Safeguarding Policy and Procedures for Young People

Policy approved November 2022

Foreword

The Youth Go Trust is committed to maintaining a culture in which young people can play Go in an environment which protects their safety and wellbeing. The trust has Policy and Guidance on working with young people who attend the trust’s organised Go events.

For the purposes of this policy and procedures ‘young people’ refers to anyone under the age of 18.

The Youth Go Trust may provide support to adults between the ages of 18 and 25 in certain circumstances and its Safeguarding Adults at Risk policy covers this age group.

This Policy covers:

  1. providing a safe environment for young people to enjoy Go;
  2. supporting the Youth Go Trust’s trustees and other individuals who are commissioned by the trust to work or volunteer with young people; and
  3. what to do if a situation of concern arises involving young people.

The trust works closely with the British Go Association and further advice on safeguarding matters can be obtained from the British Go Association's Child Protection Advisor by emailing: child-protection@britgo.org

Principles

The object of the Youth Go Trust (YGT) is to promote the playing of Go amongst young people. It aims to ensure that YGT-organised events are enjoyable and fun and that young people are safe and feel welcome.

  1. When adults are in contact with young people, the rights, needs and dignity of the young people are paramount.

  2. It is the duty of anyone undertaking to care for a young person to protect the physical and mental health and wellbeing of the young person from all reasonably foreseeable risk.

  3. It is the prerogative of parents or carers to determine how a young person will be cared for and what they may and may not do. An adult who undertakes to care for a young person, other than in an emergency, must do so with the knowledge and consent of the parents or carers.

Policy

  1. It is the responsibility of all trustees, and any other person commissioned by the trust, to do their best to prevent the physical abuse, neglect, sexual abuse and emotional abuse of young people and to report any abuse, alleged or suspected.

  2. The trust will respond without delay to any complaints made by a young person that they may have been harmed.

  3. If the trust employs or commissions an individual to work or volunteer with young people, the trustees will satisfy themselves as to the suitability of the individual through a process which, as a minimum:

    1. directly discusses any previous experience working with young people,

    2. requests the volunteer to confirm that they have never been convicted of, or cautioned for, a sexual offence or other offence against young people;

    3. may consider taking up references if appropriate;

    4. requires them to obtain an Enhanced Disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service.  (Or produce a certificate issued in the previous two years).  Assistance with this can be provided by the British Go Association Child Protection Advisor.

  4. The Youth Go Trust financially supports young people to attend a variety of Go events and competitions both in the UK and abroad. The trust does not have responsibility for the care and supervision of young people participating in these events and parents and carers must satisfy themselves as to the safety of their young people.

Procedures for those working and volunteering under the direction of the Youth Go Trust

  1. Trust-organised activities aimed at young people

Every individual working with young people should:

  • treat all young people with respect and dignity;
  • not engage in any of the following:
    • scapegoating, ridiculing or rejecting a young person;
    • making any racially provocative comments to a young person;/li>
    • rough, physical or sexually provocative games;
    • making sexually suggestive comments about or to a young person;
    • inappropriate and intrusive touching of any form;
      •
    • sexual relationships with young people even if they consent.
      •
  • not invite a young person to their home alone unless the parent(s) have given their permission;
  • if they see another worker volunteer acting in ways which might be misconstrued, be prepared to speak to the volunteer, or to the BGA Child Protection Adviser, or to any trustee, about their concerns. (See also 5 below).

  1. Transporting young people to Go events

YGT trustees, workers or volunteers organising travel for young people to Go events should:

  • obtain the consent of the parent(s) before taking a young person anywhere except in an emergency;
  • provide the parents with a schedule and your contact information for the journey.
  • ideally have more than one passenger when transporting young people, unless the journey is less than 15 minutes duration or parental permission has been obtained to do otherwise.

  1. Go events involving overnight stays

Occasionally a YGT trustee, worker or volunteer may accompany young people to a Go event of several days’ duration. If they are not accompanied by a parent or carer, it is essential that there is an adult present at the event who has supervisory responsibility for them. The responsible adult should ensure that they have the following information on each young person:

  • contact phone number,
  • details about any medical conditions,
  • prescriptions and allergies,
  • signed consent to seeking qualified treatment for them in case of injury or medical emergency.

The adult with supervisory responsibility should not share a room with a young person (unless a family member).

If a YGT trustee, worker or volunteer takes a group of young people to a tournament involving an overnight stay then this is considered as “Regulated Activity” as defined in the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006. The individual thus requires a Barred List check. The BGA Child Protection Advisor can provide further information and advice on this area.

  1. Use of photographs of young people for publicity purposes

The Youth Go Trust promotes the playing of Go by young people and may publish photographs of young people playing Go on its website and in other publicity material.

No photograph of a young person will be published without the permission of the young person and his or her parents/carers. This permission should be given in writing (e.g. by email) by the parent/carer.

The name of a young person appearing in a photograph will only be published with the explicit agreement of the young person and his or her parents/carers.

  1. What to do if a situation of concern arises with a young person

This section covers circumstances when a trustee, worker or volunteer for the Youth Go Trust has a concern relating to the safety and welfare of a young person. This concern may arise through observation or through the disclosure of the young person themselves.

If the concern arises in a school setting or on an activity holiday then the matter must be reported immediately to the safeguarding lead of the school or activity holiday.

Immediate risk of harm: If it is believed that the young person is at immediate risk of harm, then the concern must be reported immediately to the Police or to Children’s Social Care.

Where the risk of harm is not immediate: If the issue is does not reach the threshold for an immediate referral, but is still a concern, doubt or worry, then the BGA Child Protection advisor can be contacted for advice, or alternatively the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000.

Some pointers if a young person discloses abuse:

Don’t ask leading questions but offer a concerned ‘listening ear’ to what the young person is telling you.

Do record what they have said to you as soon as possible after the conversation.

Don’t promise confidentiality.

Do let the young person know who you are going to speak to about what they have told you and let them know when you have done this, letting them know (if you are able to) what is likely to happen next.

Do consider carefully if and when the young person’s parents are informed.  This should normally happen as soon as possible unless to do so will put the young person at further risk.