Child Protection Policy
At the WCF General Meeting held at Cheltenham on 9th August 2005, the WCF Members voted to accept a proposal that WCF adopt a Child Protection Policy that would require all WCF Members to have in place, Child Protection Procedures no later than 31st December 2006.
The policy was unanimously adopted and is reflected in WCF Rule 103.8 as below:-
103.8 A Member must either:
103.8.1 be able to demonstrate that it fully supports the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (“UNCRC”) by incorporating within its own constitution, or other rules of association, written child protection procedures commensurate with their national or state laws relating to the UNCRC, or
103.8.2 commit to send Under 18 entrants to a WCF Event only if it has agreed in advance with the Event Host how the Under 18 entrant(s) will be adequately looked after throughout the trip.
Many WCF members already have such procedures in place, but many others do not, particularly those that will aspire to Full Membership in due course.
As part of the programme of WCF support for its members, a WCF Child Protection Policy Guidance document and ancillary forms have now been prepared and are available for download below. It consists of a requirement to appoint a person to be responsible for the Association Child Protection Procedures and guidance to members on what they should incorporate within their own child protection procedures and how to deal with certain situations as they arise.
The WCF Guidance reflects the fact that WCF membership covers nations that may have a different cultural and ethical approach. Therefore individual WCF Members should select the most appropriate parts that are compatible to their own jurisdictions.
However, the policy they adopt or have adopted, should always reflect the requirement of:-
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- 1.1 The welfare of the child is paramount;
- 1.2 All children, whatever their age, culture, disability, gender, language, racial origin, religious beliefs and/or sexual identity, have the right to protection from abuse;
- 1.3 All suspicions and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately;
- 1.4 All staff (paid/unpaid) working in sport have a responsibility to report concerns to the appropriate officer.
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The following guidance documents are provided to assist Members:
Procedures for Members nominating Under 18's - Updated February 2025
All member associations are reminded of the requirements of child protection for ALL WCF Championships and particularly the one cited above.
A child is any person under the age of 18 years. (United Nations: Convention on the Rights of the Child)
For WCF purposes it is interpreted that they are a child if they are under the age of 18 years on the first date of competition.
When nominating players for entry to ANY WCF event, the relevant member association must have regard to the age of the players they are nominating. Where it is apparent that a child is being nominated they must take all steps to prevent harm and ensure their continuing safety from home, back to home.
Whilst WCF and any host association will take all reasonable steps to mitigate any perceived risk to children, neither are in a position to guarantee the overall safety of a child or assume responsibility for them whilst they are attending a WCF event. This is particularly relevant to those periods where a child player is not actively participating.
Whenever a child is nominated by a member association, such nomination MUST be accompanied by the WCF forms below (or the host members equivalent documentation if the use of these has been pre-agreed with the Management Committee):-
Letter to Parents February 2025
WCF Parental Consent Form February 2025
The form requires the signature of the child’s parent / guardian. Theh Consent Form also requires the signature of the responsible person who will be travelling with the child.
Only upon receipt of the above form is the child officially accepted to play, and any U18 not properly authorised will not be allowed to compete.
Member Associations should satisfy themselves, in dialogue with their own Child Protection Officer and the parent or guardian of any child, that sufficient safeguarding arrangements to ensure the child’s safety are in place.