Child Protection Guidelines

The ECB's Child Protection policy, ‘Safe Hands - Welfare of Young People in Cricket' - has been published on the Play-Cricket web site, www.play-cricket.com (go to ECB Information and then Child Welfare and Protection). “Young people” refers to those aged under 18.

The policy provides Cricket with ‘best practice' guidelines in relation to Child Welfare and Protection. The ECB is wholeheartedly supporting Child Welfare and Protection, in line with all other Sports Governing Bodies, and asks that Clubs, Leagues and County Boards commit to ensuring that cricket provides a safe, friendly and fun environment for children and vulnerable young adults. The aim is also to protect the interests of adults working with young players.

The principles within the policy must be followed, but it is important that common sense is used in applying them. The ‘Safe Hands' document provides guidance and information which should be adapted to the facilities and circumstances of Clubs

ECB recommendations on Child Protection are as follows:

1. All County Boards, Leagues and Clubs should adopt the ECB “Safe Hands – Welfare of Young People in Cricket” Policy. This should be confirmed in the Board, League or club constitution.

 2. All Clubs (not just those with Junior Sections) should appoint a Club Welfare Officer who needs to have a current Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) clearance through ECB – clearances through other sports or teaching, for example, are not valid for cricket. CWOs also need to attend two three-hour courses (Time to Listen and Safeguarding & Protecting Children.

3. All Coaches, Junior Team Managers and other volunteers having regular and/or unsupervised access to children within the Club, as well as regular Umpires and Scorers, should also be CRB checked.

CRB checks need to be renewed every three years and are free for volunteers. The CRB definition of a volunteer is "a person engaged in an activity which involves spending time unpaid (except for travelling and approved out of-pocket expenses)."

If you are receiving money from your role in cricket you are not a volunteer, and the fee for a CRB check is £36. 

 4. More information is available from Colin Savage, Hampshire Cricket Board Administrator (02380 475609) and from the HCB website (www.hampshirecb.com).

5.  Foreign Nationals who are coaching in clubs here should have the equivalent of a CRB check from the police authorities in their own country.

6.  In the event of a possible problem or incident, clubs should contact the County Welfare Officer, Polly Rhodes – 01420 475548, 07768 323757, or pollyrhodes@aol.com