Approved Policies 2026

Safeguarding Policy Statement

Policy statement

Sutton Cricket Club is fully committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children and young people under the age of 18 who participate in cricket or any recognised club activity or event. The Club recognises its responsibility to provide a safe, positive, welcoming and enjoyable environment.

Our commitment

• Recognise that every child has the right to enjoy cricket in a safe environment and to be protected from harm.
• Provide a welcoming, safe, inclusive and enjoyable experience for children.
• Adopt and implement the ECB Safe Hands Policy, the ECB Safeguarding Regulations and relevant safeguarding guidance, including future updates.
• Appoint appropriately trained and vetted Club Safeguarding Officers (CSOs) who act as the first point of contact for safeguarding concerns.
• Ensure safeguarding is understood as a shared responsibility by committee members, coaches, captains, team managers, officials and volunteers.
• Follow appropriate safer recruitment, ECB DBS and safeguarding training requirements for roles working with children.
• Provide clear procedures for responding to, recording and reporting safeguarding concerns.
• Take concerns, disclosures and allegations seriously and respond promptly, sensitively and appropriately.
• Restrict access to confidential safeguarding information to those who need it in order to protect children.

Reporting a concern

Concerns should be shared as soon as possible with a Club Safeguarding Officer. A concern may also be reported to the County Safeguarding Officer or directly to the Cricket Regulator Safeguarding Team. It is not the responsibility of the person reporting a concern to investigate or decide whether abuse or neglect has occurred.

Child Protection Policy

Sutton Cricket Club is committed to ensuring that all children and young people who participate in cricket or club-related activities are protected from harm. The Club recognises its duty of care to safeguard children and respond appropriately to concerns about a child's welfare.

This policy should be read alongside the Club Safeguarding Policy Statement, the ECB Safe Hands Policy and current ECB/Cricket Regulator safeguarding guidance.

Scope and principles

• Applies to all children and young people under 18 and everyone working for or on behalf of the Club.
• The welfare of the child is paramount.
• Children have the right to be protected from abuse, neglect and exploitation.
• Concerns, allegations and disclosures will be taken seriously and responded to promptly.
• Safeguarding and child protection are everyone's responsibility.

Responding to a concern or disclosure

• Listen carefully and remain calm.
• Take what the child says seriously.
• Do not ask leading questions or investigate the matter yourself.
• Do not promise confidentiality.
• Reassure the child that they have done the right thing by speaking up.
• Record the information accurately and as soon as possible.
• Share the concern promptly through the safeguarding reporting route.

Safeguarding information will be handled sensitively and shared only where necessary to protect a child and in accordance with applicable safeguarding guidance and law.

Photography, Video and Live Streaming Policy

Sutton Cricket Club wants to celebrate cricket through appropriate photographs and video while protecting children and respecting the wishes of children and their parents/carers. This policy applies to club photography, video, live streaming and publication through club websites, social media and other media.

Consent and awareness

• The Club will use the registration process or another appropriate method to record parental/carer permissions and restrictions relating to images of children.
• Coaches, captains and team managers must be aware of children for whom image permissions or restrictions apply.
• Children should be told when photography, video or live streaming is taking place and should be able to raise concerns.
• At away fixtures or events, relevant restrictions should be communicated appropriately where necessary.

Safe use of images

• Images should show children in appropriate cricket clothing and suitable contexts.
• The Club will avoid publishing information alongside an image that unnecessarily identifies or locates a child.
• Images must not be used in a way that could reasonably be considered inappropriate, intrusive or harmful.
• Concerns must be reported to a Club Safeguarding Officer.
• Video used for coaching must be stored securely and retained only for as long as needed.

Club-managed online publication and live streaming must follow current ECB guidance on photo, video, live streaming, social media and online safety. Safeguarding considerations take priority over promotional or sporting interests.

Code of Conduct for Members and Guests

All members and guests of Sutton Cricket Club are expected to:

• Respect the rights, dignity and worth of every person involved in cricket.
• Treat people fairly and not discriminate unlawfully.
• Challenge or report discrimination, bullying, abuse or other unacceptable behaviour appropriately.
• Display high standards of behaviour and promote fair play and the Spirit of Cricket.
• Respect match officials and encourage participants to play within the Laws and rules of cricket.
• Place the wellbeing and safety of children above performance or sporting outcomes.
• Respect children's views about their participation.
• Follow the ECB Safe Hands Policy, the Club's safeguarding policies and relevant guidance.
• Report safeguarding concerns promptly through the Club's safeguarding procedures.

Club officers, coaches and volunteers

• Complete required safer recruitment, ECB DBS, qualification and training requirements for their role.
• Work in open and observable environments and maintain appropriate professional boundaries.
• Use appropriate communication routes with children and parents/carers in line with current ECB online-safety guidance.
• Understand and follow the Club's safeguarding procedures.

Anti-Bullying Policy

Sutton Cricket Club is committed to providing a caring, friendly, safe and inclusive environment in which children can train and play. Bullying of any kind is unacceptable. Anyone who knows or suspects that bullying is taking place is expected to report it so that appropriate action can be taken.

Bullying can include emotional, physical, racist or discriminatory, sexual, verbal and cyber bullying.

Procedure

• Report bullying involving a child to a Club Safeguarding Officer.
• Record relevant facts and avoid conducting an informal investigation that could compromise safeguarding action.
• Parents/carers should be involved where appropriate.
• Serious or safeguarding-related bullying should be escalated through the County Safeguarding Officer and/or Cricket Regulator Safeguarding Team as appropriate.
• Where necessary, statutory agencies such as Police or Children's Social Care should be contacted.
• The Club will seek to stop the behaviour and support those affected, while addressing the behaviour of the person responsible.

Safeguarding Whistleblowing Policy

Sutton Cricket Club is committed to a culture in which it is safe and acceptable to raise concerns about unacceptable practice, misconduct or failures to safeguard children. A person raising a genuine concern in good faith should be able to do so without fear of harassment or victimisation.

What to do

• Share the concern promptly with a Club Safeguarding Officer, County Safeguarding Officer or the Cricket Regulator Safeguarding Team.
• Provide factual information you have, including who was involved, what happened and how you became aware of it.
• Preserve relevant evidence without conducting your own investigation.
• If there is immediate danger, contact the Police or Children's Social Care.

What not to do

• Do not confront or alert the person about whom the safeguarding concern has been raised.
• Do not circulate the allegation unnecessarily.
• Do not start your own investigation.
• Do not delay reporting because you assume someone else will do it.

A safeguarding whistleblowing concern may be reported directly to the Cricket Regulator Safeguarding Team at safeguarding@cricketregulator.co.uk.