January 2020
A Happy New Year to you all from the Safeguarding Team! We hope you had a great festive season.
We are now at the beginning of another year, a new decade and a new series of safeguarding news updates. If there’s anything you would like included in the newsletter later in the year, please contact us (details below) to let us know!
Conduct in Sport Code
The object of the Conduct in Sport Code is to set down rules and procedures with a view to obtaining justice in gymnastics conduct (disciplinary) proceedings and to ensure that decisions are made in a fair, consistent, impartial, transparent and expeditious manner.
The Code applies to all Members of the Scottish Gymnastics, all office bearers, coaches, judges, technical officers and adult helpers of clubs or individuals registered with Scottish Gymnastics in any capacity.
The code has recently been updated and can be found on our website here.
Travel Permits
Travel Permit applications should be completed by all clubs who are attending trips outwith Scotland or any trips involving an overnight stay. Please ensure you fully complete the application template ensuring all coaches, chaperones and gymnasts have current memembership, safeguarding and a PVG through Scottish Gymnastics.
Please ensure the complete permit application is sent to safeguarding@scottishgymnastics.org at least 4 weeks before the date of departure.
Safeguarding Officer Toolkit
You should have received a copy of our Safeguarding Officer Toolkit when you attended the PVG Workshop, and hopefully you are using it and find it beneficial with it’s templates and good practice.
We have a short survey which we will be sending out in a few days about our toolkit, which should only take about 5 minutes to complete and we would really appreciate your input.
PVG Why & Importance
It is an offence under the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (S) Act 2007 to employ (paid or voluntary) someone who is barred from working with children into a regulated role.
The only way to find out whether an individual is listed or is being considered for listing, and therefore barred from working with children, is through a criminal records check. Help and guidance to complete the recruitment process can be found here.
Scottish Gymnastics and the member clubs have a duty of care to ensure the suitability of anyone applying to do regulated work with children. All individuals who will be undertaking a regulated role within your club is required to complete the appropriate recruitment process prior to undertaking their role in the gym.
If you are unsure of the process or would like clarification please contact safeguarding@scottishgymnastics.org or phone 0131 271 9734
We are seeing an increasing number of PVG applications being sent to the office which are incomplete or have documents missing. Please ensure that all required parts of the PVG application are completed and send in along with completed Self Declaration and ID Verification form. Any incorrect or incomplete forms will be returned for amendment.
Safeguarding Courses
Are you and your coaches up to date with your safeguarding training?
Do you have a record of when those in required roles have completed their Safeguarding Training?
Individuals will receive a reminder email 60 days in advance of their expiration date, and must ensure that they attend appropriate training within this time. Courses can be found here and must be booked through Absorb.
Where possible we have aligned our courses with the Coach Education qualifications.
Unfortunately, we are still finding coaching members going passed their course expiration date and not renewing their training. This invalidates their membership which means they are not insured to coach or attend Scottish Gymnastics organised competitions. They do not have to wait on their current award expiring before they attend.
Please, please encourage your coaches, helpers and chaperones to renew their safeguarding before expiry.
Coach versus Helper – what’s the difference?
Coach – someone who holds a recognised and approved Scottish Gymnastics qualification of Level 1 or above.
Helper – someone who assists in the gym and does not hold a coach qualification.
There is a lot of confusion within clubs regarding these terms. Scottish Gymnastics encourages clubs to only use the term ‘coach’ if they are referring to someone who has a level 1 qualification or above. Using ‘coach’ infers that someone holds the appropriate qualifications to deliver sessions to club members and can confuse gymnasts or parents if used incorrectly.
Safer Internet Day – #SaferInternetDay #SID2020
Safer Internet Day is on the 11 February and is coordinated in the UK by the UK Safer Internet Centre. The campaign this year is #freetobe which is focussing on your identity online: how young people manage their online identity; do young people feel free to be themselves online.
Over the last few months we have followed the SMART rules in our Springboard Newsletter: Safe, Meet, Accepting, Reliable, Tell in the lead up to Safer Internet Day.
On the 11 February we will be providing hints and tips, as well as links to resources and good practice on our social media pages for you to use and pass on within your clubs.
Keep an eye out and get involved.
