Research into the effect of child protection on volunteering
It is often claimed that modern safeguarding measures deter volunteers from coming forward to help out with junior sport. However, according to a report commissioned by sportscotland, Children 1st and the Scottish Sports Association into the effect of child protection on volunteering, support for child protection policies and procedures is high amongst the voluntary sector.
The report interviewed nearly 1000 volunteers, club representatives and other stakeholders in sport, asking them questions to establish the impact of child protection legislation and good practice guidance on people volunteering to work with children and young people in sport in Scotland.
The main findings:
- Challenged the perception that Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checks present a barrier to volunteers.
- Suggested that there is a danger that an emphasis on CRB checks distracts from attention to the wider issues involved in safeguarding
- Expressed concern that there is a tendency for clubs to only put the minimum of safeguards in place rather than follow good practice guidance to protect their operations.
- Those interviewed felt that lack of time and a feeling that they lacked the necessary skills were more relevant factors in preventing volunteers from taking part in junior sport.
Volunteers expressed a need to gain more information about the area of child protection, including reporting procedures and legal issues. Only 5% of clubs involved in the research reported having a code of conduct for volunteers. These two areas are of particular concern to Children in Golf, and have been addressed in the Guidelines for Safeguarding Children in Golf that are available at www.childreningolf.org. Sample codes of conduct and information about where to report concerns about children’s welfare or adults behaviour are available in the Guidelines. The Guidelines also give advice regarding meeting a club’s duty of care towards young people using its facilities.
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