Curve Welfare and Safeguarding Policy
Purpose
We want Curve to be a club where everyone enjoys playing ultimate. To do this we need to ensure everyone feels safe and welcome. This is the responsibility of everyone in our club.
We have laid out how we aim to do this in our Equity Statement and Constitution. These make reference to UK Ultimate (UKU) and World Flying Disc Federation (WFDF) rules, including the Spirit of the Game (SOTG).
This document brings together the relevant sections of our existing policies so it can be easily referred to by anyone who has a welfare or safeguarding concern.
Equity at Curve
Curve strives to create a welcoming environment for anyone interested in playing ultimate, regardless of experience. At training sessions, games, and tournaments, we try to model the spirit of the game in every way possible and encourage participation by everyone. We believe equality and diversity are essential to this goal and to growing the sport of ultimate in London and the UK. To this end, we are supporting initiatives in our club including:
- No tolerance of any kind of discriminatory language or behaviour, in particular about someone’s ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion;
- Instilling trust in every member of the team so all players are involved in the play;
- Including and encouraging diversity into the sport and into leadership positions within the team, with special focus on underrepresented groups;
- Establishing expectations regarding equality with participating players at the beginning of every season;
- Cooperating with and encouraging other teams and the UKU to promote equality and diversity across the sport;
- Using non-gendered terms when describing plays and strategies;
- When training as split gender groups, players can participate in either group no matter their gender, gender identity, or sex.
Expectations of members and players
The Club is committed to encouraging the highest ethical and competitive standards. All individuals involved in the Club should conduct themselves with integrity, transparency and accountability, in keeping with the Spirit of the Game that traditionally has guided players in the sport of Ultimate. [Curve Constitution, 2.2]
Actions such as intentional fouling, cheating, dangerous plays, disrespectful conversations, and other ‘win at all costs’ behaviour are contrary to the Spirit of the Game. … As Ultimate is a self-refereed sport, maintaining Spirit of the Game is essential. Players must know the rules, be fair-minded and truthful, explain their viewpoint clearly and briefly, allow opponents a reasonable chance to speak and resolve disputes as quickly as possible, using respectful language. [WFDF Spirit of the Game explanation]
Membership to the Club will be open to players of any skill and experience level, provided they are considered to demonstrate the qualities and behaviours outlined [above]. [Curve Constitution, 3.1]
Membership will be open to all interested individuals who are willing to be bound by the terms of this constitution and the regulations of the bodies as listed [above]. [Curve Constitution, 3.3]
What to do if you feel someone is not meeting these expectations
- If you feel comfortable to: raise your concern with them, explaining how their behaviour is making you feel, and reminding them of our club expectations.
- If you are not comfortable to do this, or you have and the situation has not been resolved: let one of the Welfare and Safeguarding Officers know (contact details below), or speak to another member of the Committee.
- They will follow the process below.
What happens if someone does not meet these expectations?
Membership will be governed by the Executive Committee. Should they have cause for concern over the conduct of any member, they will (in most circumstances) issue a warning (which may be verbal) to the member, stating the unacceptable behaviour and steps needed to improve. Should this improvement not occur within a reasonable time frame, the Executive Committee may relieve the individual of their membership and request that they do not attend Club events for a given period.
In cases of extreme misconduct, the relieving of membership may be carried out by any individual member of the Executive Committee (acting independently of the Committee) without a warning being given. However, in such cases, the individual will have the opportunity to appeal to the Executive Committee to have the decision withdrawn. [Curve Constitution, 3.4 & 3.5]
Safeguarding
Safeguarding is specifically to do with how we protect young people, and anyone else at risk, from abuse.
Where we have any under-18s playing with us, we require, either:
- A named parent/guardian/nominated adult to be present and have responsibility for them.
- Written permission from their parent/guardian that they are able to play with us, and contact between a responsible person at the Club (usually a WSO or the Club President) and the parent/guardian.
If you have any concerns relating to the Safeguarding of children or vulnerable adults that you come into contact with at this Ultimate club you will need the following contact information. Please use it IMMEDIATELY.
Club Designated Safeguarding Officers
Name: Leah Sier (in white top), Asher Jacobsberg (in blue top)
Tel: +44 7989 497 491 (Asher)
Email: welfare@curveultimate.co.uk (checked by Leah and Asher)
UK Ultimate
UK Ultimate: Contact Joe Wyatt or Simon Hill
Tel: 0844 8045949, Email: safeguarding@ukultimate.com
Contacts outside Ultimate and outside the club
In general, it is most appropriate to contact a local organisation
Social Services: Hackney MASH (Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub) – 0208 356 6956 – MASH@hackney.gov.uk
UK Police: 101 if the person is not in imminent danger, 999 if they are.
National Organisations
- NSPCC Child Protection Helpline: 0808 800 5000
- Child Protection in Sport Unit, England: 0116 366 5590, cpsu@nspcc.org.uk
Future actions
- Review this policy annually at the AGM.
- Formally adopt a full safeguarding policy at our 2024 AGM.
- Remind everyone of our Welfare and Safeguarding procedures at all Curve events.