An overview of child protection and resources to help you ensure all children and young people are kept safe from harm when mountain biking.
Every organisation involved with children, young people or vulnerable groups has a responsibility for their protection and well-being - a duty of care.
If your club is only adult based you do not have to comply with child protection legislation.
However you will be unable to accept anyone under the age of 16 to join you on a club run without their parent or carer being present.
For most children and clubs a child protection issue will never occur however it is important clubs, and individuals within clubs, protect themselves, and most importantly, ensure children, young people and vulnerable people are protected from harm.
One of the recruitement tools your club will use will be Disclosure Scotland forms, requesting that anyone in regulated work with children will have to join the PVG scheme. If your club is a member Scottish Cycling will be able to assist your club in with processing Disclosure Scotland forms for you and your volunteers. Please contact your Regional Development Officer for more information.
It is important to see a disclosure check as only one part of the recruitement process. A brief interview and some references are important. See 10 Steps to Safeguarding Children in Sport p 28-34.
It is good practice for your club to develop a child protection policy and code if conduct, which will help your club establish clear guidelines for how you work with children, young people and vulnerable groups.
Please read and understand the Scottish Cycling Sample Child Protection Policy document and adapt for your clubs good practice.
For a comprehensive guide to frequently asked questions regarding child protection policy and resources to help your club stay within the law it is worth visiting the ‘Safeguarding in Sport’ website.
CPSU, Children 1st and sportscotland have developed a series of videos which are based on situations and issues which often arise in sports settings. They will give you examples of what you and your organisation need to do to safeguard the children and young people you work with. Most of the good practice is transferable to mountain biking.
In England and Wales, the Child Protection in Sport Unit is a partnership between Sport England and the NSPCC, although some of the organisations referred to in the website do not exist in Scotland, there are many helpful resources and information available on their website.
We recommend all clubs join a cycling organisation (Scottish Cycling or CTC) who will help you keep up to date with changes in child protection law plus a host of other benefits.