SAFEGUARDING UPDATE - APRIL 2020

Date: 29th April 2020

When cricket returns, in a post-COVID-19 time, ECB will be launching these initiatives and will keep you updated on these as they go live.

http:// https://ecb-comms.co.uk/1FT6-6U9JQ-5D1FNAAF0C/cr.aspx

Cricket is a game that unites communities and inspires generations and more than ever it has a role to play in this uncertain and unsettling COVID-19 time.

As we continue to work towards delivering Inspiring Generations, we must ensure that the game is sustainable and that we mitigate against other risks that the game faces. When cricket returns, we expect more players, volunteers, clubs and officials to be taking part that ever before. The introduction of the online Safe Hands Online Management System will strengthen our network and continue to make cricket a safe game for young people, their families and all those around them to enjoy.

When cricket returns, in a post-COVID-19 time, we will be launching the initiatives below and we will keep you updated on these as they go live.

SAFE HANDS ONLINE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

This system will provide an online registration process whereby the ECB will require all cricket clubs to register the details of the club and individuals in key roles or those with responsibilities for the management and running of club activities.

Clubs will be asked to complete basic details about their club and who are the key personnel within it, providing evidence of safeguarding checks and compliance. It will then notify users if there are any current gaps in the requirements, together with highlighting individual’s renewal dates for the key criteria such as DBS checks and Safe Hands training,.

As part of the registration process, clubs will be required to demonstrate that they continue adhere to the following:

All clubs must meet safeguarding standards.
The club must adhere to the ECB Safe Hands Policy and Procedures.
Each club must have a trained Club Welfare Officer.
All adults who work with children at the club have must have current vetting and an ECB DBS check in place.
All adults who work with children in cricket must have undertaken the appropriate ECB training. Details will be shared in due course.

We will also make it easier for those who need to have DBS checks, safeguarding training and other qualifications to access everything they need.

What this means for Clubs:

The online registration process will apply to both Clubmark and non-Clubmark clubs and we will roll out registration in a phased approach with three groups in the following order of priority

Existing Clubmark accredited clubs
Clubs with junior sections (including All Stars Cricket & Dynamos Cricket), and those clubs who allow juniors to play adult cricket.
All remaining clubs

We will email clubs individually when registration is available. Where clubs have already given us some information, we will look to pre-populate the fields in order that you do not have to re-enter it.

GAME WIDE INSURANCE

We are delighted to announce we have partnered with Howden Insurance Brokers to arrange a Combined Liability Insurance package for the benefit of clubs who have registered all details on the Safe Hands online portal and completed an online risk assessment. The policy covers Public Liability, Employers Liability, Professional Indemnity, Directors & Officers and Cyber Liability.

Click here to learn more about what this insurance specifically includes.

In this period before Safe Hands registration opens, we recommend that clubs continue with their current provider. If your insurance is up for renewal, Howden will be happy to discuss options with you.

CRICKET CHARITY AND DEFIBRILLATORS

The Club Cricket Charity and ECB are delighted to announce that the Second Phase of its Defibrillator Supply project is now available to cricket clubs and organisations. The Club Cricket Charity is the charitable arm of the National Cricket Conference.

The offer is for the supply of a portable AED unit at a cost of £500, or, if required, the unit and a self-monitoring mounted cabinet for £915. The Club Cricket Charity will pay the difference on behalf of ECB. This highly discounted offer includes training, insurance cover for loss or damage as well as personal liability, stress counselling post event, and registration with local emergency services.

The offer is fulfilled by The Community Heartbeat Trust under their ‘Managed Solution’ scheme which was successfully deployed during 2018 with 104 clubs and teams receiving portable units.

A cardiac arrest (the stoppage of the heart muscle) can be triggered by many factors: a heart attack; an undiagnosed heart condition; a ball hitting batsman or fielder in the chest or on the head. It can affect any age group from teenage to pensioner, and all between; player and spectator alike. This can be fatal if treatment is not commenced within five minutes of the collapse of the patient.

Many cricket teams play on cricket fields where professional help may not arrive within this very short timescale, but there is a potential solution by using the portable defibrillator - which gives an electric shock to ‘reboot’ the heart - whilst awaiting professional help.

The wall mounted cabinet is the latest design which automatically monitors and remotely reports the readiness of the unit for use while also recording its usage.

We all hope that this piece of equipment never needs to be used, but there is ample evidence that it saves lives.

To reply to this offer please initially send a request for an application form to enquiries@theclubcricketcharity.org giving the name of your club and its rough location. The process should take no more than three weeks to fulfil for delivery, then an appointment will be arranged for the training session.

We look forward to working with you and sharing further details of the above. We encourage you to share this email with others within your clubs, especially those who have roles that relate to the safety and safeguarding of players, members and volunteers.