Ethics Welfare & Conduct Contact details
Lorna Whyte / Eilidh McCall-Lawrie - Ethics, Welfare & Conduct Managers: welfare@scottishgymnastics.org
Confidential email: safegym@scottishgymnastics.org
Claire Ritchie - Ethics, Welfare & Conduct Coordinator: safeguarding@scottishgymnastics.org
December 2019
Scottish Gymnastics is resurecting our Safeguarding Officer newsletter to ensure we have direct communication with our Club Safeguarding Officers, are able to get you the right information for your role and continue to build our relationship with you.
We will be publishing 4 newsletters a year in the following months: January, April, August, November. These newsletters will provide you with updates and best practice. If you would like to see a specific news item please let us know so we can include it in future newsletters.
PVG Form Processing
Being a member of the PVG Scheme through Scottish Gymnastics is required for those in regulated roles in clubs. To ensure that these forms are processed quickly we need your support to make sure the forms are completed correctly and that the appropriate payments are also made.
Common mistakes: Form not completed correctly, incorrect PVG membership number, admin fee not included
Payment: Scottish Gymnastics £7 administration fee / Disclosure Scotland £59 Full application or £18 Scheme update
Training
Are you and your coaches up to date with your Safeguarding Training?
Do you have a record of when those in required roles have completed their Safeguarding Training?
Individuals will receive a reminder email 60 days in advance of their expiration date, and must ensure that they attend appropriate training within this time. Courses can be found at the following link and must be booked through Absorb here.
The course calendar for the first half of 2020 is now available, and where possible we aligned our courses with the Coach Education qualifications.
Safeguarding Officer Email Address
Do you have a Club Safeguarding Officer email address specifically for your role or do you use your personal or work email address??
Scottish Gymnastics would encourage that you use a Club Safeguarding Officer email address. If you don’t currently have one, have a chat with the Club Manager / Club Secretary to get one set up. There’s a few benefits of having a role specific email address:
- You can keep the private and confidential emails separately
- P&C emails won’t get lost in amongst your personal / work emails
- If you step down from the role, the email address can be passed on to your successor so there’s less disruption for the club members and yourself
- You can give your club members your contact details without the fear of your personal / work email being passed around to people you don’t know
- You can have your email address available on the club notice board / website, not just in the handbook
Remember
- You may want to add in Safeguarding or Safeguarding Officer to your email address
- If you do change your email address to a club specific one, please let us know
Safeguarding Symposium 2020
We are currently looking at the content of the Safeguarding Symposium 2020. To ensure we get future Symposiums right we need your input. There will be a Safeguarding Symposium survey sent to you during the next week and we would really appreciate your input to help us shape future Symposiums.
Thanks in advance
Ethics Welfare & Conduct Contact details
Lorna Whyte / Eilidh McCall-Lawrie - Ethics, Welfare & Conduct Managers: welfare@scottishgymnastics.org
Confidential email: safegym@scottishgymnastics.org
Claire Ritchie - Ethics, Welfare & Conduct Coordinator: safeguarding@scottishgymnastics.org
September 2019
Safeguarding Symposium Sunday 22nd September 2019 at the Stirling Court Hotel
Spaces are filling up fast so please, if you want to attend, secure your space by clicking book here and it will directly take you to our online booking system absorb. This is aimed at Safeguarding Officers, Head Coaches/Senior Coaches and Club Leaders.
Here are four reasons to attend this year's safeguarding symposium
- To recognise signs that a gymnast is struggling with their mental wellbeing
- To gain practical tools to support gymnasts and coaches in moments of crisis
- To take part in an interactive social media session
- To learn top tips and SMART rules
UKCC Level 1 Coaches and Safeguarding & Protecting Children
If you intend to coach within a Scottish Gymnastics registered club, it is a mandatory requirement for you to attend a Safeguarding course organised through SG. The safeguarding course should be attended before you begin your mentored hours working with children within the club. Information on course calendar click here
Safeguarding Course Calendar
With summer holidays coming to an end, our safeguarding tutors are busy again delivering across all levels of our safeguarding courses, with 12 courses alone already planned to take place in August.
If you will be due to renew your safeguarding award within the next few months, please do not wait until your safeguarding award has expired before looking for a course as waivers will not be issued. If you are looking ahead and notice the dates we have you cannot attend, please get in touch with the team on safeguarding@scottishgymnastics.org as more dates will be added on to the course calendar once full details are confirmed.
