Safeguarding Concerns | Paddle Cymru

SAFEGUARDING AND CHILD PROTECTION

If you want to report a concern or you need help or advice, please contact our Lead Safeguarding & Equality Officer, Kerry Skidmore:

Phone: 07908 683984 Email: childprotection@paddlecymru.org.uk

Paddle Cymru believes all children and young people have a right to participate in our sport in a safe and supportive environment - and we take our duty of care very seriously.

We work closely with Paddle UK, the other National Associations and the NSPCC's Child Protection in Sport Unit to implement policies and procedures to promote safeguarding and to investigate and act upon any incidents or concerns that are reported to us.

Jump to information on this page

How to report a concern

Policies, Guidance and Templates

Safeguarding Training

Course Calendar

How to report a concern

You should follow this procedure whether a concern or allegation has been disclosed to you by someone else, something you have witnessed or something that has been worrying you.

If you or someone else needs immediate medical attention or you or someone else is at risk of immediate harm or danger, call emergency services for the police or ambulance (999 or 112) immediately!

If the concern is about you:

Report your concern to your Club Safeguarding Officer

Tell someone you trust
Call (24-hour helpline) Childline 0800 1111 or NSPCC 0808 800 5000 (keep trying if you can’t get through straight away)
Call the Paddle Cymru Safeguarding Lead on 07908 683984* or email childprotection@paddlecymru.org.uk

*(If calling out of office hours, leave a message and your call will be responded to as soon as possible the next working day.)

If you are a Club Safeguarding Officer, or if you have a concern about someone else:

Remember: It is not your responsibility to investigate a concern or allegation, or to decide whether someone is being abused. It is your responsibility to pass the information you have on to the appropriate person or organisation.

Complete the Reporting Concerns Form with as much detail as you know
Report the concern to the Paddle Cymru Safeguarding Lead on 07908 683984* or email childprotection@paddlecymru.org.uk
If there is an urgent concern and the Paddle Cymru Safeguarding Lead is unavailable, refer immediately to Children’s Social Care, Adult Social Care or the Police**
Within 24 hours, send a copy of the Reporting Concerns Form to childprotection@paddlecymru.org.uk
Ensure confidentiality at all times and share information only with the appropriate people and on a need-to-know basis

ENSURE YOU KEEP A RECORD OF YOUR CONCERN AND HOW YOU REPORTED IT. Try to include the date, time and place, what happened, the name of anyone who may have seen what happened and who you reported it to and when. Try to note as much detail as you remember.

*If calling out of office hours, leave a message and your call will be responded to as soon as possible the next working day.

** How to make a referral if the Paddle Cymru Safeguarding Lead is unavailable to make the referral for you:

For all referrals, it is important that you complete the Reporting Concerns Form and send this to the Paddle Cymru Safeguarding Lead because the agency you have contacted may not immediately contact Paddle Cymru.
Children's Social Care: Do a Google search for the name of your local authority and the phrase 'concerned about a child'. This should bring up the council's website for children's social care with a phone number and email address for their office. Call the number and ask the social worker for instructions on how they would like you to make a referral (this is different in each local authority).
Adult Social Care: As above for Children' Social Care, but search for the phrase 'concerned about an adult' instead. This should bring up the council's website for adult social care.
Police : Call 101. You will be automatically redirected to your local police force.

Policies, Guidance and Templates

You can find all our Safeguarding policies, guidance and key templates here. Please note that many of our policies and guidance notes have been developed jointly with Paddle UK and the other National Associations to ensure consistency in safeguarding practice across the UK.

