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Safeguarding Policy

Description of Dishforth Community Association

To promote for the benefit of the inhabitants of Dishforth and the surrounding area the provision of facilities or other leisure time occupation of individuals who have need of such facilities by reason of their youth, age, infirmity or disablement, financial hardship or social and economic circumstances or the public at large in the interests of social welfare and with the object of improving the condition of life of the said inhabitants.

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Introduction

Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility.

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The Dishforth Community Association (DCA) is responsible, on behalf of Dishforth Parish Council, for the hire and upkeep of Dishforth Sports Ground, MUGA pitch and Sports Pavilion/Village Hall.

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DCA recognises its duty to establish a safeguarding policy that ensures all users and hirers of the facilities understand their obligation to protect children, young people, and vulnerable adults.

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The Sports Ground, MUGA pitch and Sports Pavilion/Village Hall are accessible to all members of the local and neighbouring communities, including children, young people, and vulnerable adults.

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Purpose and context

Every child and vulnerable adult have the right to protection from harm.

DCA is dedicated to protecting and promoting the welfare of all facility users, implementing measures to ensure their safety and well-being.

DCA holds policies in regard safe recruitment and selection of paid staff and volunteers, Code of Behaviour and Whistle Blowing and any policy brought into recognise any necessary legalisation development.

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This policy is;

  • made available to all trustees and everyone who books the hall for any activity

  • in place to protect all vulnerable persons regardless of gender, ethnicity, disability, sexuality, religion or faith

  • to protect young people and vulnerable adults who attend or participate in activities and events in the Sports Ground, MUGA pitch and Sports Pavilion/Village Hall

  •  to provide hirers, staff and volunteers, as well as children and young people and their families, with the overarching principles that guide our approach to safeguarding and child protection.

 

Definitions

Children and young people are defined as those persons aged under 18 years old. This policy will apply to all hirers, staff, contractors and volunteers and will be used to support their work.

 

Vulnerable Adult: A person aged 18 years or over who is or may be in need of community care services by reason of mental or another disability, age or illness and who is or may be unable to take care of him or herself, or unable to protect him or herself against significant harm or exploitation.’

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Procedures

All members of the committee will work together to promote a culture that enables issues about safeguarding and promoting welfare to be addressed.

A copy of the policy will be displayed for the attention of all in the Pavilion and the Dishforth Village website and will be made available as part of any hire agreement.

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All Trustees and volunteers will be required to sign and acknowledge this policy and child protection and vulnerable adult issues.

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All meetings will have safeguarding on the agenda.

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An annual review will be conducted as part of the Annual General Meeting (AGM) or as mandated by legislation to accommodate any necessary updates to policies and procedures. It is essential that new trustees receive an induction on this policy and fully comprehend their responsibilities.

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Trustees will endeavour to keep safe the Sports Ground, MUGA pitch and Sports Pavilion/Village Hall for use by children and vulnerable adults. 

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The Trustees recognise that a higher standard of safety is required where use is made by small children, those who cannot read safety notices and physically disabled children and adults.

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Access to the Sports Ground, MUGA pitch and Sports Pavilion/Village Hall will be granted only to contractors approved by the Dishforth Community Association.

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Contractors will not be permitted unsupervised access when the facilities are reserved for children or vulnerable adults. If needed, proper supervision will be arranged.

 

Groups and individuals hiring the Sports Ground, MUGA pitch and Sports Pavilion/Village Hall are responsible for their own safeguarding arrangements and will follow the following;

  • Dishforth Community Association’s responsibility is to ensure that anyone who runs events or activities specifically for Children, Young People or Vulnerable Adults have the appropriate levels of disclosure, supervision and training.

  • Formal clubs, companies and associations are required to present their Safeguarding policy in order to confirm their booking. 

  • Private hirers—defined as individuals or groups booking the facility for non-commercial private events—must sign the booking agreement, confirming that they have reviewed the Dishforth Community Association Safeguarding Policy.

  • Organisations hiring the hall for activities specifically involving vulnerable adults will be asked to show their Vulnerable Adults Protection Policy before their first booking commences. 

  • Other organisations or individuals hiring the Hall whose activities may involve vulnerable adults will be made aware of this policy dated 18th March 2025.
     

If more than one hirer might use the premises/grounds at the same time, the attention of hirers will be drawn to the need to ensure that children and vulnerable adults are supervised when using toilets.

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Should the provision of alcohol be offered free of charge or sold under the hiring agreement, appropriate clauses must be included for all engagements involving licensable activities. The Trustees will ensure these provisions are observed when holding licensable activities themselves. The Trustees will ensure that hirers are made aware of their obligations under the Licensing Act 2003 (or any dated Act after this) to ensure that alcohol is not sold to those under the age of 18.

 

The Trustees will require hirers to report any damage, breakages or safety issues needing attention to the booking secretary, who will inform the appropriate people. 

 

Recruitment and Selection of Paid Staff and Volunteers

It is to be noted that all trustees and associated volunteers are not paid. This is in place should contractors or staff be required.

 

Dishforth Community Association is committed to carrying out the relevant DBS checks for any Dishforth Community Association linked staff or volunteers who have regulated activities or unsupervised contact with Children, Young People and/or Vulnerable Adults.

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Hiring companies or individuals - It is the responsibility of any employer offering services, entertainment, or any form of interaction with young people or vulnerable adults to ensure that a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check is in place for all individuals who will have contact with these groups.  This is not the responsibility of the trustees to check. It is the responsibility of the parent and carers using the services offered by those hiring the pavilion, sports ground or MUGA pitch.

 

All Trustees will be given legalisation and updates about child protection and will be encouraged to attend appropriate Child Protection and Protection of Vulnerable Adults training where possible.

Disclosures and incidents

 

A Trustee will be nominated to be responsible for vulnerable persons matters to whom any suspicions or concerns should be reported.

If anyone is at immediate risk or harm, safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility and the police should be contacted immediately by dialling 999 and not delayed by awaiting contact with Designated Safeguarding Lead.

All safeguarding related incidents or allegations of abuse against a child will be taken seriously and dealt with speedily and appropriately.

Dishforth Community Association are committed to working in connection with the Police, local safeguarding multi agencies and the disclosure and barring service in accordance with regulations.

 

The trustees have a protocol to deal with a disclosure as outlined by the Designated Safeguarding Lead.

 

If you witness or are aware of an incident where the welfare of a child has been put at risk you must contact the Designated Safeguarding Lead for Dishforth Community Association. Sarah Lynch – Telephone 0779 2253944 (Contact method changed once full website and emails are set up)

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All disclosures must be promptly reported to the Designated Safeguarding Lead for Dishforth Community Association and shared where appropriate with the hirer’s safeguarding lead.

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If a safeguarding incident is identified Dishforth Community Association will inform if necessary the police and multi agencies. When appropriate, responsible adults—such as parents, guardians, or caregivers—will be informed, unless doing so would pose a risk of harm to the individual making the disclosure. This decision will be determined by the Designated Safeguarding Lead.

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If an incident involves Trustees of the Dishforth Community Association, please make contact with North Yorkshire County Council.

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Signed

S Lynch

Designated Safeguarding Lead

Dated 18/03/2025

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NOTE: We may change this Safeguarding policy from time to time. This may be necessary, for example, if the law changes, or if we change our organisation in a way that affects our responsibility for matters relating to Safeguarding.

 

Any changes will be immediately posted on our site and you will be deemed to have accepted the terms of the Privacy Policy on your first use of our site following the alterations. We recommend that you check this page regularly to keep up to date.

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Policy number 04SP_v1  Date 18/03/2025

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