WOLVERHAMPTON CHESS CLUB CHILD PROTECTION POLICY

1. Wolverhampton Chess Club (hereinafter the ‘Club’) has adopted a child protection policy as below.
This will apply to all members of, and visitors to, the club when undertaking Club activities. A child (otherwise a junior player) in this context is deemed to be anyone less than eighteen years of age. The normal venue of the Club is 
Wolverhampton West End Working Men’s Club, 71-73 Merridale Street West, Wolverhampton WV3 0RW.

2. The Club welcomes to its Thursday evening sessions and events junior players who already play chess to a reasonable standard. It also allows juniors of an appropriate level to participate in inter-club matches. There is no formal teaching of chess within the club, but all members are expected to encourage junior members and assist where possible in their chess development. The purpose of this policy is to safeguard the welfare of children attending the Club by protecting them from physical, sexual and emotional harm.

3. A copy of the policy will be posted on the Wolverhampton Chess Club website at www.wolverhamptonchessclub.org.uk and all adult members of the Club will sign an agreement to abide by and promote this policy.
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4. The Club has a Child Protection Officer, who if required will have DBS* clearance. The current holder of the post is Geoff Rosser. Any child welfare concerns or allegations, and any comments or questions regarding the policy should be directed to him on 01902 656385 or (mobile) 07922 727856 or by email to g.d.rosser@virginmedia.com.

5. Any allegations or concerns will be investigated, and if necessary pursued, by the Club’s Child Protection Officer in accordance with the English Chess Federation’s Child Protection Policy Guidelines, which is available for viewing on the Federation’s website at www.englishchess.org.uk

6. A parent or guardian is required either to escort each child into the Club at the start of each session or event, remain on the Club premises and escort the child home at the end, or to provide written permission for the child to arrive and/or travel home alone or with another Club member and to remain at the club under the supervision of an adult member.

7. The Club also, where appropriate, welcomes the participation of children in inter-club matches away from the Club venue. All parents or guardians will be required either to accompany their child to away matches and to remain at the away team’s Club premises throughout the duration of the match or to provide written permission for the child to travel with other team members using travel arrangements made by the team captain(s) and by the itinerary conveyed to the parent or guardian in good time. 

8. Captains of visiting teams are wholly responsible for the care of any juniors included in their teams when visiting the club.

9. This policy will be reviewed and updated from time to time in line with experience and recommended practice in the area of child protection.

*Side Note: The Criminal Records Bureau (CRB ) and the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) have merged to become the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). CRB checks are now called DBS checks

To be signed by all members:

WOLVERHAMPTON CHESS CLUB

I have read and agree to abide by the Child Protection Policy adopted by Wolverhampton Chess Club.

NAME   (PRINTED)  					Date

SIGNATURE

To be signed by the parent/guardian of all junior members:

WOLVERHAMPTON CHESS CLUB

I, the parent or guardian of   …………………………………………………………….
wish him/her to become a junior member of the Club.
I have read the Child Protection Policy of the Club and accept the conditions of this Policy.
I give permission for him/her to remain on the Club premises on Club nights under the supervision of Club members, and I remain fully responsible for his/her travel to the premises and back home at the end of the session.
(Optional) I also give permission for him/her to travel with a team member to away matches provided that I am informed in advance.  (delete where necessary)

NAME (printed)   ……………………………………………………..

SIGNATURE   							Date