We would like to take this opportunity to remind clubs that the last thing we want to do is postpone or cancel courses. A lot of planning goes onto the safeguarding calendar, considering planned UKCC level 1 courses as well as those whose SG&P and SG 2 are about to expire and SG competition calendar. This enables us to plan appropriately the level of course required as well as the geographical area. In addition, GymNET has an issues tab which automatically alerts the club to those whose safeguarding expires providing 90 days’ notice, and on each members’ individual GymNET record has their safeguarding award expiry date on it.
Many thanks
Ethics Welfare & Conduct Team
August 2019
Safeguarding Officers’ Symposium Sunday 22nd September 2019 at the Stirling Court Hotel.
The symposium is designed for safeguarding officers, head coaches, and club leaders to help with the challenges of your role. It will allow you to tap into the expertise of our speakers on mental wellbeing and social media providing an excellent learning opportunity. It is an all day, free event for our members with lunch provided.
Email invitations were sent out directly to Safeguarding Officers and Head Coaches at the end of June and spaces are beginning to fill up. The invite included a direct link to our online booking system absorb and places are on a first come first serve basis.
If you would to read more about the symposium or have misplaced your email and would like to secure your space please click book here and it will directly take you to our online booking system absorb.
If you require clarification or further information on any of the points noted above, please do not hesitate to get in touch with the team on safeguarding@scottishgymnastics.org
Standards for Child Wellbeing and Protection in Sport – Club Pilot 2019
A huge thank you to those clubs who have been able to take part Children 1st club pilot for the Standards for Child Wellbeing and Protecting in Sport. Children 1st have extended the deadline to Monday 19th August 2019. Safeguarding Officers were originally sent an email in May from Eilidh in the team with the link to invite clubs to take part. We would really appreciate your input into the Club Pilot as it will assist our partners in creating appropriate resources for clubs. Please note that all sports are being asked to contact their clubs regarding the club pilot.
If your club would still like to take part, and require the link again please email welfare@scottishgymnastics.org
Safeguarding Course Calendar
We have begun adding dates on to the calendar for August onwards which are available to book on to via the link to absorb on the safeguarding course calendar, with more dates being added once full details are confirmed.
Please do not wait until your safeguarding award has expired before looking for a course as waivers will not be issued. If you are looking ahead and notice the dates we have you cannot attend, please get in touch with the team on safeguarding@scottishgymnastics.org
We would like to take this opportunity to remind clubs that the last thing we want to do is postpone or cancel courses. A lot of planning goes onto the safeguarding calendar, taking into account UKCC level 1 courses as well as those whose SG&P and SG 2 are about to expire. This enables us to plan appropriately the level of course required as well as the geographical area. In addition GymNET has an issues tab which automatically alerts the club to those whose safeguarding expires providing 90 days’ notice, and on each members’ individual GymNET record has their safeguarding award expiry date on it.
Many thanks
Ethics Welfare & Conduct Team
July 2019
Young Coaches/Helpers
This is a reminder to all clubs that a young helper is not a coach and should not be referred to as such. To become a coach you must have attended and passed your coaching exam i.e. UKCC Level 1 qualification or above and have received a certificate. The Learn to Coach award is not a coaching qualification.
Further information on the coaching pathway can be found HERE
Safeguarding Officers’ Symposium Sunday 22nd September 2019 at the Stirling Court Hotel.
Email invitations will be sent out directly to Safeguarding Officers and Head Coaches within the next two weeks, so please keep an eye on your in box. The invite will include a direct link to our on line booking system absorb.
Following the success of last year’s symposium, spaces will fill up fast, so we would encourage you to sign up as soon as possible.
If you require clarification or further information on any of the points noted above, please do not hesitate to get in touch with the team through the appropriate email address above.
Safeguarding Course Calendar
We are in the process of adding courses from August onwards to the calendar and would take this opportunity to remind clubs that the last thing we want to do is postpone or cancel courses. A lot of planning goes onto the safeguarding calendar, taking into account UKCC level 1 courses as well as those whose SG&P and SG 2 are about to expire. This enables us to plan appropriately the level of course required as well as the geographical area. In addition gymNET has an issues tab which automatically alerts the club to those whose safeguarding expires providing 90 days’ notice.
