Safeguarding and Protecting Young People at our club
Along with England Hockey, BSHC believes that all young people have the right to be safe and enjoy their involvement in hockey. We accept a responsibility to promote the welfare of young people and protect them from harm, in partnership with England Hockey and the rest of the Hockey Family. In this instance, a young person is defined as anyone under 18.
We will do this by adopting England Hockey’s Safeguarding and Protecting Young People in Hockey Policy, SafeGuard to ensure all those in the hockey family have a safe and positive experience.
This policy covers the commitments of those who adopt the policy, how to recognise poor practice and abuse, how to report safeguarding and welfare concerns, useful contacts and provides links to templates and further guidance.
Bishop’s Stortford Hockey Club have adopted SAFEGUARD
BSHC also adopts and uses the Respect Code of Conduct and expects all its members, parents, young people, captains, coaches and officials to be aware of it and abide by it.
To support members the following video’s may help with managing behaviour :
- Protected characteristics
- How to control your emotions in sport
- Respecting umpires
- Equality, diversity and inclusion
- Reducing anger on the sports field – improve your mental skills
Safeguarding Reporting Procedure
Adults who are working or volunteering for BSHC have a duty of care to remain vigilant and report any suspicious or poor practice or abuse of a child or vulnerable adult
It is not their responsibility to decide whether abuse has taken place, but it IS their responsibility to report any concerns they do have to the Welfare Officer.
This can be done verbally or by email and anyone can discuss concerns even if they are unsure as to whether it is worth reporting as the Welfare Officer may have further information or details about the child others are not aware of.
All captains, coaches and volunteers working alongside our junior players will have the appropriate safeguarding training and will be aware of the appropriate sections in SAFEGUARD.
England Hockey’s Safeguarding and Protecting Young People in Hockey Policy
This provides them with all the information they require if they need to use the reporting procedure.
Further information on good practice and procedures can be found in the document for the Welfare Officer, Parents, Junior Organiser, Umpire and Official, Chair and Committee, Adults on Teams with Young Players and Young People.
Mental Health and Well-Being Support
Your mental health is as important as your physical health and the club fosters a positive culture of engagement and support for all its members. Make room to be well, give yourself space. Mindfulness aims to help you:
- become more self-aware
- feel calmer and less stressed
- feel more able to choose how to respond to your thoughts and feelings
- cope with difficult or unhelpful thoughts
- be kinder towards yourself
The following links provide members with further information on Well-Being
- 5 steps to Good Mental Health – helpful tools and activities.
- Mindfulness exercises help you gain control.
- Useful contacts in support of good wellbeing.
- Breathing exercises for stress
- Mind – Mental Health Information and Support – support for a range of everyday issues.
- Looking after yourself 11-18 year olds
- LGBTQIA+ Friends and Family
- Childline – mental Health Support
Bishop’s Stortford Child & Adolescent Mental Health Services is Tel: 01279 464 800
Our Welfare Team
- Welfare Officer | Pippa Bull (07528858325) [email protected]
- Deputy Welfare Officer (Mental Health and Wellbeing) | Zoe Barford [email protected] (07925286405)
- DBS Verifier | Pippa Bull, Zoe Barford
Injury and Accident reporting for U18s
All injuries and accidents involving under 18s will be reported to the child’s parents by the Lead Coach or Captain as soon as possible.
Injuries and accidents that require more attention than an ice pack or plaster will be recorded on an accident form, this will be retained by the team captain or coach and the Welfare Officer made aware.
This includes any injury requiring the attention of a First Aider or Medical Staff, a hospital visit or subsequent visit to the GP and should include all head injuries.
As per EH guidance, these injuries should also be reported to them via the online reporting form:
See also our Club Policies