Child Protection & Harassment, & Safeguarding of Vulnerable Adults

1. Our Commitment

Penrith Canoe Club is committed to safeguarding the welfare and wellbeing of everyone who participates in Club activities, particularly children, young people and adults at risk.

We believe that everyone has the right to participate in paddlesport in a safe, positive, inclusive and enjoyable environment, free from abuse, neglect, bullying, harassment, discrimination and inappropriate behaviour.

Everyone involved with the Club should show respect and understanding for the rights, safety and welfare of others and behave in a way that reflects the values and principles of Penrith Canoe Club.

2. Our Safeguarding Principles

Penrith Canoe Club will:

Put the safety and welfare of children, young people and adults at risk at the centre of our activities and decisions.
Follow applicable Paddle UK safeguarding policies, procedures and guidance.
Maintain appropriate Codes of Conduct for members, coaches, officials, volunteers, Committee members, parents and guardians.
Take safeguarding concerns, allegations and disclosures seriously and respond to them appropriately.
Promote an environment where members feel able to raise concerns without fear of being ignored or treated unfairly.
Respect the privacy and confidentiality of those involved in safeguarding matters, while recognising that information may need to be shared with appropriate people or organisations to protect someone from harm.
Regularly review our safeguarding arrangements and Club policies.

3. Coaches, Volunteers and Club Officials

The Club will seek to ensure that people undertaking roles involving children, young people or adults at risk are suitable and appropriately supported.

Where appropriate to the role, the Club will:

Follow Paddle UK requirements and guidance concerning recruitment and safeguarding.
Undertake appropriate checks, including Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks where the role is eligible and such checks are required.
Ensure coaches, volunteers and officials understand their safeguarding responsibilities.
Provide or encourage appropriate safeguarding training.
Encourage coaches and volunteers to obtain and maintain appropriate qualifications and training.
Ensure individuals are considered competent by the Club before being given responsibility for activities.
Require coaches, officials, Committee members and volunteers to follow the Club's applicable Codes of Conduct and safeguarding procedures.

4. Club Welfare Officer

The Club shall appoint a Welfare Officer with responsibility for supporting the Club's safeguarding arrangements.

The Welfare Officer's role includes:

Acting as a point of contact for safeguarding and welfare concerns.
Helping members understand how to raise safeguarding concerns.
Ensuring concerns are handled in accordance with the Club's and Paddle UK's safeguarding procedures.
Maintaining appropriate confidentiality.
Referring or escalating concerns to Paddle UK or appropriate statutory authorities where required.
Supporting the Committee in maintaining and reviewing appropriate safeguarding policies and procedures.

The name and contact details of the current Welfare Officer shall be made available to Club members.

If a safeguarding concern relates to the Welfare Officer, or the Welfare Officer is unavailable, the concern should be reported to the Club Chairperson or directly through the appropriate Paddle UK safeguarding route.

5. Reporting a Safeguarding Concern

Anyone who has a concern about the welfare or safety of a child, young person or adult at risk should report it promptly.

Concerns may include suspected or disclosed:

Physical abuse
Emotional abuse
Sexual abuse
Neglect
Bullying or cyberbullying
Harassment
Discrimination
Grooming
Exploitation
Inappropriate relationships or behaviour
Other behaviour that may place someone at risk of harm

Concerns should normally be reported to the Club Welfare Officer.

A person reporting a concern does not need to decide whether abuse has occurred or investigate the matter themselves. The important thing is to report the concern so that it can be considered appropriately.

Safeguarding information should only be shared with those who have a legitimate need to know.

6. Immediate Risk or Emergency

If someone is in immediate danger or requires urgent medical assistance, the priority is their immediate safety.

Appropriate emergency services should be contacted where necessary.

A safeguarding concern involving an immediate or serious risk may also need to be reported directly to the police, children's social care, adult social care or another appropriate statutory authority.

The Club Welfare Officer should subsequently be informed where appropriate.

