1. Report bullying incidents to the Club Welfare Officer or a member of the club’s committee.
2. In cases of serious bullying, the incidents will be referred to UK Athletics Safeguarding team for advice.
3. Parents/carers should be informed and may be asked to attend a meeting to discuss the problem.
4. If necessary and appropriate, the police may be consulted.
5. The bullying behaviour or threats of bullying must be investigated and the bullying stopped quickly.
6. An attempt will be made to help the bully (bullies) change their behaviour.
7. If mediation fails and the bullying is seen to continue the club will initiate disciplinary action under the club constitution.
Child to Child Bullying
1. Reconciliation by getting the parties together. It may be that a genuine apology solves the problem.
2. If this fails/is not appropriate, the Welfare Officer or appropriate Committee Member should meet with the parent/carer and child alleging bullying to get details of the allegation. Minutes should be taken for clarity, which should be agreed by all as a true account.
3. The same person should meet with the alleged bully and parent/carer and put the incident raised to them to answer and give their view of the allegation. Minutes should again be taken and agreed.
4. If bullying has in their view taken place, the individual should be warned and put on notice of further action i.e. temporary or permanent suspension if the bullying continues.
5. Consideration should be given as to whether a reconciliation meeting between parties is appropriate at this time.
6. In some cases the parent/carer of the bully or bullied player can be asked to attend training sessions, if they are able to do so, and if appropriate. The club committee should monitor the situation for a given period to ensure the bullying is not being repeated.
7. All coaches involved with both individuals should be made aware of the concerns and outcome of the process i.e. the warning.
Adult to Child bullying
1. This should be treated as a Safeguarding matter and UK Athletics be informed and will advise on action to be taken where appropriate. This may include action by The UK Athletics Safeguarding Team.
2. It is likely that this will be investigated as a breach of the Code of Conduct as per the club Disciplinary Policy.
3. More serious cases may be referred to the Police and/or Children’s Social Care.
Adult to Adult bullying
1. This should be treated as an internal complaint of misconduct. A written complaint should be obtained from the victim by the Club Secretary and if considered valid the alleged bully should be asked for a written response.
2. Mediation and an early resolution with agreement to cease the behaviour may be possible.
3. If mediation does not work or is not appropriate, the complaint will then be investigated as a breach of the Code of Conduct as per the club Disciplinary Policy.
4. More serious cases may be referred to England Athletics/Police.
Useful contact
• Club & Junior Welfare Officer: Hannah Stewart
• Welfare Officers: Sammy Buzzard, Chris Huitson, Jess Hamilton
• UKA 07920 532552/ safeguarding@uka.org.uk
• EA welfare@englandathletics.org
• NSPCC Helpline 0808 800 5000
• Childline 0800 1111 / www.childline.org.uk
• Kidscape www.kidscape.org.uk
• Anti-Bullying Alliance www.antibullyingalliance.org
