1. Kenilworth Chess Club (hereinafter the ‘Club’) exists to
promote the playing of competitive and social chess. The Club has no distinct
junior section; does not compete in junior chess competitions; and offers no
formal teaching of chess. However, junior players are welcome to join the club
once they have achieved an appropriate playing level and to participate as much
as possible in the Club’s competitive and social chess sessions. This document
outlines the Club’s Policy in respect of junior (and vulnerable adult) members,
and will apply to all members of, and visitors to, the Club when undertaking
Club activities. A junior in this context is deemed to be anyone less than 18
years of age.
2. The normal over the board (OTB) venues of the Club are currently:-
Competitive Home Matches
The Abbey
Club
4 Abbey Hill
Kenilworth CV8 1LW
Informal/Social Chess Meetings
The Gauntlet
Caesar Road
Kenilworth CV8 1DP
Junior members and their parents/guardians should be aware
that all the Club’s OTB chess activities are currently organised on licensed
premises, and additionally many of the Club’s competitive OTB away matches also take
place on licensed premises.
Online Chess
The Club also meets online on the Lichess and Chess.com platforms, where separate Kenilworth Chess Club online groups have been formed, for both inter-club matches and games between club members.
3. The Club recognises that it has a duty of care to
safeguard and promote the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and will
make sure safeguarding practice:
- reflects our legal
responsibilities and Government guidance
- complies with the English Chess
Federation’s Safeguarding Children Policy which is available for viewing on the
Federation’s website at https://www.englishchess.org.uk/safeguarding-children-policy/
The Policy aims to ensure that, regardless of age, gender,
religion or beliefs, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation or
socio-economic background, all children and vulnerable adults:
- have a positive and enjoyable
experience of chess at the Club in a safe environment.
- are protected from abuse,
including physical, sexual and emotional harm, whilst participating in chess at
the Club.
4. The Club will:
- promote and prioritise the
safety and wellbeing of children and vulnerable adults.
- ensure appropriate action is
taken in the event of incidents/concerns of abuse, and that support is provided
to the individual/s who raise or disclose the concern.
- ensure that confidential,
detailed and accurate records of all safeguarding concerns are maintained and
securely stored.
The Policy will be widely promoted and is mandatory for
everyone involved in the Club. All members of the Club will be provided with a
copy of the current Policy statement each year. Failure to comply with the
Policy by any Club member will be addressed without delay and may ultimately
result in exclusion from the Club.
5. The Club has a Safeguarding Officer (SO), who has DBS
clearance. The current holder of the post is Roy Watson. Any child welfare concerns or
allegations, and any comments or questions regarding the policy, should be
directed to him on 01676 532646 or by e-mail to roywatson007@sky.com . In the
absence of the SO any concerns should be raised with the Club’s Deputy
Safeguarding Officer (DSO), who is currently Ben Graff (Tel: 07836 293164; e-mail
benwriting123@gmail.com).
6. Any allegations or concerns will be investigated, and if
necessary pursued, by the Club’s SO in accordance with the English Chess
Federation’s Safeguarding Children Policy Guidelines. Any consultation will not
delay a referral. Moreover, if any
Club member thinks a crime has been committed they have a responsibility not to
delay in contacting the Police directly themselves. If any Club member has concerns but the SO or DSO is not
available, then they MUST make a referral to the local authority and follow it
up in writing within 24 hours.
7. For all OTB competitive and social chess activities entered
into or organised by the Club, whether at a home or away venue, a junior member
must be accompanied by a parent or guardian, for the entire duration of the
junior member’s travel to/from, and attendance at, the venue.
8. A parent or guardian may approach the Club’s Safeguarding
Officer to allow variations to the requirements of Paragraph 7, always provided
that any such variation is accompanied by a written authorisation from a parent
or guardian with respect to the travel and/or attendance arrangements proposed.
The Club reserves the right to decline such approaches, especially for junior
members below the age of 16, but will always endeavour to accommodate
reasonable requests in this respect, as long as it is assured that the safety
of the junior member will not be compromised.
9. In the event of an emergency, the safety of a previously
approved unaccompanied junior member will be the responsibility of the team
captain if the child is playing in one of the Club’s teams, or an officer of
the Club nominated on the night, if the child is attending the Club for some
other purpose. The parent or guardian should always provide the team captain or
club officer responsible with a phone number on which they can be contacted in
the event of an emergency.
10. The Club is unable to provide any assurances or
guarantees of the conditions at OTB away match venues, but will never knowingly
select a junior member to participate at a venue it has any reason to suppose
might be unsafe.
11. For all online chess activity organised or entered into by the Club, responsibility for supervision will at all times be with parents/guardians of juniors/vulnerable adults. Any concerns about inappropriate behaviour should be immediately communicated to the Club SO, and also taken up directly with the online platform concerned.
12. This Policy will be reviewed annually at the Club AGM
and updated as appropriate in line with experience and best practice in the
area of child protection. A copy of the latest version of the Policy will
always be available on the Club website at http://kenilworthchess.blogspot.com/p/kenilworth-chess-club-safeguarding
13. The Policy was last updated on May 20th 2024.
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