Safeguarding
Loughborough Lightning Netball is committed to ensuring that all children, young people and adults at risk who take part in netball have a safe, positive and fun experience whatever their level of involvement.
Safeguarding policy
Everyone who is involved in netball has a shared responsibility to support this safeguarding commitment by promoting the welfare of all children and adults at risk, individually and collectively. This means that we consider safeguarding to be everyone’s responsibility, and expect all adults engaging with children and/or adults at risk to proactively work to ensure these environments are safe and enjoyable. Loughborough Lightning Netball considers this responsibility to amount to a duty of care.
As part of our commitment, we ensure all of our staff, coaches and volunteers coming into contact with our athletes will meet the following criteria:
- Valid UKCC Level 2 (Head Coaches)
- Valid UKCC Level 1 or 2 (Assistant Coaches)
- Valid 1st Aid Certificate
- Will have undergone a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check with Loughborough University to ensure their suitability.
We recognise our responsibilities in preventing and addressing potential harms and to meet this responsibility, these core safeguarding principles underpin all of our work:
- The welfare of any child or adult at risk is, and must always be, considered paramount.
- Children and adults at risk have a right to be protected from abuse regardless of their age, gender, disability, culture, language, racial origin, religious beliefs, sexual identity, personal circumstances, family life or previous life choices.
- All adults have a responsibility to safeguard children and/or adults at risk.
- Adults who work with children and/or adults at risk are responsible for their own actions and behaviours and must always ensure they behave in a way that would not lead any reasonable person to question their motives or intentions for working with children and/or adults at risk.
Our shared commitment to safeguarding is reflected in the University and England Netball safeguarding resources and our Safeguarding Lead is a source of expertise that drives best practice in all we do.
We are committed to deliver the Loughborough University’s Safeguarding Policy Standards and England Netball’s Safeguarding Young People in Netball Policy.
We expect all of our partners, stakeholders and supporters to share our commitment to Safeguarding and promoting best practices.
We commit to:
- Implementing preventative safeguarding measures and creating a safe and enjoyable netball environment.
- Having clear, simple process in place for reporting concerns.
- Ensuring safeguarding concerns regarding children and adults at risk are managed appropriately and thoroughly in conjunction with England Netball.
Reporting a safeguarding concern
There are a number of ways to report a concern.
- To Amber Main, our Safeguarding Lead via the contact details above.
- Through the Loughborough University Online Incident Reporting Portal.
- To England Netball directly.
If the incident is urgent and you cannot contact the Safeguarding Lead, you should call the NSPCC 24-hour helpline on 0808 800 5000. If it is an emergency and someone is at immediate risk, then call the Police (999) or Children’s Social Care in your area. Following which please contact our Designated Safeguarding Lead (details above) for local advice and support.
Please note that the Lead Safeguarding Officer may refer the matter to England Netball, Local Authority Children’s Services Department, the Police, or Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) should the child need immediate attention.
Additional support
Any adult concerned about a child's or young person's welfare can call the NSPCC on 0808 800 5000 or email help@nspcc.org.uk. A dedicated O2/NSPCC online safety helpline is available on 0808 800 5002. Children can contact ChildLine for free on 0800 1111 or visit childline.org.uk and speak to a counsellor about a worry or concern they may have 365 days a year.