We are committed to providing a committed to providing a caring, friendly, and safe space for everyone to experience cricket in a friendly, secure, and enjoyable environment.

Bullying of any kind is unacceptable at our club. If bullying does occur, the person subjected to the bullying should be able to report it with confidence that incidents will be dealt with promptly and effectively. We encourage anyone who knows or suspects that bullying is happening to speak to our Club Safeguarding Officer.

All club staff and volunteers should know our policy on bullying and follow it when bullying is reported
All children and parents/carers should be aware of our policy on bullying and what they should do if bullying occurs
We take bullying seriously. Children and parents/carers should be assured they will be supported when bullying is reported

What is bullying?

Bullying is intentional behaviour that hurts someone else. It includes name calling, hitting, pushing, spreading rumours, threatening, or undermining someone. It can happen anywhere, including at home, at cricket or online. It is usually a repeated behaviour and can hurt someone both emotionally and physically. Bullying can be:

Emotional: being unfriendly, excluding, tormenting (hiding kit, threatening gestures, commenting negatively on performance).
Physical: pushing, kicking, hitting, punching or any use of violence.
Discriminatory: relating to someone’s protected characteristics
Sexual: unwanted physical contact or sexually abusive comments.
Verbal: name-calling, sarcasm, spreading rumours and teasing.
Online: via messages or social media.

Why is it important to respond to bullying?

Bullying hurts. No one deserves to be a victim of bullying. Everybody has the right to be treated with respect. In situations where children are bullying other children, this should be addressed immediately, and their behaviour discussed with their parents.

All members of our club and the cricket clubs associated to the ECB, have a responsibility to respond promptly and effectively to issues of bullying towards children.

Signs and symptoms

A person may indicate they are being bullied by signs or behaviour. You should speak with our Club Safeguarding Officer if someone:

Says they are being bullied
Changes their usual routine
Is unwilling to go to the club
Becomes withdrawn anxious, or lacking in confidence
Comes home with clothes torn or belongings damaged
Has possessions which are damaged or go missing
Asks for money or starts stealing money (to pay the bully)
Has unexplained cuts or bruises
Is frightened to say what’s wrong
Gives improbable excuses for any of the above

In more extreme cases, a victim of bullying may:

Display anxious behaviours
Cry themselves to sleep at night or has nightmares
Become uncharacteristically aggressive, disruptive, or unreasonable
Bully other people or siblings
Stop eating
Self-harm
Attempt or threaten suicide
Run away.

These signs and behaviours could indicate other problems, but bullying is a possibility and should be investigated.

Reporting & Responding

Report any concerns about bullying bullying incidents to the Club Safeguarding Officer straight away.
The bullying behaviour or threats of bullying will be investigated thoroughly.
A plan will be implemented to support the victim whilst this investigation is ongoing. If the alleged bully is a child, consideration will be given to what support they might need.
In cases of serious bullying, the incidents may be reported to Safeguarding Team. The Club Safeguarding Officer will discuss this with the County Safeguarding Officer.
If the bullying relates to a child, then parents should be informed and will be asked to come to a meeting to discuss.
If necessary and appropriate, the police will be consulted.
An attempt will be made to help the bully understand and address their bullying behaviour and how it impacts others.

In cases of adults reported to be bullying children, the County Safeguarding Officer will always be informed and will advise on the action to be taken.

Prevention

We will use KIDSCAPE methods to help children prevent bullying. As and when appropriate, these may include:

Writing a set of club rules
Signing a behaviour contract
Having discussions about bullying and why it matters.

This policy is based on guidance provided to schools by KIDSCAPE, a voluntary organisation committed to helping prevent child bullying. Kidscape also have a Parent Advice Line.

Childline also offer advice on bullying and can be called for free on 0800 1111.
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For further information, please contact our Club Safeguarding Officer Michael Chadwick.