British Cycling has a fundamental commitment to safeguard and protect children in cycling. With our partners, we are working to improve polices, procedures, and practices to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience of children and young people in cycling.
Allegations of poor practice, drug use, equality issues and possible child abuse should be reported to the Child Protection Lead Officer(CPLO)
Contact:
Simon Thornton (Safeguarding and Equality Officer)
Telephone 0161 274 2082
David Dunlop (Compliance Manager)
Telephone 0161 274 2084
Email: compliance@britishcycling.org.uk
Out of hours: 07932 009 601
Download: British Cycling's Child Protection Policy (450kb Word File)
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Club Welfare Officers
All clubs are encouraged to recruit one or ideally two interested volunteers to take on this challenging but rewarding role. Training is available for these volunteers to help them be the local link in the chain that safeguards young people.
For more information please contact our Club Development section.
Telephone: 0161 274 2070
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Whistle Blowing & sharing of information/concerns
British Cycling acknowledges the need for a 'Whistle Blowing Policy' in line with the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 (PIDA). It is also important to have procedures for enabling staff and volunteers to share, in confidence with a designated person (normally a Club Welfare Officer or British Cycling's Child Protection Lead Officer), concerns they may have about a colleague's behaviour. This may be behaviour linked to child abuse or behaviour that pushes boundaries beyond acceptable limits. If this is consistently ignored a culture may develop within an organisation whereby staff and young people are 'silenced'.
British Cycling is fully supportive of 'whistle blowing' for the sake of the child, and will provide support and protect those who 'whistle blow'. While it is difficult to express concerns about colleagues, it is important that these concerns are communicated to the designated officer. All staff and volunteers are encouraged to talk to the designated officer if they become aware of anything that makes them feel uncomfortable.
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Trips, visits, and training camps with children and young people.
After much publicised cases where trips with children have gone wrong everyone likes advice to minimise the risks.
Two very good guidance documents are:
SafeSportsAway – a joint ASA and NSPCC document - Click here to go to the NSPCC download page
And for people organising major youth events:
Event Planner – an NSPCC document - Safe Sports Events - Click here to go to the NSPCC download page
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Advice on Challenging Behaviour and Physical Contact involving Young People in Sport
Two very good briefing documents have been produced by the NSPCC Child Protection in Sport Unit. The following links will provide download of these two documents:
Managing Challenging Behaviour Guidelines Download (80kb pdf)
Physical Contact and Young People in Sport Download (80kb pdf)
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Safeguarding for Parents
The Department for Culture Media and Sport has published a leaflet to guide parents in choosing sports clubs that demonstrate good Safeguarding practice. To access an electronic version of this document please click here.
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A Young Persons Guide to Child Protection
You have rights. Cycling should be fun. You should be safe and enjoy your sport. You can't do that if you feel unhappy - someone is bullying or abusing you.
When do you know if something is wrong?
Something is wrong if someone:
- Constantly teases you, shouts at you or calls you names
- Makes suggestive remarks or tries to pressurise you into sexual activity
Threatens, hits, kicks or punches you - Damages or steal your belongings
Touches you or does anything in a way that makes you feel uncomfortable - Does anything that makes you feel lonely, worried, unsafe, hurt or embarrassed
If you are bullied or abused it is not your fault. If this is happening to you try to:
- Be firm and tell the person to stop - make a lot of noise to attract attention
- Keep a note of the date, time and place, what happened, how you felt and the name of anyone who may have seen what happened
- Get away from the situation quickly, go to a public place to find help or call the police (999)
- Call you Club Welfare Officer or use the 24 hour free telephone help line: Childline 0800-1111
Tell your parents / carers, Club Welfare Officer or an adult you can trust what has happened as soon as possible
Keeping Safe
To keep safe always:
- Tell someone you trust, so they can help you
- Travel with a friend, avoid travelling in someone else's car by yourself
- Trust your instincts about people you meet
- Avoid going to other peoples' homes by yourself
- Avoid being alone or with just one other person
- Carry a mobile phone, phone card or change.