Scarborough Athletic Club - Welfare and Safeguarding

Our safeguarding policies are inclusive of adults and children. For any concerns the welfare officer can be contacted confidentially to discuss any matters of concern. Please contact the club at: Club Welfare

As a progressive club we take the welfare of all our members very seriously and we are probably one of the only running clubs to offer this service. We have an well established safeguarding policy with regards to the junior members. All our run leaders and coaches are fully UK(A) qualified which includes the mandatory DBS checks.

We also offer a dedicated welfare service to our senior club members where they can have an informal chat with one of our welfare officers or attend a group chat over a drink. This has proven to be a great help to club members, especially those who have been unable to attend the regular club nights or social events.

The majority of our run leaders and coaches are already first aid certified and we aim to ensure they are all certified in due course. The club has also invested in a defibrillator which will be taken to events hosted by SAC, such as the club summer handicap races.

Appropriate investigation and referrals will be undertaken in accordance with local and national safeguarding frameworks.

Policy Statement On Safeguarding Children

Scarborough Athletic Club recognises that all children have a right to protection from abuse. Scarborough Athletic Club takes seriously its responsibility to protect and safeguard the welfare of children and young children. We will:

a) Respond swiftly and appropriately to all suspicions or allegations of abuse, and provide parents and children with the opportunity to voice their concerns.

b) Have a system for dealing with concerns about possible abuse.

c) Maintain good links with statutory child care authorities.

If You Suspect Abuse

a) You must report concerns as soon as possible to designated child protection person who is nominated by Scarborough Athletic Club to act on their behalf in referring allegations of suspicions of neglect or abuse to the statutory authorities.

b) If it is an emergency, and the designated persons cannot be contacted, then social services or the police should be contacted.

c) If the suspicions relate to the designated person, then the deputy or social services should be contacted.

d) Suspicions should not be discussed with anyone, other than those named above.

e) It is the right of any individual to make direct referrals to the child protection agencies. We would hope that an individual would use this procedure. However, if you feel that the organisation has not responded appropriately to your concerns, it is open to you to contact the child protection agencies directly.

Child Protection

The club's designated child protection officer can be contacted at: Club Welfare

Inclusion

Scarborough Athletic Club embraces diversity and difference and is committed to providing opportunities that are safe, inclusive, accessible, and equitable. We want our club to be equally accessible to all members of society, whatever their age, disability, gender, race, ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation, or social/economic status.

We will develop a focus on inclusion, not exclusion, and ensure that we provide appropriate advice to members and volunteers to ensure that everyone can participate as fully as possible.  The clubs Inclusion Policy is available to members on our Facebook Page.