Safeguarding / Policy statement

Safeguarding Policy Statement 2026

Adopted by the club committee on Tue 7 July 2026. Next review: July 2027. Print or save as PDF

Chester County Officers Cricket Club (the Club) is committed to ensuring everyone involved in cricket can participate in an environment that is safe, welcoming, inclusive and enjoyable. Safeguarding is a shared responsibility, and everyone connected to the club (players, coaches, officials, administrators, staff, volunteers, spectators, parents and carers) has a role to play. Our collective actions on and off the field help to create a positive and inclusive safeguarding culture.

We will do this by:

• Having the right people in place
• Creating the right culture and environment
• Ensuring clear processes are in place for reporting and responding to safeguarding concerns
• Adopting and implementing the ECB's Safe Hands Policy and Guidance

Having the right people in place

While safeguarding is everyone's responsibility, the Club appoints a Club Safeguarding Officer (CSO) who has completed the ECB's specialist Safe Hands training.

The Club Safeguarding Officer is:

• The first point of contact for all safeguarding matters involving children or adults, including parents and carers, volunteers and members at the Club
• Responsible for ensuring that those working with children at the Club are subject to appropriate safer recruitment processes, in line with ECB safer recruitment guidance
• A member of the club committee
• A source of safeguarding advice for the Club, its committee and members
• The Club's main point of contact for the County Safeguarding Officer, the Cricket Regulator Safeguarding Team and other relevant safeguarding agencies
• The person responsible for ensuring clear and comprehensive reporting procedures exist for raising and managing safeguarding concerns

Creating the right culture and environment

Everyone participating in cricket, regardless of age, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, ability or disability, has the right to enjoy the game in an environment that is safe from abuse and harm. The Club recognises that safeguarding is not only about responding to concerns; it is about promoting a positive, safe, welcoming and inclusive culture which provides the best environment for participants to enjoy themselves and the game of cricket.

All individuals in specialist roles at the Club (captains and team managers, coaches and activators, officials such as umpires and scorers, and committee members) are required to complete safeguarding training (Safeguarding Level 2, or hold Safeguarding for Specialist Roles).

The Club will:

• Encourage all our members to complete the ECB online Safeguarding Induction, and provide the necessary support through education and training to understand their safeguarding responsibilities
• Follow ECB safer recruitment guidance to ensure that all individuals working at or for the Club are suitable for their roles
• Promote a listening culture where the views of children, parents and carers, volunteers and other club members are actively sought and acted upon, creating an environment where people have the opportunity and confidence to raise concerns, including concerns about poor practice, abuse and neglect
• Build strong partnerships with parents and carers so that they know what to expect from us and what is expected of them
• Ensure that external organisations delivering services on behalf of the Club have safeguarding measures in place which meet the requirements of the ECB Safe Hands Policy

Reporting and responding to safeguarding concerns

We aim to ensure that everyone at the Club feels confident to raise a concern, no matter how small, with the Club responding quickly and effectively, which is central to a proactive safeguarding culture at the Club.

• All suspicions, concerns and allegations will be taken seriously.
• We will follow the 3Rs with every concern: Responding appropriately, Recording confidentially and Reporting where appropriate.
• The Club recognises that it is not the responsibility of club members to determine whether abuse has occurred; their role is to act upon and report any concerns promptly.
• We ensure that confidential information relating to safeguarding matters is shared appropriately and only with those who need to know. Information may need to be shared with local agencies with statutory responsibility for safeguarding. Where required, the Club will seek advice from our County Safeguarding Officer or the Cricket Regulator.

Adopting the ECB's Safe Hands Policy and Guidance

• The Club has formally adopted the ECB's Safe Hands Policy and guidance as part of our constitution.
• The Club works within the ECB Safeguarding Procedure for the management of safeguarding concerns and investigations.
• We ensure that all individuals who work and volunteer at or for our Club understand how the requirements of the ECB Safe Hands Policy apply to them.

Club commitment

Chester County Officers Cricket Club is committed to this Safeguarding Policy Statement and will review it on an annual basis.

Agreed at the committee meeting on Tue 7 July 2026 and signed by Chairman David Downham, Club Safeguarding Officer Michael Pownall and Club Safeguarding Officer Vas Upendra. Date of renewal: July 2027.

Our Club Safeguarding Officers

Michael Pownall and Vas Upendra. To raise a concern, email ccojuniors@gmail.com, or speak to either officer at the club. If someone is in immediate danger, call 999. More contacts are on our Safeguarding page.