Child Protection Guidelines
Guidelines for Tower Captains on Child Protection
These guidelines have been prepared for tower captains and for those who teach children to ring. Reference has been made to the guidelines issued by the Diocese of St. Albans, 'Youth In Our Care' and to advice published in 'The Ringing World'.
It is very important that all those who have dealings with children take the issue of Child Protection seriously:
a) to ensure that children are protected from abuse, and
b) to ensure that adults working with children do not put themselves in compromising situations.
The law defines a 'child' as a person under the age of 18 for most purposes.
The Association recommends that tower captains and those working with children:
- know the Child Protection policy of their church and the 'named person' to whom any concerns should be reported,
- ensure that there are two adult present (preferably one of each sex) when there are children present,
- invite parents to watch a training session before allowing their children to learn to ring,
- make sure that the parents are responsible for delivering the children to and collecting them from the tower,
- ask parents to sign a form giving permission for the children to ring,
- keep an attendance register,
- be aware of the insurance position for children,
- never allow children up amongst the bells apart from an initial demonstration visit if it is safe to have one,
- seek written permission from parents before children are taken on outings, to meetings or social functions,
- ensure that children attending any bell ringing event or function do not travel alone in a car with an adult.
Guidelines for Association Officers on Child Protection
These guidelines have been prepared for officers of the Association. Reference has been made to the guidelines issued by the Diocese of St. Albans, 'Youth In Our Care' and to advice published in 'The Ringing World'.
It is very important that all those who have dealings with children take the issue of Child Protection seriously:
a) to ensure that children are protected from abuse, and
b) to ensure that adults working with children do not put themselves in compromising situations.
The law defines a 'child' as a person under the age of 18 for most purposes.
The Association recommends that its officers:
- ensure that there are always two adults (preferably one of each sex) in the belfry at Association meetings and practices where there are children present,
- ensure that at other Association events (eg outings, social events) children are always under the supervision of two adults (preferably one of each sex),
- never allow children to go up amongst the bells,
- keep an attendance book,
- be aware of the insurance position,
- know the correct procedure for reporting any suspicions of abuse,
- remind those bringing children to Association functions of the need to obtain written parental permission and of the inadvisability of travelling alone with children.
Further information can be found at the Central Council of Church Bell Ringers website on their Child Protection pages.