7. Responding to a Disclosure

If someone tells a Club member, coach or volunteer that they are being harmed or have experienced abuse or inappropriate behaviour, the person receiving the disclosure should:

Listen calmly and take what they are being told seriously.
Avoid expressing disbelief or making judgements.
Allow the person to explain what happened in their own words.
Avoid asking unnecessary or leading questions.
Not promise to keep the information secret.
Explain that information may need to be shared with appropriate people to help keep them or someone else safe.
Make an accurate record of what was reported as soon as reasonably possible.
Report the concern promptly through the Club's safeguarding procedures.

The person receiving the disclosure should not attempt to investigate the allegation themselves.

8. Children and Young People

When working with children and young people, Club coaches, volunteers and officials should maintain appropriate boundaries and follow good safeguarding practice.

Where reasonably practicable:

Activities should take place openly and in environments where interactions can be observed by others.
Adults should avoid being unnecessarily alone and unobserved with a child or young person.
Physical contact should only take place where appropriate and necessary for coaching, safety, first aid or the activity being undertaken.
Communication with children and young people should follow appropriate Club and Paddle UK guidance.
Photography, video and social media should be used responsibly and in accordance with Club procedures.
Parents and guardians should be provided with appropriate information about Club activities involving their children.

9. Adults at Risk

The Club recognises that safeguarding responsibilities may also apply to adults who are at risk of abuse or neglect.

Concerns about the safety or welfare of an adult at risk should be treated seriously and reported through the Club's safeguarding procedures.

The wishes and views of the adult should be considered wherever appropriate, while recognising that information may need to be shared without consent where there is a serious risk of harm or another legal or safeguarding reason for doing so.

10. Medical and Emergency Information

The Club may collect appropriate medical, emergency contact and other relevant information necessary to help participants take part safely.

Such information shall:

Be limited to information reasonably required by the Club.
Be stored securely.
Only be made available to coaches, leaders or other appropriate people where there is a legitimate need for access.
Be handled in accordance with the Club's Data Privacy Policy.

Parents, guardians and adult members are responsible for informing the Club of relevant changes that could materially affect safe participation.

11. Bullying, Harassment and Discrimination

Penrith Canoe Club does not tolerate bullying, harassment, discrimination, intimidation or abusive behaviour.

This applies to behaviour:

During Club sessions and activities.
At competitions and events.
While travelling or staying away with the Club.
Through social media, messaging services or other digital communication.
In other circumstances where behaviour has a significant connection with the Club or the welfare of its members.

Concerns should be reported through the appropriate Club welfare, safeguarding, complaints or disciplinary procedure.

12. Health and Safety

Safeguarding forms part of the Club's wider responsibility for the welfare and safety of its members.

The Club shall maintain appropriate risk assessments, operating procedures and safety arrangements for its activities.

Members, coaches and volunteers are expected to follow these arrangements and any reasonable safety instructions given by those responsible for an activity.

13. Confidentiality and Records

Safeguarding information and records shall be treated as confidential and handled carefully.

Information shall only be shared where there is an appropriate safeguarding, legal or operational reason to do so.

Safeguarding records shall be stored securely with access restricted to appropriate individuals.

14. Related Club Policies

This policy should be read alongside the Club's other relevant policies and procedures, including:

Club Constitution
Club Code of Conduct
Code of Conduct for Coaches, Referees and Committee Members
Data Privacy Policy
Health and Safety Policy
Risk Assessments and Operating Procedures
Complaints and Disciplinary Procedures
Equipment Policy

Applicable Paddle UK safeguarding policies and procedures should also be followed.

15. Review

The General Committee shall review this policy regularly and following any significant change to relevant Paddle UK guidance, legislation or the Club's activities.

16. Approval

This policy may be approved and signed electronically. An electronic signature or recorded digital approval shall be treated as confirmation that the named officer has approved this version of the policy.

Welfare & Safeguarding Officer: Kirstine Bailie
Additional role: Youth Coordinator
Signature: Digitally signed
Approved: 1 November 2026
Next review: 1 November 2027