Polish Anglers Association – Child Protection Policy

1. Polish Anglers Association (hereinafter: PAA) will give equal priority to keeping all children and young people participating in club activities safe regardless of their age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.

2. We believe everyone has a responsibility to promote the welfare of all children and young people, to keep them safe and to practise in a way that protects them.

3. The PAA will:

• • • Accept the moral and legal responsibility to implement procedures to provide a duty of care for young people, safeguard their wellbeing and protect them from abuse.
    • Respect and promote the rights, wishes and feelings of young people.
    • Train and supervise their members and officials so as to adopt best practice to safeguard.
    • Protect young people from abuse, and themselves against allegations of abuse.
    • Require all members to adopt and abide by the Club’s Child Protection Policy and Procedures.
    • Respond to any complaints about poor practice or allegations of abuse.

4. Overall responsibility for child protection will be assumed by the PAA Youth Council.

5. Principles.

The guidance given in the procedures is based on the following principles:

• • • This policy recognises and builds on the legal and statutory definitions of a child.
    • A young person is recognised as being under the age of 18 years (Children’s Act 1989 definition).
    • An adult has the moral and statutory duty for the care, custody and control of any child under the age of 18 under their supervision.
    • The child’s welfare is paramount.
    • All young people, whatever their age, culture, any disability they may have, gender, language, racial origin, religious belief and sexual identity have the right to protection from abuse.
    • All incidents of poor practice or suspicions of poor practice and allegations of abuse will.
    • Be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately.
    • All young people have the right to participate in the sport of pike angling in an enjoyable and safe environment.
    • Young people have the right to expect appropriate support in accordance with their personal and social development with regard to their involvement in the sport of angling.
    • It is the particular responsibility of the child protection experts and agencies to determine whether or not abuse has taken place, but it is everyone’s responsibility to report any concerns.
    • Confidentiality should be upheld in line with the Data Protection Act 1998 and the Human Rights Act 2000.

Working in partnership with young people, their parents and other agencies is essential for the protection of young people. While the PAA Club recognises the statutory responsibility of Children’s Social Care Services to ensure the welfare of young people to comply with its procedures, child protection has a broader remit within the sport of angling. All those involved in the management of young people in the sport have a duty to ensure that they are:

• • • Allowed access to the sport in a way that is appropriate for their age and ability.
    • Coached and trained by appropriately qualified staff.
    • Not required to participate in so many competitions, or to attend training sessions, as to become a threat to their wellbeing.
    • Not placed in situations where there is a threat to their wellbeing from the environment.
    • Not subjected to any form of discriminatory abuse from any source.
    • Not subjected to bullying or undue pressure from any source.
    • Encouraged to achieve their full potential at all levels.
    • Instructed how to behave around water-based venues.
    • Afforded respect, confidentiality and privacy in a competing and training situation and any other angling environment.

6. Implementation:

The PAA Club Child Protection Policy and Procedures shall be adopted by the following:

• • • The PAA Club committee, it’s officials and its members.
    • All other bodies working at events organised by the PAA Club to provide opportunities for children and young people up to the age of 18 within the sport of angling in the UK. 

7. Assent.

All individuals involved in the sport of angling under the jurisdiction of the PAA Club at every level including participants, officials, instructors/coaches, administrators and club officials:

• • • Agree to abide by the PAA Code of Conduct and Ethics. 
    • All such individuals, by participating or being involved in angling, are deemed to have assented to and as such recognise and adhere to the principles and responsibilities embodied in the Code.

8. Child Protection Regulations.

The Child Protection Regulations shall be incorporated in the constitution of the PAA Club and shall be enforced by the club’s disciplinary process under existing Disciplinary Rules.

9. Monitoring procedures.

The PAA Club Child Protection Policy and Procedures will be monitored annually and a full policy review will take every three years. The following situations may also evoke a review of the policy:

• • • Any changes in legislation.
    • Any changes in governance of the sport.
    • The result of a significant case.

10. The policy and procedures will be widely promoted and are mandatory for everyone involved in the Club (PAA). Failure to comply with the policy and procedures will be addressed without delay and may ultimately result in dismissal/exclusion from the organisation.

11. The PAA Youth Council has responsibility for ensuring that the policy and procedures are implemented, including taking any appropriate disciplinary action necessary.

12. The PAA Club Welfare Officer has responsibility for responding to any allegations, concerns or child protection incidents, passing information to the appropriate National Governing Body Lead Child Protection Officer and informing the appropriate club staff.

13. No photographs of Junior Match entrants shall be taken without the express permission of the Parent/Guardian at the time of the match or event. Permission can only be given in writing on the Club’s Parental Consent Form.

14. Parents have a responsibility to work together with the club in implementing procedures and providing their children with the necessary information to safeguard themselves.