At Streetly Hockey Club we are dedicated to providing a safe environment for our Young People. In addition to the guidance from England Hockey, we have outlined our own safety policies below in regards to travel, communication & showering/changing facilities.
Travel
If Under 18’s require assistance with travel arrangements to games/training, parents must provide written permission (via text or WhatsApp) to the adult providing the travel. This can be obtained by a captain/coach as an alternative. There should always be another adult present whilst travelling unless arranged outside the club’s control by parents (e.g parents sharing lift responsibilities with each other).
Communication
All teams/coaching groups have a central point of communication on the Heja app. All parents/guardians are given the control (if wanted) to manage their child’s account. Alternatively, parents can be ‘connected’ to their child and have an overview of all activity, without the child losing the ability to communicate to their team directly. Written consent for Under 18’s to be a direct team member on Heja must be given to the captain/coach by the parent/guardian directly (via message or WhatsApp).
Under 18’s will not be directly messaged by any adults, but may be a part of group messages with parent/carers or designated members of the club (e.g captain, chairman, welfare officer).
No other messaging apps can be used for group team communication involving Under 18’s (e.g WhatsApp).
Showering/Changing Facilities
Adults must not change, or shower, at the same time using the same facility as under 18’s. If adults and under 18’s need to share a changing facility, they must do so at different times. However, If children are uncomfortable changing or showering at the facilities provided (home or away), no pressure should be placed on them to do so.
Mixed gender teams must have access to separate male and female changing rooms. Due to the risks of inappropriate photography or filming, mobile phones must not be used in changing rooms.
As changing rooms are on occasion used by Streetly Hockey Club for team talks before/after games, they then become non-changing rooms. No adult or under 18 can then change or shower whilst team talks are happening.
Useful Links
We’ve put together a list of useful links for parents and members. If you have any concerns about welfare issues or safeguarding at Streetly Hockey Club, please contact our Welfare Officer Wendy Hull.
- England Hockey Safeguarding
- England Hockey Parent Guide
- Heads UP
- The Child Protection in Sport Unit (CPSU)
- Childline – Call Childline on 0800 1111 or go to the childline.org.uk for advice and support.
- The Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP) works with safeguarding and child protection partners across the UK and overseas. CEOP safety centre
Page updated 1st March 2020