At Worcestershire County Cricket Club, we are dedicated to keeping children, young people, and vulnerable adults safe while they enjoy cricket, whether as players or spectators, at both recreational and professional levels.
We strive to create a welcoming and secure environment where everyone feels valued and respected. Our goal is to ensure that all children and adults can safely watch, participate in, and enjoy cricket in a positive atmosphere.
As a club, we fully support and follow the ECB Safe Hands Policy and are committed to meeting the ECB Safeguarding Standards outlined in the County Partnership Agreement.
Our Safeguarding Commitment
We are dedicated to ensuring cricket is a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone. To achieve this, we commit to:
- Putting in place proactive safeguarding measures to create safe and welcoming cricket environments.
- Establishing clear and simple processes for reporting concerns, following the 3 R’s approach.
- Handling all safeguarding concerns involving children and vulnerable adults responsibly, working closely with the ECB, statutory agencies, and other relevant organisations to ensure thorough and appropriate action.
This commitment is backed by our Board of Directors, reinforcing our dedication to upholding the ECB’s Safeguarding Standards through the Safe Hands Policy.
Reporting a Concern
At Worcestershire County Cricket Club, we take all suspicions, concerns, and allegations seriously. Every concern is handled with care, following the 3 R’s approach:
- Respond appropriately
- Record confidentially
- Report when necessary
This ensures that all safeguarding concerns are managed fairly, promptly, and effectively.
To ensure concerns are handled correctly, follow these steps:
- Write down what happened as soon as possible
- Be accurate about what you have seen, heard, or been told
- Use calm, neutral language when documenting incidents
- Contact the County Safeguarding Officer or ECB Safeguarding Team
- Avoid personal opinions, but if necessary, clearly state them separately
Safeguarding concerns must be passed on quickly, both within the organisation and, when necessary, to external agencies so that action can be taken.
Low-Level Concerns
Low-level concerns, also known as poor practice, include minor breaches of our Code of Conduct or behavior that does not meet Worcestershire County Cricket Club and ECB standards.
We encourage clubs to challenge and address these concerns early to prevent further rule-breaking or escalating misconduct. Ignoring low-level concerns can create an environment where serious breaches or abuse may occur.
Our County Safeguarding Officer, with support from the ECB Safeguarding Case Management Team if needed, may classify a concern as low-level and help clubs manage it appropriately.
Some low-level concerns may require investigation or management at a local level through the County or Club Safeguarding Officer.
Persistent poor practice or serious findings may be escalated to the ECB National Safeguarding Team, which could involve statutory agencies if necessary.
If you have a safeguarding concern, please contact our County Safeguarding Officer, Cheryl Instan-Smith.
On Matchdays
If you have any concerns while attending Visit Worcestershire New Road on a matchday:
Speak to a Steward or contact the Matchday Safeguarding Officer at 07786 929797. PLEASE NOTE: This telephone number is ONLY ACTIVE on matchdays.
Emergency & Support Resources
If someone is at imminent or immediate risk, you must call 999 to contact the Police or Local Social Services. After doing so, please reach out to our Designated Safeguarding Lead for local advice and support.
For further information or assistance, you can also contact:
ECB Safeguarding Team: 020 7432 1200 / safeguarding@cricketregulator.co.uk
NSPCC: 0808 800 5000
Childline: 0800 1111 / www.childline.org.uk
For more details, visit www.ecb.co.uk.