Please do not wait until your safeguarding award has expired before looking for a course as waivers will not be issued.
Many thanks
Ethics Welfare & Conduct Team
June 2019
Safeguarding Team has grown
We are delighted to say our team has grown. Eilidh McCall-Lawrie has joined us, working part time in a shared role with Lorna, as Ethics, Welfare & Conduct Manager. Eilidh will work Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays with Lorna working Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.
Contact email addresses for the team are as follows:
Safeguarding courses, PVG and general enquiries: safeguarding@scottishgymnastics.org
Lorna and Eilidh: welfare@scottishgymnastics.org
Confidential email address: safegym@scottishgymnastics.org
Anti-Bullying Policy & Guidance
Scottish Gymnastics is fully committed to safeguarding the wellbeing of all children and young people in our care. We understand that children’s wellbeing can be seriously impacted by bullying behaviour. Bullying of any kind is unacceptable and should not be tolerated. A stand along Anti-Bullying Policy & Guidance document has been created, with an electronic copy available to read on our website click here. All clubs will receive one hard copy of the policy in the post shortly.
Standards for Child Wellbeing and Protection in Sport - Club Pilot 2019
Scottish Gymnastics has been working with Children 1st Safeguarding in Sport Service to achieve a minimum set of standards aimed at improving children’s wellbeing and protection in sport, which is an integral part of our investment process from SportScotland.
Children 1st are now piloting the standards at club level to ensure that they work for sports clubs as well. The aim is to help make sport safer for children and young people through a set of 8 Standards for Child Wellbeing and Protection in Sport, with a minimum criteria under each. They take a children’s rights approach and have a focus on child wellbeing as well as child protection.
Eilidh has sent an email to all club Safeguarding Officers this week to inviting clubs to take part.
If you require clarification or further information on any of the points noted above, please do not hesitate to get in touch with the team through the appropriate email address above.
Many thanks
Ethics Welfare & Conduct Team
May 2019 Update
Save the date – Safeguarding Symposium 2019 - Sunday 22 September in Stirling Court Hotel
The symposium is designed for safeguarding officers, head coaches, and club leaders. This is a great opportunity to discuss the situations that you deal with every day in your club.
Last year’s symposium was a huge success and some of the comments are detailed below:
" I was sceptical when I booked but was so, so, so worth it. Thank you for a fantastic day!"
"Absolutely first class – Beth’s amazing acting and Pamela’s openness, experience and compassionate approach to the scenarios brought the material to life and I felt like I was really there. Couldn’t be improved!"
"The tips around supporting a suicidal athlete – need more on mental wellbeing in future please as this was just a toe in the water"
"To now know that my questioning could alter whether a gymnast has the courage to speak up and how to comfort them was key learning for me"
Symposium 2019, will cover the following topics requested by delegates attending the 2018 symposium:
Mental Fitness
Including exploring ways in which mental fitness levels affect young people and coaches alike including signs that a young person may be struggling and learn practical tools to support gymnasts in moments of emotional crisis.
This topic will be explored through use of immersive training techniques which bring to life the type of mental fitness related scenarios that could happen in the club.
Social Media
Is there such a thing as private social media? And your digital footprint
Further information to follow…..
Updated Code of Practice for Coaches and Officials
As advised in the March Round off, the Code of Practice for Coaches and Officials has now been updated with an electronic copy available on the Scottish Gymnastics Website, click here
As there are significant changes to this policy, including: the purpose of the code, reporting responsibilities, substance abuse and safe environment, all coaches and officials working within an SG registered club will receive a hard copy.
The easiest way to accomplish this task is through a coaching/judging audit, we are in the process of sending these out to all clubs, via the Head Coach and Safeguarding Officer. It is important to return this audit in the timescale required so that this important policy can be distributed.
If you require clarification or further information on any of the points noted above, please do not hesitate to get in touch with Jenny or Lorna through the safeguarding email: safeguarding@scottishgymnastics.org
Ethics Welfare & Conduct Team
April 2019 Update
Trips Away - Travel Permit Reminder
Scottish Gymnastics accepts that the health, safety and well-being of children, young people and protected adults is the responsibility of everyone in the sport, whether paid staff or volunteers. We are committed to developing policies, procedures and guidance to ensure that those working and travelling with gymnasts adopt best practice. Above all, we must make sure that those accompanying gymnasts on trips particularly ones which involve an overnight stay, have been safely recruited and have attended the necessary training. For coaches, officials and chaperones this would be attending a Scottish Gymnastics Safeguarding course and have a PVG disclosure with Scottish Gymnastics.
