Safeguarding in climbing
Climbing is an awesome sport that can have a very positive influence on young people, especially when activities are led by people who place children’s welfare first.
The ClimbScotland team take safeguarding very seriously, with the aim of ensuring that young people stay safe and have fun while taking part in climbing. Read our policy below and find out where to go for further information, guidance or training if you are a volunteer, instructor, coach or official, working within the sport of climbing.
10 Steps to Safeguarding Children in Sport
The 10 Steps are a collection of guidelines, good practice, practical advice, template procedures and policies – all tools which can help keep children safe in sport.
They:
- are for any club, sports governing body or organisation providing activities for children under 18 years
- can be used to look at what you already have in place, confirm the positives and identify gaps
- can help a new member of staff or volunteer taking on the role of a child wellbeing and protection officer to understand the range of responsibilities, procedures and guidelines
The 10 Steps are inclusive of the minimum operating requirements for protecting children in sport. They also take account of updated child protection guidance, practice and legislation.
View the
10 Steps here.
Child Wellbeing and Protection Officers
Here you will find out more information about the roles and responsiblities of Child Wellbeing and Protection Officers in clubs.Child Protection Policy
Mountaineering Scotland recognises that child protection is every member’s responsibility and that we should safeguard all children involved in youth climbing activities organised by staff or volunteers. All members have a right to protection, and Mountaineering Scotland’s policy is inclusive and takes full account of the needs of able-bodied and disabled children, and others who may be vulnerable.
>> Full details of our policy and the related proceduresSafeguarding and Protecting Children Training
Sportscotland provide the first steps in child protection training called 'Child Wellbeing and Protection in Sport' (CWPS), which are perfect for volunteers, coaches and instructors working with young people or vulnerable adults. Module 1 is theory based eLearning and Module 2, a 3 hour face-to-face scenario based learning. The main change from SPC is that each learner booked onto a CWPO course MUST completed Module 1 before attending the face-to-face Module 2. The CWPS eLearning Module 1 can be found via this
link.
Further training and advice
We work closely with '
Children 1st' who support volunteers and staff in sports organisations across Scotland to keep children safe by providing advice, consultancy and training on the development and implementation of child protection policies, procedures and good practice.
>> Find out more about what they offerMembership of the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme for clubs
Volunteers, instructors, coaches, helpers, chaperones or officials working with children and young people within clubs and who undertake regulated work are required to have PVG Scheme membership. We can apply for scheme membership on behalf of members of affiliated clubs through an arrangement with
Volunteer Scotland. Club office bearers are responsible for ensuring they recruit volunteers using appropriate procedures and that volunteers undertaking regulated work with children apply for PVG Scheme membership. Applying for PVG Scheme membership is free for volunteers in affiliated clubs.
PVG membership is unique to an individual working or volunteering for a specific organisation, and cannot be transferred to another organisation. An individual holding PVG membership who applies for a position involving regulated work with a new or different organisation (such as a club) must apply for an update to their existing PVG membership in order for membership of the scheme to be valid for the new or different organisation.
>> Contact us to apply for PVG Scheme membership at
info@mountaineering.scot>> Find out more about the PVG scheme on the Disclosure Scotland websiteAdvice on bullying
'Respectme' work with all adults involved in the lives of children and young people to give them the practical skills and confidence to deal with children who are bullied and those who bully others.
>> For more infoContact the Mountaineering Scotland Child Wellbeing and Protection Officer
If you have any queries or concerns regarding the safeguarding of children and vulnerable groups in climbing, then please contact Child Wellbeing and Protection Officer Jamie Smith (ClimbScotland - Development Manager) at
jamie@mountaineering.scot