Child Protection Policy

Stratford Chess Club has a child protection policy which will apply to all members of, and visitors to, the club when undertaking Club activities. The policy is in accordance with the English Chess Federation’s Child Protection Policy Guidelines, which is available for viewing on the Federation’s website.

A downloadable copy of Club's policy can be viewed here: Child Protection Policy.

The policy statement below is under internal review following changes in the ECF's Safeguarding Children Policy.

The Policy Statement

1. Stratford Chess Club (hereinafter the ‘Club’) has decided to adopt a child protection policy. This will apply to all members of, and visitors to, the club when undertaking Club activities. A child in this context is deemed to be anyone less than eighteen years of age. The normal venue of the Club is the Royal British Legion, Bull Street, Stratford-upon-Avon, CV37 6DT

2. The Club welcomes to its Thursday evening sessions and events junior players who already play Chess to a reasonable standard. It also allows juniors of an appropriate level to participate in interclub matches. There is no formal teaching of chess within the club. The purpose of this policy is to safeguard the welfare of children attending the Club by protecting them from physical, sexual and emotional harm.

3. A copy of the policy will be posted on the Stratford Chess Club Website.

4. The Club has a Child Welfare Officer, who has DBS* clearance. The current holder of the post is Richard Buxton. Any child welfare concerns or allegations, and any comments or questions regarding the policy, should be directed to him on 01789 205367 or by e-mail to richard.buxton@talktalk.net.

5. Any allegations or concerns will be investigated, and if necessary pursued, by the Club’s Child Welfare Officer in accordance with the English Chess Federation’s Child Protection Policy Guidelines, which is available for viewing on the Federation’s website via a link from the Club’s website.

6. All parents or guardians will be required to escort their children into the Club premises at the start of each session or event and to be present to collect their children again by 10pm or to provide written permission for the child to arrive and travel home alone or with another Club member.

7. The Club also welcomes child players to participate in inter-club matches away from the Club venue. All parents or guardians will be required to accompany their child to away matches and to remain at the away team’s Club premises throughout the duration of the match or to provide written permission for the child to travel unaccompanied with other team members using travel arrangements made by the team captains and the itinerary conveyed to the parent or guardian in good time.

8. This policy will be reviewed and updated from time to time in line with experience and best practice in the area of child protection.

*Side Note: The Criminal Records Bureau ( CRB ) and the Independent Safeguarding Authority ( ISA ) have merged to become the Disclosure and Barring Service ( DBS ). CRB checks are now called DBS checks

Peter Stiff (Club Secretary) November 2015