A key part in a club’s preparation for a trip outside of Scotland or any trips involving an overnight stay is to complete our Travel Permit Application form. The form asks for complete details of the trip including the following;
-
Details of the trip i.e. date and time of method of travel.
-
Details of all coaches, judges, helpers, chaperones and gymnasts attending the trip.
-
A completed risk assessment of the whole trip; travel, accommodation, medical emergencies, extracurricular activities, etc.
Permits need to be completed in full and sent in 4 weeks prior to the trip departure date. This will allow the team time to process the forms and manage any potential issues in time for departure.
All Travel Permit information including the application form can be found by clicking https://www.scottishgymnastics.org/clubs-travel-and-event-permits
Safeguarding Course Calendar
The Safeguarding calendar is on our website with a number of available safeguarding courses to book on to; https://www.scottishgymnastics.org/clubs/safeguarding/safeguarding-clubs-find-course
We are in the process of adding our last round of courses to be delivered before the summer which will be added on once confirmed, and we are in the early stages of planning the remaining courses from August onwards.
All safeguarding courses are now purchased on our Absorb system, there is a direct link to the course page on the course calendar. You will need to create an account on Absorb first before you are able to purchase your chosen course date.
If you know you will be due to renew your safeguarding award soon but not sure when, your safeguarding award expiry date can be found on your GymNET record under the membership tab. In addition your club’s GymNET record has a very useful club issues tab that provides a 90 day warning for members’ awards expiring.
If you require clarification or further information on any of the points noted above, please do not hesitate to get in touch with Jenny or Lorna through the safeguarding email: safeguarding@scottishgymnastics.org
Ethics Welfare & Conduct Team
March 2019 Update
Advanced notice
Changes to the current Code of Practice for Coaches and Officials
The Code of Practice for Coaches and Officials is currently being updated and will have added content including: The purpose of the code, Reporting responsibilities and Substance abuse in addition to further clarification and guidance for those working with children and young people.
The updated Code will be included, as part of the course resource pack, for all level 1 courses. All current SG registered coaches and Safeguarding Officers will receive a hard copy of the code with further information to follow as to how and when SG will complete this task.
An electronic copy will be made available on our website and will continue to be discussed on all safeguarding courses.
Safe Recruitment: PVG Reminder
Is your club a safe environment? Are all individuals working with children and young people in your club suitable to be doing so?
The only way to find out whether an individual is barred, therefore NOT suitable to be working with children and young people is by following Scottish Gymnastics Recruitment procedures to the letter!
It is a legal requirement for any individual working (whether voluntary or paid) in a regulated role with children and young people in an organisation i.e. Scottish Gymnastics (registered club), to have a PVG accessed through that organisation i.e. Scottish Gymnastics.
Accessing a PVG through Scottish Gymnastics is the first stage in the recruitment process and must be obtained before an individual is allowed to come into the club to work with children and young people. All registered clubs have a head coach and should have a safeguarding officer, both of whom should have attended a Scottish Gymnastics PVG Workshop, the purpose of which is to educate on the recruitment procedures.
Safeguarding Course Calendar
The Safeguarding calendar is on our website with a number of available safeguarding courses to book on to; https://www.scottishgymnastics.org/clubs/safeguarding/safeguarding-clubs-find-course
We are in the process of adding our last round of courses to be delivered before the summer which will be added on once confirmed, and we are in the early stages of planning the remaining courses from August onwards.
All safeguarding courses are now purchased on our Absorb system, there is a direct link to the course page on the course calendar. You will need to create an account on Absorb first before you are able to purchase your chosen course date.
If you know you will be due to renew your safeguarding award soon but not sure when, your safeguarding award expiry date can be found on your GymNET record under the membership tab. In addition your club’s GymNET record has a very useful club issues tab that provides a 90 day warning for members’ awards expiring.
