Safeguarding & Protecting Young People

1.	Introduction
1.1	Boston Pickleball is committed to creating and maintaining a safe and positive environment for all young people to enjoy Pickleball. We accept our responsibility to safeguard the welfare of all young people and protect them from poor practice, abuse and bullying.
1.2	The Boston Pickleball Safeguarding and Protecting Young People Policy applies to all individuals involved, whether leading or taking part in its sessions. Everyone in Pickleball has a responsibility to safeguard and protect young people within the sport, to act appropriately, and to report concerns.
1.3	Only adults who observe best practice with young people and adhere to the Boston Pickleball Safeguarding and Protecting Young People Policy will be allowed to lead its sessions.
2.	Principles
2.1	The guidance given in this policy is based on the following principles:
2.1.1	All young people, regardless of age, ability or disability, sex, race, religion,ethnic background social status, transgender status and sexual orientation have the right to be protected from abuse and to enjoy all aspects of Pickleball in an enjoyable and safe environment, this includes whilst playing, volunteering and in leadership or coaching roles.
2.1.2	The safety and welfare of young people is paramount.
2.1.3	The rights, dignity and worth of all young people should always be respected.
2.1.4	All allegations will be taken seriously and responded to quickly in line with Boston Pickleball’s Safeguarding and Protecting Young People Policy and procedures.
2.1.5	It is everyone’s responsibility to act appropriately and report concerns at the earliest opportunity. Young people are those aged under 18 years.
2.1.6	Boston Pickleball recognises the role and responsibilities of the statutory agencies in safeguarding young people and fully complies with the procedures of the Local Safeguarding Children Boards.
2.1.7	Working in partnership with parents, carers and young people themselves is essential for the safeguarding and protection of young people.
2.2	Boston Pickleball will appoint a Welfare Officer to ensure that best practice is promoted and that implementation of this policy, procedures and guidance is supported during all Boston Pickleball activities. Further information on roles and responsibilities is given at section 4.
3.	Guidance and Legislation
3.1	The practices and procedures within this policy and documentation are based on the principles contained within UK and international legislation and Government guidance and have been developed to complement Local Safeguarding Children Boards’ procedures and take the following into consideration: Every Child Matters 2003 The Children Acts 1989 and 2004 The Protection of Children Act 1999 The Police Act 1997 Criminal Justices and Court Services Act 2000 The Data Protection Act 1994 and 1998 “Caring for the Young and Vulnerable” – Home Office guidance for preventing the Abuse of Trust  What to do if you are worried a child is being abused’ – Department Of Health 2006 Working Together to Safeguard Children – HM Government 2018 The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child The Human Rights Act 1998 The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 The Equality Act 2010 The Protection of Freedoms Act 2012
4.	Roles and Responsibilities
4.1	Boston Pickleball is committed to having:
4.1.1	A Safeguarding and Protecting Young People in Pickleball Policy.
4.1.2	A clear commitment by anyone leading its sessions to the importance of safeguarding and promoting children’s welfare.
4.1.3	Procedures for dealing with allegations of abuse against anyone leading its activities.
4.1.4	All session leaders are made aware of Boston Pickleball’s arrangements for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and their individual responsibilities.
4.1.5	A culture of listening to and engaging in dialogue with young people – seeking their views in ways appropriate to their age and understanding, and taking account of those both in individual decisions and the establishment or development of services.
5.	Best Practice
5.1	Best practice with young people will be observed by all adults leading Boston Pickleball sessions. The following practice is never to be sanctioned and must be avoided:
5.1.1	Spending time alone with young people away from others.
5.1.2	Inviting or allowing a young person to stay at their home.
5.1.3	Transporting a young person in a car alone.
5.1.4	Engaging in rough, physical or sexually provocative games with young people.
5.1.5	Sharing a room with a young person.
5.1.6	Allowing or engaging in any form of inappropriate physical touching or sexual contact or behaviour.
5.1.7	Using or allowing young people to use inappropriate language unchallenged.
5.1.8	Making sexually suggestive comments to a young person
5.1.9	Allowing allegations made by a young person to go unchallenged, unrecorded or not acted upon.
5.1.10	Doing things of a personal nature for a young person that they can do for themselves, unless they have been requested to do so by the parents/carer. This does not preclude anyone attending to an injured/ill young person or rendering first aid.
5.1.11	Departing from the Pickleball sessions or agreed meeting point before the safe dispersal of all young people is complete.
5.1.12	Humiliating or undermining an individual or acting in a way that negatively affects their self esteem.
5.1.13	Treating some young people more favourably than others.
5.1.14	Creating a dependent relationship between themselves and a young person, appropriate boundaries must be maintained, see Section 8. Positions of Trust.
5.1.15	Private texts, social network messages and emails without parental consent or knowledge.
5.1.16	This list is intended to be comprehensive but is not exhaustive.
6	Reporting Concerns
6.1	In the first instance, concerns should be reported to the Boston Pickleball Welfare Officer.  They will assess the concerns according to the Boston Pickleball Safeguarding and Protecting Young People Policy and within the scope of the Adult and Children Level 2 Safeguarding accreditation. When considered appropriate guidance can be sought from Pickleball England safeguarding by emailing safeguarding@pickleballengland.org.
6.2	If considered necessary by the Welfare Officer, concerns should be reported to the NSPCC Helpline [0808 800 5000], the Police or Children’s Social Care.
7	Positions of Trust
7.1	All adults who work with children and young people are in a position of trust which has been invested in them by the parents, the sport and the young person. This relationship can be described as one in which the adult is in a position of power and influence by virtue of their position.
7.2	Sexual activity or touching by an adult with a child under the age of 16 years is unlawful, even where there is apparent consent from the child. Any sexual relationship between an adult in a position of trust within the Pickleball setting and a young person over 16 [consensual or otherwise] is contrary to the Safeguarding and Protecting Young People in Pickleball Policy and will result in disciplinary action being taken.
7.3	In the sport of Pickleball it is recognised that there are certain boundaries between the coach / official / volunteer and the young player which must not be crossed. The relationship is no different to that between a teacher and a child, it is a position of trust.
7.4	Adults must not encourage a physical or emotionally dependent relationship to develop between the person in a position of trust and the young person in their care.