Safeguarding Policy

Policy Statement

Haslemere Border Athletic Club is fully committed to safeguarding the welfare of all children and vulnerable adults in our care. We recognize our moral and legal responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of all members.

We will strive to ensure that all children and vulnerable adults, regardless of age, ability, gender, racial heritage, religious belief, sexual orientation, or identity, have a positive and enjoyable experience of sport at our club in a safe environment.

This policy applies to all staff, coaches, volunteers, officials, athletes, and anyone working on behalf of Haslemere Border Athletic Club.

Key Principles

The welfare of children and vulnerable adults is paramount
All children and vulnerable adults have the right to protection from abuse
All suspicions and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately
All staff, coaches, and volunteers have a responsibility to report concerns to the appropriate officer
Working in partnership with parents/carers and children is essential
Confidentiality must be upheld in line with the Data Protection Act 2018 and GDPR

Club Welfare Officers

Names: Annalisa Alexander, Lawrie Baker

Email: welfare@hbac.co.uk

The Club Welfare Officers are the first point of contact for all safeguarding matters and concerns within the club.

Types of Abuse

Abuse can happen in many different ways. The main types of abuse are:

Physical Abuse

Causing physical harm including hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning, or otherwise causing physical harm.

Emotional Abuse

Persistent emotional maltreatment causing severe adverse effects on emotional development.

Sexual Abuse

Forcing or enticing a child to take part in sexual activities, including physical contact and non-contact activities.

Neglect

Persistent failure to meet basic physical and/or psychological needs, likely to result in serious impairment of health or development.

Safe Recruitment

All coaches, volunteers, and officials working with children and vulnerable adults must:

Complete an Enhanced DBS check (Disclosure and Barring Service)
Provide two references
Complete UK Athletics Safeguarding and Protecting Children course
Sign and agree to our Code of Conduct
Be aware of and follow this Safeguarding Policy

See our DBS Check Policy for more information.

Reporting Concerns

If you have a safeguarding concern:

Contact a Club Welfare Officer immediately
Record details of the concern in writing as soon as possible
Do not investigate or ask leading questions
Maintain confidentiality - only share information with those who need to know

In an emergency or if a child is at immediate risk, call 999.

If you cannot reach a Club Welfare Officer or your concern is about a Welfare Officer, contact England Athletics Lead Safeguarding Officer on 0121 456 3650.

Photography & Social Media

We have strict guidelines for photography and social media use to protect children:

Written consent must be obtained from parents/carers before photographing children
Photos must be stored securely and only used for stated purposes
Children should be appropriately dressed in all photographs
Full names should not be published with photographs
Social media posts must follow our photography guidelines

See our Photography & Consent Policy for full details.

Codes of Conduct

We have separate codes of conduct for different groups within our club:

Related Policies

Useful Contacts

HBAC Club Welfare Officers

Email: welfare@hbac.co.uk

England Athletics Lead Safeguarding Officer

Phone: 0121 456 3650

Email: safeguarding@englandathletics.org

NSPCC Helpline

Phone: 0808 800 5000

Email: help@nspcc.org.uk

Childline

Phone: 0800 1111 (for children)

Surrey Police

Non-emergency: 101

Emergency: 999

Last Updated: November 2025
Next Review: November 2026
Approved by: HBAC Committee