If you require clarification or further information on any of the points noted above, please do not hesitate to get in touch with Jenny or Lorna through the safeguarding email: safeguarding@scottishgymnastics.org
Ethics Welfare & Conduct Team
September 2018 Update
This month's newsletter covers a variety of subjects including: Speaking up - do we hear children and young people; Recruitment and referrals; Safeguarding Symposium. As well as a new course for committee members, online booking, duty of care and standards for child well being and protection in Scottish sport.
Safeguarding Symposium
We held our annual Safeguarding Symposium on Sunday 9 September, and wow, it was really powerful! If you haven't seen the video and heard what safeguarding officers, head coaches, and team managers thought, then its worth a watch now
Safeguarding Course Calendar
The Safeguarding calendar is on our website and is regularly updated throughout the year. Browse through it HERE
A lot of planning goes into the development of the safeguarding calendar. We look at the competition and events calendar as well as the UKCC Level 1 course calendar. In addition we are able to pull information on the expiry dates of our members Safeguarding & Protecting and Safeguarding 2 awards.
Given the sheer volume of events taking place, it is almost impossible to organise a safeguarding course when there are no other events taking place. Therefore, we try as much as possible to book courses two months prior to safeguarding expiry dates to allow clubs and coaches to plan ahead.
All current members whose SG2 is about to expire receive an email directly from the ethics team notifying them of this, a link to the online system absorb is also provided. Again this information is sent well in advance to allow clubs and coaches to plan ahead.
If you are unsure of your safeguarding award expiry date, this can be found on your GymNET record under the membership tab, in addition your club’s GymNET record has a very useful club issues tab that provides a 90 day warning for members awards expiring.
It is extremely important to note that if we do not get the minimum number of attendees booked on to a safeguarding course we will have to cancel the course. Low numbers make it impossible not only financially to be able to cover the costs of delivering a course, but in terms of the best possible training for our members. This not only frustrates our members but also our team who are trying hard to ensure you are kept up to date with safeguarding and minimum operating requirements.
Club Audits
To ensure the minimum operating requirements in the area of safe recruitment and safeguarding are met, we require to complete an annual audit of all those working in a regulated role with children and young people in our clubs.
The audit information and template was sent to club safeguarding officers last month to complete and return via email. Thank you to the clubs who have returned the information, this is most helpful. It is extremely important that we receive a completed audit for every club registered with Scottish Gymnastics.
If you have misplaced your club audit email or you don’t think you received the original (check your junk folder), please send an email to safeguarding@scottishgymnastics.org and we will resend it to you.
If you require clarification or further information on any of the points noted above, please do not hesitate to get in touch with Jenny or Lorna through the safeguarding email: safeguarding@scottishgymnastics.org
Ethics Welfare & Conduct Team
August 2018 update
Safeguarding Symposium 2018
When the alarm bell goes off…
Do we always hear it?
Where were the warning signals?
Were we expecting it?
You may not have seen anything, but this is the challenge when working with children and young people.
Why do they not speak up?
Why don’t they come forward?
What is stopping them?
This year's symposium addresses these questions from all angles through actors playing out real-life scenarios and talks from specialists working in casework, cybersecurity and legislation.
We will take you on a journey during the day, giving you a story to work through as you would a case. Just when you think you have uncovered the facts and know how you would proceed, you’ll be thrown a curveball. Sound familiar? New information will come to light throughout the day, and you’ll have to start re-assessing, just as you might during an investigation.
We are inviting head coaches as well as safeguarding officers to the Stirling Court Hotel on Sunday 9 September 2018, where the agenda is designed to help with the challenges in your role and allow you to tap into the expertise of our speakers.
Pamela Finch, consultant case worker and project worker, Children 1st
Dr Natalie Coull, Head of Cyber Security, School of Design and Informatics, Abertay University
They will be joined for an open forum by safeguarding tutors to discuss topics raised by you, with scenarios brought to life by actors Suit and Pace.
> RSVP: Let us know if you can come or not
> Submit your topics for forum
Agenda
9:00-9:30: Arrival & refreshments
9:30-10:00: Welcome and introductions: Euan Lowe (CEO, Scottish Gymnastics), Lorna Whyte (Ethics Welfare & Conduct Manager, Scottish Gymnastics) Pamela Finch – Facilitator (Compass Coaching & Constancy)
10:00-12:00: Safeguarding Scenario 1 – A young person in crisis…
• The session will include real-time input from actors which will require the group to respond to the safeguarding needs of the young gymnast as they arise, change and develop.
