Draycott & Hanbury Cricket Club

Anti-bullying Policy

Draycott & Hanbury Cricket Club are committed to providing a caring, friendly and safe environment for all of our children so they can train, and play, in a relaxed and secure atmosphere. Bullying of any kind is unacceptable at our club.

If bullying does occur, all children should be able to tell, and know, incidents will be dealt with promptly and effectively. We are a telling club. This means anyone who knows bullying is happening is expected to tell someone who can do something about it.

Objectives of this policy

  • All adults and children at the club should have an understanding of what bullying is
  • All officials, coaching and non-coaching staff should know what the club policy is on bullying, and follow it when bullying is reported

What is bullying?

Bullying is the use of aggression with the intention of hurting another person. Bullying results in pain and distress to the victim.

Bullying can take many forms:

  • Emotional: being unfriendly, excluding, tormenting (for example: hiding kit, or making threatening gestures)
  • Physical: pushing, kicking, hitting, punching or any use of violence
  • Racist: racial taunts, graffiti and/or gestures
  • Sexual: unwanted physical contact or sexually abusive comments
  • Homophobic: because of, or focusing on, the issue of sexuality
  • Verbal: name-calling, sarcasm, spreading rumours and teasing
  • Cyber: bullying behaviour online or via electronic communication (email and text, social media etc.) Misuse of associated technology, such as camera and video facilities

Signs and Symptoms

A child may indicate by signs or behaviour that he or she is being bullied. These may include a child:

  • Saying they are being bullied
  • Changing their usual routine
  • Unwilling to go to the club
  • Becoming withdrawn anxious, or lacking in confidence
  • Having possessions which are damaged or “go missing”
  • Having unexplained cuts or bruises
  • Being frightened to say what is wrong
  • Giving improbable excuses for any of the above
  • These signs and behaviours could indicate other problems, but bullying should be considered a possibility and should be investigated.

Why is it important to respond to bullying?

Bullying hurts. No one should be a victim of bullying. Everyone has the right to be treated with respect. Children who are bullying also need to learn different ways of behaving.

We, Draycott & Hanbury Cricket Club, have a responsibility to respond promptly, and effectively, to issues of bullying.

  • All children and parents should know what the club policy is on bullying, and what they should do if bullying arises
  • As a club, we take bullying seriously. Children and parents should be assured they will be supported when bullying is reported

Procedures

  1. Report bullying incidents to the Club Welfare Officer
  2. In cases of serious bullying, the incidents will be reported to the ECB Child Protection Team for advice via the County Welfare Officer
  3. Parents will be informed and will be asked to come in to a meeting to discuss the problem
  4. If necessary and appropriate, police will be consulted
  5. Bullying behaviour or threats of bullying will be investigated and the bullying stopped quickly
  6. An attempt will be made to help the bully to change their behaviour

In cases of adults reported to be bullying cricketers under the age of 18, the ECB will be informed and will advise on action to be taken.

Bullying will not be tolerated

Date Reviewed: January 2024

Next Review Due: January 2025