League Welfare & Safeguarding

The Westmorland Cricket League comply with and fully adopt Safe Hands – this is the England & Wales Cricket Board’s (ECB) policy to safeguard children within cricket. It promotes good practice, helps raise awareness and ensures people know what to do if they have any concerns about children or about the behaviour of adults in cricket. Follow this link for the appropriate ECB Pages

Duty of Care

Everyone involved in cricket, whether it is at Club, District or County level, has a duty to ensure the safety and welfare of any young person involved in the sport. From prevention to protection, safeguarding in sport is everyone’s responsibility and involves keeping young people out of harm’s way both on and off the cricket pitch. It is not the responsibility of any individuals within the Club, District or County to determine if abuse has ta ken place, but it is their responsibility, and the responsibility of everyone within cricket, to confidentially report concerns to the relevant Club Welfare Officer, the County or Deputy County Welfare Officer or Child Protection experts.

Information for Club Welfare Officers

We require all Clubs with Junior Sections or with Under 18s regularly playing in Open Age Cricket to have a Club Welfare Officer (CWO). We value our CWO’s and want you to feel appreciated and supported in your role. Do not hesitate to contact the Westmorland League Welfare Officer (Paul Wileman) or the County Welfare Officers ( Mark Cameron and Neil Swainson) for information and advice.

ECB Clubmark and Club Welfare

Clubs have a vital role to play in the development of young players. The Clubmark Accreditation Scheme is fully integrated with Safe Hands and shows the Club is taking its responsibilities regarding safeguarding seriously. It shows that a club provides the right environment which ensures the welfare of members and encourages everyone to enjoy cricket and stay involved throughout their lives. Clubs who do not hold Clubmark (or who are not working towards accreditation) still need to have a Club Welfare Officer who has underta ken the appropriate training.

Club Welfare Courses

Our Cumbria Cricket Welfare Officers are fully committed in providing courses though-out the County. Please see the Cumbria Cricket events page for further information on Safehands New, Safehands Refresher, SGPC and First Aid Courses.

DBS checks (previously called CRB disclosures)

Who needs to have one?

How do I get one?

What is the Update Service?

See DBS page for further information.

https://www.ecb.co.uk/safeguarding/dbs-checks-ecb-vetting

League Welfare Officer

The role of the League Welfare Officer is primarily to support the County Welfare Officers in the flow of information and deal with any minor incidents within their Leagues. Clubs may also wish to ask for their advice on good practice issues but any safeguarding or welfare issues MUST be referred to the County Welfare Officers, not the League Welfare Officer.

All clubs must identify and appoint a Club Welfare Officer which must be notified to the League Welfare Officer (Paul Wileman).

Those clubs that do not notify such appointment must realise that responsibility for child protection will fall to their Chairman.

Useful Links

Westmorland League Welfare Officer – Paul Wileman pwwileman@icloud.com
015394 33313

County Welfare Officer – Mark Cameron, mgcameron@btinternet.com

County Welfare Officer – Neil Swainson, neil.swainson@cumbria.pnn.police.uk

ECB Safeguarding Manager – Richard Desjardins, 01509 228630 richard.desjardins@ecb.co.uk

ECB Safeguarding Advisor – Lance Spring , 0207 432 1207 – lance.spring@ecb.co.uk

TMGCRB (for DBS checks) – 0845 251 3000 – ecb@tmgcrb.co.uk

External Sources of Assistance

NSPCC - 24 hour helpline if you are worried about a child – 0808 800 5000

Childline UK – private and confidential service for children and young people up to the age of nineteen – 0800 1111

If you think a child is in immediate danger, call the police straightaway on 999 – then let the County Welfare officer know at the earliest opportunity

Westmorland Cricket League newsletter

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