• The session will end with group work looking at barriers to disclosure – why don’t young people speak out generally? What specific barriers exist in a gymnastics context? Why may adults ‘not hear’? How can barriers be removed?
12:00-12:30: PVG Process Update + PVG Referrals
• An update on PVG process consultation
• Input on PVG referrals – What? Why? When? Who? How?
12:30-13:00: Planning our adventure!
• Short group work task examining what should be in place for a trip away with gymnasts?
13:00-13:45: LUNCH
13:45-15:00: Safeguarding Scenario 2 – A trip gone wrong…
• The session will again include real-time input from actors which require the audience to respond to the changing information given in the case and in particular will explore themes of peer-on-peer abuse, online exploitation, trip management, adult responsibility and working with statutory agencies.
15:00-15:15: BREAK
15:15-16:00: Cyber Security/Online Safety. Speaker Dr Natalie Coull
16:00-16:45: Open Forum/Q+A. Ross McGuire, Alison McFarlane, David Walker, Fiona Ashton-Jones, Jenny Cockburn, Lorna Whyte, Pamela Finch, Natalie Coull
July 2018 Update
Trips away – Protecting clubs and their members
Scottish Gymnastics accepts that the health, safety and well-being of children, young people and protected adults is the responsibility of everyone in the sport, whether paid staff or volunteers. We are committed to developing policies, procedures and guidance to ensure that those working and travelling with gymnasts adopt best practice. Above all, we must make sure that those accompanying gymnasts on trips particularly ones which involve an overnight stay, have been safely recruited and have attended the necessary training. For coaches, officials and chaperones this would be attending a Scottish Gymnastics Safeguarding course and have a PVG disclosure with Scottish Gymnastics.
A key part in a club’s preparation for a trip outside of Scotland or any trips involving an overnight stay is to complete our Travel Permit Application form. The form asks for complete details of the trip including the following;
- Details of the trip i.e. date and time of method of travel.
- Details of all coaches, judges, helpers, chaperones and gymnasts attending the trip.
- A completed risk assessment of the whole trip; travel, accommodation, medical emergencies, extracurricular activities, etc.
Permits need to be completed in full and sent in 4 weeks prior to the trip departure date. This will allow the team time to process the forms and manage any potential issues in time for departure.
All Travel Permit information including the application form can be found by clicking https://www.scottishgymnastics.org/clubs/resources-travel-and-event-permits
Images
Scottish Gymnastics aim is to create a fun and safe environment for all to enjoy our sport. We fully expect and encourage action photographs to be taken as these provide fantastic records and memories for families to keep. However, with the increase of gymnastics action photographs appearing in publications and on the internet, we must all take the time to ensure these photographs are suitable for publication.
Publications or information on an Internet site i.e. facebook or similar, must never include personal information that could identify a child or protected adult. Written consent must be obtained from parents/guardians before any images are posted. As well as the above guidance, common sense should also be used when deciding which photographs to print:
- Do not use images that appear to show the groin area in movements when the legs are in a split position.
- Particular care must be taken when publishing photographs, film or videos of children who are considered particularly vulnerable e.g. the subject of a child protection issue or a custody dispute.
If you require clarification or further information on any of the points noted above, please do not hesitate to get in touch with Jenny or Lorna via email safeguarding@scottishgymnastics.org
Ethics Welfare & Conduct Team
June 2018 Update
Safeguarding Officer’s Symposium Update
Invitations for this year’s Safeguarding Officer’s Symposium on Sunday 9 September 2018 at the Stirling Court Hotel will be emailed out within the next few weeks. As part of your invitation you will be asked to submit a topic related scenario which will help form the day. In addition to covering social media, the all-day workshop will look at ‘Why don’t young people tell?’ and ‘When that alarm bell goes off’.
This is a great opportunity to meet with fellow safeguarding officers and discuss real-world, relevant and everyday topics and situations that you deal with in clubs, and get relevant up to date knowledge and guidance.
A selection of comments from last year’s symposium:
“Scenarios were interesting, realistic and having them acted out made it easier to understand”
“All very good with lots of tips and hints. Time went in very quickly. These types of sessions would be good for coaches too”.
