Bowls Scotland works in partnership with the Central Registered Body in Scotland (CRBS), Disclosure Scotland and Safeguarding in Sport to ensure our policies are kept up to date and we continue to meet the requirements of these organisations to ensure the welfare of all participants in our sport.

Bowls Scotland aims to help our clubs understand the requirements placed on them for Child Protection and to make these policies and processes as straightforward as possible to implement.

Child Protection in your club
Child Protection is everyone’s responsibility. Everyone working, participating or volunteering in sport has a responsibility to ensure the safety and welfare of children in and through sport. Bowls Scotland believes that all clubs offering activities to children and young people should have a Child Protection Policy and procedures in place.

We strongly recommend that all clubs that engage with children and young people put in place a Child Protection Officer. The nominated person will become part of Bowls Scotland’s network for Child Protection. They will receive our support to ensure your club has in place the correct policies and procedures for safeguarding children taking part in bowling. Clubs who are requesting PVG Scheme checks for volunteers carrying out regulated work with children will need to have a Child Protection Officer in post. If your club already has a Child Protection Officer in place then please complete the Club Child Protection Contact Information sheet and return it to Bowls Scotland.

Training is available for all volunteers in your club who are working with children. All Child Protection Officers should attend the 'In Safe Hands' and 'Safeguarding and Protecting Children' courses, whilst all other volunteers working with children should attend the 'Safeguarding and Protecting Children' course. Both these courses last for three hours and are held in all local authorities in Scotland. For dates and venues for these courses please contact your Local Authority or Local Sports Council or alternatively visit the following websites:
www.sportscotland.org.uk
http://www.children1st.org.uk/

Please visit the 'relevant documents' section for access to the following resources:
Template Child Protection Policy for clubs
Child Protection Officer role description
Club Child Protection Contact Information sheet 

These resources will be updated over the next two months so please visit the website on a regular basis to keep up-to-date.