be harmful
· Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is now recognised as a form of physical, sexual and emotional abuse that is practised across the UK
· Child Sexual Exploitation is recognised as a form of sexual abuse in which children are sexually exploited for money, power or status
· Child trafficking is recognised as child abuse where children are often subject to multiple forms of exploitation. Children are recruited, moved or transported to, or within the UK, then exploited, forced to work or sold
· People from all cultures are subject to abuse. It cannot be condoned for religious or cultural reasons
· Abuse can have immediate and long-term impacts on someone’s well-being, including anxiety, depression, substance misuse, eating disorders and self-destructive Conducts, offending and anti-social conduct
· Those committing abuse are most often adults, both male and female. However, child-to-child abuse also takes place.

Appendix B: What to do if a disclosure from a child or adult at risk is made to you:

Reassure the child/adult that s/he is right to report the behaviour
Listen carefully and calmly to him/her
Keep questions to a minimum – and never ask leading questions
Do not promise secrecy. Inform him/her that you must report your conversation to the UKCL Welfare officer/ Safeguarding Team (and the police in an emergency) because it is in his/her best interest
REPORT IT! If someone is in immediate danger call the police (999), otherwise talk to the UKCL Safeguarding Team as soon as possible. Once reported, the Safeguarding Team will work with you to ensure the safety and well-being of the child/ adult at risk
Do not permit personal doubt prevent you from reporting the concern/disclosure
Make an immediate objective written record of the conversation using the Reporting a Concern Form. Make certain you distinguish between what the person has actually said and the inferences you may have made. Your report should be sent to the Safeguarding Team within 48 hours of the incident, who will store it safely.

Appendix C: Reporting a Safeguarding Concern outside the Cornhole Environment

What to do if you are worried that a child is being abused outside the cornhole environment (e.g. at home, school or in the community) but the concern is identified through the child’s involvement in Cornhole

1, A Member of staff, coach or volunteer made aware of concerns about child’s welfare or safety (e.g. suspicions of bullying at school, allegations of abuse within the family etc.) Make a note of anything the young person/witness has said, and what you have seen with dates and times.

2, Does the young person require immediate attention?

Yes - Call an Ambulance and inform them you have a child protection concern. No - Is the Club Welfare Officer available? Yes - Club Welfare Officer reports to local police/Social Care without delay. The Safeguarding Team can be contacted for advice during office hours. No - If your Club Welfare Officer is unavailable please contact police/social care without delay.

The Safeguarding Team can be contacted for advice during office hours.

Complete reporting a concern form and forward to the police/Social care and UKCL Safeguarding Team within 24 hours

Safeguarding Team consider need for support or advice for original referrer, Club Welfare Officer or others involved.

Useful Contacts

United Kingdom Cornhole League: 01706 564 290
Email: safeandinclusive@lta.org.uk NSPCC: 0808 800 5000 Emergency Services: 999

Daniel Lilley – DBS Check until May 2025 – Certificate upon request