British Equestrian

Top tips for venues, officials and volunteers

Safeguarding is the responsibility of everyone at the venue, not just the Safeguarding Officer. These top tips, and the videos below, outline the different elements you'll need to consider in order to operate in a way that's enjoyable for participants, staff, volunteers, parents and carers.

Be a positive role model

Demonstrate best practice for safeguarding whether on the yard, or away officiating or volunteering at events. Help us to make equestrian sport safe and enjoyable for all.

Make sure you are clear on any codes of conduct and policies so that there can be no confusion as to what behaviour is appropriate and expected.

Ensure you are accredited where possible and have had relevant criminal record checks, and training.

For more information visit: British Equestrian- running safe events

Be alert to poor practice

We would not expect venues or clubs to:

· Discourage parents and carers from staying to watch

· Have coaches, officials or volunteers showing favouritism or personally rewarding specific children

· Accept inappropriate physical contact between coaches, officials or volunteers and children

· Adopt a “win at all costs” attitude that impacts a child's wellbeing

· Have coaches, officials or volunteers who invite children to spend time alone with them, or to visit or stay in their home

· Post, text, email, or communicate anything online or offline that may be deemed as offensive, abusive, racist, or threatening by way of comments, language, or behaviours.

If you think any of these behaviours are happening, please contact your child's Safeguarding Officer or your Member Body's designated Safeguarding Officer, or the British Equestrian Safeguarding Team on safeguarding@bef.co.uk

For more information on the signs of abuse, please see: Spotting the Signs of CSE

The British Equestrian and Member Body Safeguarding Teams are here to support and safeguard children in our sport. There are also other organisations that can provide advice, particularly on specific topics such as cyberbullying, sexting, gaming, video chats. Advice on these topics and more can be found via the following websites:

· Childline

· CEOP Education (thinkuknow.co.uk)

· NSPCC (Online Safety for Children – Tips & Guides)

· Childnet

· Activity Alliance

· Sporting Equals

Spotting signs of abuse

There may be warning signs that a child is being abused, and as an official/volunteer coming into contact with a child regularly you may pick up on these signs. Common signs include: 

Unexplained changes in the behaviour or personality. 
Becoming secretive. 
A child becoming withdrawn and / or seeming anxious. 
Becoming uncharacteristically aggressive. 
A child displaying poor social skills and having few friends. 
A child displaying a poor relationship with their parent / carer. 
Knowledge of adult issues inappropriate for their age. 
Running away or going missing. 
Unexplained injuries 
A child who self-harms. 
A child wearing clothes which cover their whole body at times when it is too warm to do this. 
Talk of a new, older friend and unexplained money or gifts. 
Children in sport are at increased risk of the emotional abuse if they are put under too much pressure or receive excessive chastisement for poor performance. As a coach we ask you to also be mindful of this type of abuse.

If you spot any of these signs in a child, we recommend you get advice from your venue or Member Body’s Safeguarding Officer and local social services team. 

Know what is expected of you

Any organisation that provides activities for children, young people or adults at risk should have safeguarding policies and procedures in place.

For more information see: British Equestrian - Safeguarding Policies

A policy sets out your commitment as the venue to keeping children, young people and adults at risk safe, and how, in broad terms, you will do so. Ensure that your policy links to and complies with the requirements of your Member Body.

You will need to:

Maintain appropriate policies and procedures
Identify a Safeguarding Officer with relevant training
Complete safeguarding risk assessments
Provide and uphold a code of conduct
Provide training to all relevant team members
Ensure appropriate criminal record checks are in place where needed for both staff and volunteers
Maintain accurate records of criminal record checks
Promote best practice
Communicate clear safeguarding information to all relevant stakeholders, including children and parents

Report poor practice and encourage others to do the same

For more information please see: Running safe events - British Equestrian

Make relevant information available to all

Ensure everyone coming to your venue knows who to speak to if they have a concern. Have a clearly identified safeguarding section on your venue noticeboard to improve awareness: Safe to Play – Resources.

