IWCB Safeguarding

Safeguarding at the Isle of Wight Cricket Board

At the Isle of Wight Cricket Board (IWCB), we are fully committed to creating a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment for everyone involved in cricket. Our safeguarding policies follow the England and Wales Cricket Board’s (ECB) “Safe Hands” guidelines, which set the standard for child protection and welfare in cricket. You can read more about these polices on the ECB Safe Hands Website.

Our Commitment

We want all children, young people, and their families who participate in cricket on the Isle of Wight to have a safe, enjoyable, and positive experience. We ensure that:

• All staff and volunteers working with us go through a safer recruitment process, including Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks.
• Everyone in a relevant role holds up-to-date safeguarding and child protection training.
• Safe practices are promoted and upheld throughout our services and activities.

Our Safeguarding Aims

We aim to:

• Protect all children and young people (under 18) who are involved in our activities from harm.
• Keep everyone connected with our cricket community safe – including children, parents and carers, staff, coaches, team managers, volunteers, umpires, and Board members.

Our Responsibilities

Every adult working with us has a duty to:

• Promote the welfare of children and young people.
• Create an environment where children feel safe, respected, and listened to.
• Act in a way that safeguards and protects all children, regardless of age, ability, gender identity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.

How We Keep Everyone Safe

We are committed to safeguarding through the following actions:

• Listening to children and young people – valuing their views and treating them with respect.
• Appointing a County Safeguarding Officer (CSO) – who leads on all safeguarding matters.
• Training Club Safeguarding Officers – ensuring every registered Isle of Wight cricket club has a trained Safeguarding Officer.
• Supporting our adult members – with ongoing safeguarding guidance and regular training.
• Safer recruitment – conducting background checks and through vetting for all staff and volunteers.
• Handling personal information responsibly – storing and using it securely in line with data protection laws. (We are registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office)
• Being open and transparent – publishing our safeguarding policies so everyone knows what to expect and who to contact if they have concerns.
• Working with external agencies – when concerns arise, sharing information appropriately and involving the right people.
• Preventing bullying – promoting a culture of respect and having clear anti-bullying policies.
• Fostering a culture of safety – where everyone knows the behaviours we expect and feels confident to speak up if something is wrong.
• Ensuring safe environments – by following all relevant health and safety guidance.
• Providing clear routes for feedback and reporting – including a published complaints procedure and whistleblowing policy.
• Reviewing our safeguarding approach annually – to ensure we are always following best practices.

Need to Talk to Someone:

If you have a safeguarding concern or need advice, please get in touch with one of the contacts below:

• Isle of Wight County Safeguarding Officer cso@isleofwightcricket.co.uk
• Cricket Regulator safeguarding@cricketregulator.co.uk| 020 7432 1200
• Isle of Wight Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) lado@private.iow.gov.uk
• NSPCC Helpline 0808 800 5000 | help@nspcc.org.uk
• Whistleblowing Advice Line 0800 028 0285 | help@nspcc.org.uk
• Childline 0800 1111
• To report discrimination Click here
• To complete a safeguarding referral Cricket Regulator Referral Form