BGA policy on working with children and young people

Foreword

The BGA is committed to maintaining a culture in which children can develop their abilities in an environment which protects their safety and wellbeing. The BGA has Policy and Guidance on working with children and young people who attend BGA sponsored Go events. The Guidance also covers situations in which BGA members may offer Go tuition to young people in schools or youth clubs.

The Policy covers:

providing a safe environment for children and young people to enjoy Go;
appointing a Child Protection Advisor;
appointing and supporting members who work with young people; and
what to do if a situation of concern arises involving children or young people.

Principles

The BGA puts a high value on promoting Go amongst young people. It aims to encourage participation by young people in BGA activities by making the events enjoyable and fun and by ensuring that the young people are safe and feel safe and welcome.

When adults are in contact with young people, the rights, needs and dignity of the young people are paramount.
It is the prerogative of parents or legal guardians to determine how a young person will be cared for and what they may and may not do. An adult who undertakes to care for a young person, other than in an emergency, must have the knowledge and consent of the parents and must obey all requirements placed on him/her by them.
It is the duty of anyone undertaking to care for a young person to protect the physical and mental health and wellbeing of the young person from all reasonably foreseeable risk.

Policy

It is the responsibility of all members of the BGA to do their best to prevent the physical, sexual and emotional abuse of children and young people and to report any abuse, alleged or suspected.
The BGA will respond without delay to any complaints made that a child or young person, for whom the BGA or its members or officers are responsible, may have been harmed.
BGA members who provide Go teaching to children and young people in schools should comply with any request by the school to obtain a Disclosure or Enhanced Disclosure from the Criminal Records Bureau.
Council is responsible for appointing a Child Protection Adviser who:
1. advises Council on Child Protection Policy and its implementation;
2. advises members involved in youth Go activities; and
3. is available to members to discuss any situation of concern that may come to their notice.
The BGA requires an Enhanced Disclosure from the Criminal Records Bureau for the Youth Development Officer, Child Protection Adviser and Education Officer. The Enhanced Disclosure must be not more than 5 years old. The BGA will obtain and/or renew such disclosures where they are needed.
Council will satisfy themselves as to the suitability of any person applying to take on the roles of Youth Development Officer, Child Protection Adviser and Education Officer, through a process which as a minimum:
1. discusses any previous experience working with children and young people;
2. requests the volunteer to confirm that they have never been convicted of, or cautioned for, a sexual offence or other offence against children;
3. has the volunteer either show or complete an application for the Enhanced Disclosure required by the previous policy.
The organisers of BGA supported Go Tournaments and other events which are open to all adults and children are considered for the purposes of this policy not to have direct responsibility for the care and supervision of children participating in the event. They are therefore not required to seek Disclosure or Enhanced Disclosure from the Criminal Records Bureau.

Guidelines

1. BGA activities aimed at young people

Each member working with young people should:

treat all young people with respect and dignity;
not engage in any of the following:
- scapegoating, ridiculing or rejecting a young person;
- making any racially provocative comments to a young person, even in fun;
- rough, physical or sexually provocative games;
- making sexually suggestive comments about or to a young person, even in fun;
- inappropriate and intrusive touching of any form;
- sexual relationships with young people even if they consent.
not invite a young person to their home alone unless the parent(s) have given their permission;
if they see another volunteer acting in ways which might be misconstrued, be prepared to speak to the volunteer, or to the BGA Child Protection Adviser [1], or to any member of Council, about their concerns.

2. Transporting young people to go events

A major cost for young people attending BGA events can be travelling to events. The Castledine-Barnes Trust [2] may be able to assist financially with travel costs. For further information about what the Trust supports and how to apply, see the Castledine-Barnes Trust web site [2].

Members organising travel for young people to Go events should:

before taking a young person on a trip away from home, obtain from the parents:

contact phone number,
details about any medical conditions,
prescriptions and allergies,
the name and phone number of the young person's doctor, and
signed consent to your seeking qualified treatment for them in case of injury or medical emergency.

form

[3]

for every trip obtain the consent of the parent(s) before taking a young person anywhere except in an emergency;
have more than one passenger when transporting young people unless parental permission has been obtained to do otherwise;

3. Go events involving overnight stays

3.1 Children and young people are welcome at Go events of several days duration. If they are not accompanied by a parent it is essential that there is an adult present at the event who has supervisory responsibility for them. The responsible adult should ensure that they have information on the young person outlined in 2.2 above.

3.2 The BGA recommends that the adult with supervisory responsibility does not share a room with the child or young person (unless a family member).

Readers are also referred to the BGA's Policy and Procedures for checking criminal records. [4] This policy required Council to appoint 2 Verifiers: on 8 May 2010 Council appointed Sue Paterson (Child Protection Advisor) and Toby Manning (Council Member).