VC Londres believes everyone who participates in cycling in all its disciplines is entitled to participate in an enjoyable and safe environment and to be given the chance to experience the fun, challenge and sense of achievement that are inherent to cycling. We are committed to implementing policies and procedures to ensure all those involved comply with the British Cycling code of good practice.
Our approach to welfare issues is based on principles of common sense, compassion, and care. We follow the British Cycling “Safeguarding and Protecting Children” policies and procedures when working with our children. We are committed to the welfare and safety of our riders, and have a dedicated team of Club Welfare Officers to ensure these guidelines are applied and our children have a safe and happy cycling experience. All matters are handled with the greatest of sensitivity and discretion, abiding by all the necessary protocols one would expect.
We also like encourage independence at the club, and as such make a point of motivating our Members to take control of their own safety by employing some very simple principles.
In addition, all young people are entitled to a duty of care and to be protected from abuse. Leicester Forest is committed to implementing policies and procedures to ensure everyone in the club accepts their responsibilities to safeguard children from harm and abuse. This means taking action to safeguard children and to report any concerns about their welfare.
Everyone knows and accepts their responsibilities and works together: parents, cyclists, coaches, leaders, and club officials.
All volunteers will be informed about their responsibilities and provided with guidance and/or training in good practice and child protection procedures.
Anyone under the age of 18 is considered to be a child/young person.
The term parent is used as a generic term to represent parents, carers and guardians.
All affiliated clubs to appoint a Club Welfare Officer responsible for good practice and child protection; this officer must undergo a CRB check.
All Club Welfare Officers, coaches and leaders to undertake relevant child protection awareness training or undertake a form of home study, to ensure their practice is exemplary and to facilitate the development of a positive culture towards good practice and child protection in cycling.
All personnel (parents, cyclists, coaches, leaders, club officials, senior and junior club members) to receive advisory information outlining good practice and informing them about what to do if they have concerns about the behaviour of an adult towards a young person.
All coaches and leaders working with children to attend a British Cycling one-day top-up course on child protection, or other training course run by the Local Safeguarding Children Board, or by the County Sports Partnership that comprises good practice and child protection awareness training, guidance on child-centred coaching styles and information on child growth and development and its implications in cycling.
All coaches and leaders should have an up to date first aid qualification.
VC Londres will make every effort to limit shots taken, or published on its website, of riders in the under sixteen categories to images which involve racing or formal training or formal club on-the-bike activities.
Off-the-bike shots of this age group will be limited to groups of riders unless provided by and with consent from a parent or guardian of the young person.
VC Londres will always remove images from its website upon request to the club secretary where reasonable.