“Thanks for all of this. It was such a beneficial course, and I’m finding that the information available to SO’s is getting better and better as the month’s progress
Keep up the good work, and we’ll do the same!”
Children and Young People: Their wellbeing is everyone’s responsibility
Safeguarding for club committee members
Based on feedback received from our PVG workshops and past Safeguarding Officer’s Symposiums, the safeguarding team are in the process of developing an online ‘Safeguarding, an Overview’, for Club Committee Members. Committee members play a key governance role within clubs and the team felt it is extremely important and beneficial for committee members to have awareness of national legislation relevant to safeguarding and wellbeing in relation to gymnastics and gymnastics clubs. Look out for further information in next month’s round off.
If you require clarification or further information on any of the points noted above, please do not hesitate to get in touch with Jenny or Lorna via email safeguarding@scottishgymnastics.org
Ethics Welfare & Conduct Team
May 2018 Update
Save the date!
We are delighted to announce that we will be delivering our third Safeguarding Officers Symposium on Sunday 9th September 2018 at the Stirling Court Hotel.
Last year’s symposium covered having difficult conversations and how to carry out investigations. This will be an all day workshop which promises to be real-world and relevant to the everyday situations SO’s and coaches deal with in clubs, this year the we will be covering social media amongst other topics. We are delighted to confirm that the services of actors from Suit and Pace will be back again to perform the sketches based on scenarios provided by SG and Children 1st.
It is a great opportunity to meet with fellow safeguarding officers, to share experiences and get relevant up to date knowledge and guidance.
Invites will be sent out to Safeguarding Officers in June.
Planning ahead…
As we approach summer, now is a great time for your club to plan ahead. Club audits will be sent out to Safeguarding Officers in June.
Planning ahead helps us immensely when it comes to planning any additional safeguarding courses into the course calender throughout the year. If the club are booking anyone on to a UKCC Level 1 Course which will take place in the next few months it is extremely important that they book them onto a Safeguarding & Protecting Course if they haven’t already attended one. If you can’t yet find a Safeguarding & Protecting Course near your area on the course calender please send us an email so that we can plan ahead.
We know a lot of club’s committee members change during the summer, if you know that the club is likely to have a new Safeguarding Officer before the new membership year please get in touch so that we can make sure they are up to date with their required training because without an up to date Safeguarding Officer in place the club will not be able to get through the Club Declaration stage on GymNET.
If you require clarification or further information on any of the points noted above, please do not hesitate to get in touch with Jenny or Lorna via email safeguarding@scottishgymnastics.org
Ethics Welfare & Conduct Team
April 2018 Update
Code of Practice for Coaches & Officials
Adherence to good coaching practices, aligned with open communication with parents, children and young people should ensure that a safe and enjoyable environment is established and sustained.
The Code of Practice was recently updated to provide clarification and further guidance to those working with children and young people. This document is now available to read on our website;
Please take the time to familiarise yourself with it as there have been some important changes since the previous code of practice, for example good practice page 6 Position of Trust and page 9 bullet point 2 there should be two qualified coaches present….
Each club will receive will receive a hard copy of the updated code, which is also handed out on our Safe in your Hands, Safeguarding & Protecting and Safeguarding 2 Courses.
Save the date!
We are delighted to announce that we will be delivering our third Safeguarding Officers Symposium on Sunday 9th September 2018 at the Stirling Court Hotel.
Last year’s symposium covered having difficult conversations and how to carry out investigations. This year’s topic will cover social media and others. It is a great opportunity to meet with fellow safeguarding officers, to share experiences and get relevant up to date knowledge and guidance.
More details and invite to follow!
Calendar Update
Since January 2018, the safeguarding team have already delivered 32 safeguarding courses across all our levels. The last round of courses before the summer have been updated on our course calendar on our website and for Safeguarding 3 these have been updated on the absorb system.
A plea to you all from the team, we put a lot of planning into the course calendar. We have tried our best to have courses booked a month – two months prior to expiry dates to make sure you can renew prior to your current award expiring. For Safeguarding 2 and Safeguarding 3 Courses we are able to plan these based on those who attended their previous award three years prior.
If you require clarification or further information on any of the points noted above, please do not hesitate to get in touch with Jenny or Lorna via email safeguarding@scottishgymnastics.org
