Draft Child Protection Policy...

1.0 Livingston Battleground welcomes children to take part in the hobby.

1.1 Children are a part of the wargaming community and need to receive special support and protection.

1.2 Livingston Battleground accepts their responsibility towards children in general, and particularly those with whom we come into direct contact.

1.3 All children should be offered equal opportunity to take part in the hobby. No discrimination is tolerated on any grounds.

2.0 Abuse

2.1 Any abuse towards children or vulnerable adults, whether physical, psychological, or sexual, is totally unacceptable to Livingston Battleground. It will not be tolerated.

2.2 Complaints from or regarding the treatment of children or vulnerable adults will be treated with utmost seriousness and will be given fair investigation by the Livingston Battleground Council.

2.3 If Livingston Battleground fails in its duty to stop or protect against child abuse or the abuse of or vulnerable adults, it will not rbe recognised as amember of the 'Dices with Death' Network.

3.0 Child Protection

3.1 Livingston Battleground is fully committed to the protection of children from all forms of child abuse.

3.2 A minimum of one Council member and one nominated responsible adult will be in attendance at club meetings.

3.3 The Child Protection Policy forms the basis for the protection of children, which is the full responsibility of all Council members, club members and visitors.

3.4 Two nominated Council members will have responsibility for keeping up to date with all relevant best-practice child protection policy and legislation, and for disseminating this information to the rest of the Council.

3.5 Livingston Battleground is committed to encouraging a protective culture within the hobby to protect children.

4.0 Grievances

4.1 Livingston Battleground provides Club Rules and a Club Constitution that indicate the proper procedures for the running of the club and the participation in club-nights.

4.2 As part of the Club Constitution, Livingston Battleground operates a disagreement procedure. This is detailed in the Club Constitution section 10.

4.3 In addition, Livingston Battleground will uphold the following Grievance Procedure for issues arising from mental or physical abuse, most notably of children:

5.0 Abuse Grievance Procedure

5.1 Any accusation or report or suspicion of abuse between members or visitors at Livingston Battleground must be referred to the Club President.

5.2 If the Club President is unable to investigate the grievance, or if personally involved in it, the member must be referred to a relevant offical of the Lanthorn Community Education Centre.

5.3 If the grievance is deemed to be serious, the matter must be immediately referred to the police authorities for investigation.

5.4 Members of the Livingston Battleground Club will cooperate with the police investigation in any way that is reasonable.

5.5 The accused will have their membership suspended until the police investigation and any court proceedings are complete.

5.6 The complainant will be kept fully informed of the procedure and its various stages prior to and throughout the procedure.

5.7 If information of potential or suspected abuse that originates from outwith the confines of the Livingston Battleground Club environment comes to light the Council will have an obligation to take action through the appropriate authorities.

6.0 Club Officials Disclosure Scotland Checks

6.1 All Club Officials must submit themselves to Disclosure Scotland standard checks.

6.2 People unwilling to undergo these checks will not be permitted to act as a Livingston Battleground official and must not put themselves forward for election or appointment to any official position.

6.3 The full procedures of the Disclosure Scotland checks are available from www.disclosurescotland.co.uk

6.4 If an Official is deemed a threat to children or vulnerable adults through the Disclosure Scotland check they must immediately be suspended under the Club Constitution section 10.

6.5 Officials are allowed to continue their duties during the period which the Disclosure Scotland check is ongoing. They are to be considered in a probationary period.

6.6 Probationary Officials must always be accompanied by non-Probationary Officials until the Disclosure check is complete.

6.7 Once the Disclosure check clears an Official they become a non-Probationary Official


Version 1,02 February 2008