Child Protection Policy

Andover Swimming and Water Polo Club has a duty of care to safeguard all children involved in Andover Swimming and Water Polo Club from harm. All children have the right to protection, and the needs of disabled children and others who may be particularly vulnerable must be taken into account. Andover Swimming and Water Polo Club will ensure the safety and protection of all children involved in the Club through adherence to the Child Protection guidelines adopted by Andover Swimming and Water Polo Club.

A child is defined as a person under the age of 18 (The Children Act 1989).

Abuse generally takes one of four main types; Sexual, Physical, Emotional and Neglect. Abuse can occur anywhere there are children - at home, at school, in the park, at the club. In Andover Swimming and Water Polo Club we believe that the welfare of children is everyone’s responsibility, particularly when it comes to protecting children from abuse. Everyone in swimming - administrator, club official, coach, parent, friend, children themselves, everyone - can help.

Policy Aims

The aim of the Andover Swimming and Water Polo Club Child Protection Policy is to promote good practice:

  • Providing children and young people with appropriate safety and protection whilst in the care of Andover Swimming and Water Polo Club
  • Allow all staff/volunteers to make informed and confident responses to specific child protection issues.

Good Practice Which Can Help to Prevent Child Abuse

  • Avoid situations where teacher/coach/ club official and child are alone. One to one contact must never be allowed to occur on a regular basis
  • Ascertain the child’s and the parent’s/carer’s views about manual support for children who need this kind of help particularly when they are in the water.
  • If it’s necessary to do things of a personal nature for children who are young or who are disabled, make sure you have another adult accompanying you. Get the child’s consent if at all possible and certainly get consent from the parent/carer. Let the child know what you are going to do and why.
  • Ask parents/carers and/or nominated officials to be responsible for children in changing rooms.
  • Ensure that male and female teachers/coaches/club officials always accompany mixed teams
    • .
  • Don’t allow any physically rough or sexually provocative games, or inappropriate talking or touching by anyone, in any group for which you have responsibility.
  • In competitions and galas, look out for people who don’t appear to be relatives or friends of children who are swimming but, nevertheless, seem to spend a lot of time videoing or photographing them.

If You Have Concerns about the Welfare of a Child

Please remember that it’s not your responsibility to decide whether a child is being abused but we are asking you to act on your concerns. Make a detailed note of what you’ve seen or heard but don’t delay passing on the information.

If you are a member, or the parent/carer or friend of a member of the Andover Swimming and Water Polo Club, you should –

  • Tell Club Welfare Officer, Club Secretary, Chair or Coach (unless, of course, you suspect them of being involved) OR
  • Ring Swim Line on 0808 100 4001 – Swim Line is the ASA’s own Helpline where you can talk to someone who understands both swimming and the requirements of child protection. If you need urgent advice you have the option to transfer to the NSPCC Child Protection helpline OR
  • Contact the local Social Services Department or, in an emergency, the Police.

If a Child Tells You That He or She is Being Abused

  • React calmly so as not to frighten or deter them
  • Reassure them that you are glad that they told you
  • Don’t promise to keep it to yourself
  • Explain that you need to make sure that they will be safe and may have to pass on the information to someone trusted to deal with it appropriately
  • Listen to what the child says and, please, take it seriously
  • Only ask questions if you need to clarify what the child is telling you – don’t ask the child about explicit details
  • Don’t ask leading questions – a leading question is one that pre-supposed the answer, eg. "Did Jim hit you?"
  • Make a detailed note of what the child has told you but please don’t delay passing on the information

If you require any further information on Child Protection issues, please contact the Club Welfare Officer – details can be found on the club notice board.

Download the Child Protection policy in PDF format.



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