Provide training to your team to ensure that parents and others are encouraged to ask about safeguarding practices and open conversations are welcomed. For more information visit: Safeguarding for Equestrians | Child Protection Company

What to do if a child makes a disclosure to you

As an official/volunteer you may be in a position where a child makes a disclosure to you about a problem they are having. If this happens we recommend the following: 

Listen to the child and allow them to speak fully. 
Display calm body language. A reaction of shock could cause the child to stop talking. 
Don’t ask them leading questions. 
Reassure them that they have done the right thing to speak to you. 
Don’t promise to keep their disclosure a secret. 
If age appropriate, explain to the child that you will need to report the abuse to someone who can help. 
Report the abuse immediately to your venue or Member Body Safeguarding Officer. If it is an emergency contact the police and / or the local social services team. 
After the disclosure, make a note of what the child has told you in as much detail as you can remember. Try not to make these notes in front of the child. 
Please do not talk to the abuser about the child’s disclosure. Confronting the abuser could make the situation worse for the child.

For more information please see: Reporting a problem - British Equestrian

Physical contact guidance

There may be a number of circumstances in a sports context when it is appropriate for an adult to touch or have direct physical contact with a child, for example to:

Treat an injury. 
Prevent an injury or accident from occurring.

Always explain the nature and reason for any physical contact, and ask the child’s permission unless it is an emergency. Ensure physical contact takes place in a public setting, and be mindful that well-intentioned gestures (such as putting a hand on a child’s shoulder) can raise questions.

Parents need to feel confident that contact between those running the activities and children are safe and appropriate, adults in sport need confidence that their actions cannot be misconstrued, and children have a right to say what level of contact they are comfortable with. 

For more information please see: Physical contact in sport

Supervision at venues

Children under the age of 18 should be supervised by their parent or carer at all times while at a venue. Venues can, at their discretion, reduce this age bracket but should first conduct a clear risk assessment and communicate clearly the point at which supervision responsibilities will be handed back to the parent or carer.

For more information please see: Running safe events - British Equestrian

Transporting children

Where parents or carers transport their own children, or make private arrangements with other parents/carers to deliver or collect their children, they are responsible for their children’s safety and for the suitability of any travel arrangements.

Coaches or other volunteers/organising staff are not encouraged to transport children alone in their vehicles, including horse lorries. Where is it unavoidable that an adult transports a child, below are some of the processes to mitigate risk:

The driver should have agreed to a vetting check (where appropriate) and suitability should be established.
A person other than the planned driver should talk to the child about transport arrangements to check they are comfortable about the plans.
Ensure drivers have valid vehicle insurance, MOT and driving licence prior to carrying any passengers.
The individual should check with their own insurance company if they want to use their vehicle as part of their paid/volunteer role.
When transporting children after an event or training session staff/volunteers should alternate which child is dropped off last. Ideally two children would be dropped off at an agreed point such as one of their family homes.

Drivers must register their vehicle with the organisation.
Parents/carers should be informed of transport arrangements including the person who will be transporting their child, the reasons why and how long the journey will take.
Drivers must only use vehicles with seat belts and ensure that their passengers are wearing these when in transit.
Parents/carers must give written permission if their child is being transported in another adult’s car.

For more information please see: Guidelines on transportation

Camps or overnight stays

Where overnight stays are required:

Children must not go into the rooms occupied by the opposite gender. This would include spaces like a tent or lorry if camping.
Use communal spaces for group activities and downtime.
Children must not engage in inappropriate behaviour or relationships. 
Children must not go into the rooms of anyone over the age of 18. 
Supervisors, or any other adults present on the camp or overnight stay, must not sleep in the same space as any child (the exception to this is if a parent / carer has accompanied their child and opted to share a family room). 
Supervisors, or any other adults present on the trip, must not go into the room of any child unless in an emergency or to conduct a room check. 
Always communicate with parents to ensure they are absolutely clear on the arrangements and ensure consent to those arrangements is obtained.

For more information please see: Safeguarding risk assessment for camps, overnight stays and international trips

Report any concerns

If you have a concern about the welfare of a child, young person or adult at risk, or the behaviour of an adult towards a child, young person or adult at risk, you must report it as soon as possible. 

Use the Report a concern form, or speak to the Safeguarding Officer, Member Body, or the BEF directly via safeguarding@bef.co.uk

For more information please see: Reporting a problem - British Equestrian