Safeguarding

This describes our approach to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults.

We recognize:

• The need to promote the welfare and interests of adults in all circumstances.

• That all adults should have the opportunity to take part in paddlesports, regardless of age, ability or disability, gender reassignment, marriage/civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.

• That people should be able to take part in paddlesport and engage with paddlesport clubs safely and without experiencing or fearing any form of bullying, harassment, discrimination or abuse.

• Everyone should have a positive, enjoyable experience in our sport in a safe and inclusive environment.

• Everybody involved in paddlesports has a duty of care to safeguard and protect children and adults, both inside and outside our sport.

Under 18s

We do not work with under 18s in delivery of Paddle UK courses.

We will make it clear in course descriptions that courses are for over 18s only and ask participants to confirm that they are over 18 during the booking process.

Vulnerable adults

The Care Act (2014) states that safeguarding duties apply to Adults at risk and defines this as those who:

• Have needs for care and support (whether or not the local authority is meeting any of those needs) and

• Are experiencing, or at risk of, abuse or neglect; and

• As a result of those care and support needs are unable to protect themselves from either the risk of, or the experience of abuse or neglect.

A key difference between safeguarding children and adults is an adult’s right to self-determination. Ultimately, an adult may choose not to act at all to protect themselves.

Abuse may take a variety of forms, including sexual abuse, psychological abuse, self-neglect, physical abuse, domestic abuse, organisational abuse, financial/material abuse, neglect, discriminatory abuse or modern slavery.

When delivering course, we will be alert to possible indicators of abuse, such as:

• Significant changes in behavior - e.g. low self-esteem, becoming withdrawn / quiet, isolating themselves, fear, defensiveness, changes in relationship to others (e.g. carers / relatives / family members), not wanting to go home, become aggressive, changes in sexual behavior / attitude, changes in appetite or weight.

• Unexplained changes in living conditions - e.g. inability to pay bills or maintain lifestyle / heating / clothing / meals, unkempt appearance, unusual interest shown by others in the person’s assets, no identification documents held, other adults appearing to have control over them, little or no autonomy with their finances.

• Unexplained/Unlikely/Inconsistent explanations of injuries / indicators, e.g: consistent untreated injuries or health issues, marks on body, difficulty in walking / sitting, fractures, pregnancy / STDs.

If we suspect abuse or are party to any disclosure or sharing of concerns, we will, as soon as possible, make a confidential record or the concerns. We must have the adult’s consent before we report any concerns unless:

• Reporting the concerns is necessary to protect others

• Not intervening will cause further harm to the individual

• (If the adult lacks the capacity to make the decision) - we will assume that the adult does have this capacity, unless we have been specifically advised otherwise

• the adult at risk is subject to coercion or undue influence, to the extent that they are unable to give consent

• A crime may have been committed

We will report concerns:

• When working under the auspices of Cambridge Canoe Club - to one of the club’s welfare officers. The welfare officers are currently Patrick Mortiboy and Blanca San-Miguel. They can be contacted via welfare@cambridgecanoeclub.org.uk

• When not working under the auspices of a club, or if the concern is urgent, to the Paddle UK Safeguarding Team, contactable by email at safeguarding@paddleuk.org.uk and by phone at 0115 8655354.

• In cases where there is immediate danger, to the police or ambulance service using 999

We will keep the person informed about what we plan to do and why whenever this is possible.

Compliance

In order to ensure that we meet our obligations with respect to safeguarding we will:

• Follow safeguarding policies of both Paddle UK and Cambridge Canoe Club

• Undertake regular safeguarding training, as mandated by Paddle Uk for active coaches

• Ensure that anyone we work with in the delivery of our course are aware of this policy and have undertaken Paddle UK’s on-line safeguarding training