T4 Paddlesport Consent Form - under review

T5 Club Safeguarding Officer Role Description

T6 Event Welfare Officer Role Description

T7 Reference Form for Club Volunteer/Coach

T8 Volunteer Induction Form

T9 Volunteer Application Form

T10 Young Paddlers Code of Conduct

T11 Club Equality Policy

Safeguarding Risk Assessment Template

Posters and flyers

Club Safeguarding Officer Poster

Young Person's Guide to Safeguarding

Let Children Know You're Listening

Event Welfare Officer Poster

Keeping Kids Safe Online / Cadw Plant Yn Ddiogel Ar-Lein - NEW

Staying Safe Online for Young People / Cadw'n Ddiogel Ar-Lein - NEW

Young Volunteer Flyer - New Coming Soon

Young Volunteers Log Sheet (Print out to complete by hand) -NEW

Young Volunteers Log Sheet (Word Doc to fill out on device) - NEW

Additional Resources

NSPCC's Keeping Your Child Safe in Sport Poster - for clubs to show where parents can get help, advice, resources and training

Mental Health & Wellbeing Statement and Resources - for clubs with young paddlers

CPSU Advice for Parents (external link)

CPSU Online Safety Guidance (external link)

Thinkuknow.co.uk (external link) - Guidance for kids and parents on online safety

Welsh Government guidance: Responding to suicidal thoughts and self-harm

People Working with Children Outside Formal Education Factsheet - NEW

Safeguarding Training

A range of safeguarding training courses and learning opportunities are available, from basic awareness to specialist training. These courses are designed to enable staff, coaches and volunteers in various roles to increase their knowledge and skills in order to safeguard children effectively.

Incidental or no contact with children

BCAB Introduction to Safeguarding eLearning

Duration: 30 minutes
Cost: £20

Suitable for coaches, volunteers and staff who do not work regularly or alone with children.

This eLearning covers a basic understanding of safeguarding in paddlesport. It is designed only as an introduction and is suitable for those who have limited interaction with children and vulnerable adults.

Click to Access the Course

Regular contact with children

UK Coaching Safeguarding and Protecting Children (SPC)

Duration: 3 hours
Cost: £42
Pre-requisite for TTL training

Suitable for coaches, volunteers, staff and safeguarding officers who work regularly or alone with children.

This workshop will help raise your awareness of the tell-tale signs of abuse and poor practice, and give you the tools you need to deal with any issues sensitively, appropriately and effectively should the need arise.

Click to find a Workshop

Regular contact with children

Safeguarding and Protecting Children (SPC) Renewal

(refreshers are available as eLearning)

Duration: 2 hours
Cost: £25
Pre-requisite for TTL training
Renewal due every 3 years

Suitable if you're aged 18 or over and have already attended the Safeguarding and Protecting Children workshop.

This eLearning course is a convenient way for you to refresh, consolidate and update your understanding of safeguarding at a time to suit you.

Click to Access the Course

Designated Safeguarding Officer

NSPCC Time to Listen (TTL)

(no accepted equivalent)

Duration: 3 hours
Cost: £42

Specifically designed for safeguarding officers who have already attended a basic training.

This workshop will help you understand the role and responsibilities of a Safeguarding Officer (aka Welfare Officer) and of statutory agencies, and what this means in practice.

Click to find a Workshop

Which level of training do you need?

Depending on your role and the frequency of work you do with children and young people, you will be required to complete different levels of safeguarding training. Our Training Requirements Table will help you identify which level of course you need to complete.

Already completed training through your workplace or different setting?

We will only accept Level 3 Designated Safeguarding Officer Training as an alternative to these courses.

Safeguarding Adults Training

Following publication of The Care Act 2014, there is an increasing number of Safeguarding Adult training courses available. The Ann Craft Trust is the leading authority on safeguarding disabled children and adults at risk and can provide sport-specific safeguarding training. This includes the "Safeguarding Adults at Risk – An Introduction" eLearning:

Bilingual eLearning course in Welsh and English
Duration: 40 mins
Cost: £25
Suitable for coaches, volunteers, staff and safeguarding officers who work in an environment with adults or where adults are present
Consists of two modules designed for individuals looking to begin learning about safeguarding adult and covers how to recognise safeguarding concerns and how to respond and report appropriately when a concern is raised.

For more information - including how to pay for and access the eLearning - click here.

Course Calendar

ONLINE REPORTING CONCERNS FORM

To complete and submit an online form click on the link below, this will take you to the central Paddle UK Report a Concern page, you will also find a downloadable Word version of the form at the bottom of the page.

PADDLE UK ONLINE REPORT A SAFEGUARDING CONCERN