DUNBARTONSHIRE AND ARGYLL LADIES COUNTY GOLF ASSOCIATION
SAFEGUARDING POLICY (CHILDREN)

1. Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to set forth Dunbartonshire and Argyll Ladies County Golf Association's
(DALCGA) statement of policy and procedures for the safeguarding of children. The policy lays out the
commitments made by DALCGA, and informs staff, volunteers and associated personnel of their
responsibilities in relation to safeguarding.

2. Scope
• All staff contracted by DALCGA
• Associated personnel whilst engaged with work or visits related to DALCGA, including but not limited
to the following: consultants, volunteers, contractors, programme visitors including journalists, PGA
Pros, professional players, celebrities and politicians.

3. Policy Statement
DALCGA is fully committed to safeguarding the welfare of all children in its care. It recognises the
responsibility to promote safe practice and to protect children from harm, abuse and exploitation. Staff and
volunteers will work together to embrace difference and diversity and respect the rights of children and
young people.
This policy outlines DALCGA’s commitment to protecting children throughout its work, through the three
pillars of prevention, reporting and response.
These guidelines are based on the following principles:
• The welfare of children is the primary concern.
• Child protection is everyone's responsibility.
• All children – regardless of age, gender reassignment, being married or in a civil partnership, being
pregnant or on maternity leave, disability, race including colour, nationality, ethnic or national
origin, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation – have the right to protection from all forms of
harm and abuse.
• Children have the right to express views on all matters which affect them, should they wish to do
so.
• Organisations shall work in partnership together with children and parents to promote the welfare,
health and development of children.
DALCGA will:
• Promote the health and welfare of children by providing opportunities for them to take part in golf
safely.
• Respect and promote the rights, wishes and feelings of children.
• Promote and implement appropriate procedures to safeguard the wellbeing of children and protect
them from abuse.
• Recruit, train, support and supervise its staff, members and volunteers to adopt best practice to
safeguard and protect children from abuse and to reduce risk to themselves.
• Require staff, members and volunteers to adopt and abide by this Safeguarding Policy and
associated procedures.
• Respond to any allegations of misconduct or abuse of children in line with this Policy and associated
procedures as well as implementing, where appropriate, the relevant disciplinary and appeals
procedures.
• Regularly monitor and evaluate the implementation of this Policy and associated procedures

4. Prevention
DALCGA responsibilities
DALCGA will:
• Ensure all staff and volunteers have access to, are familiar with, and know their responsibilities
within this policy.
• Design and undertake all its programmes and activities in a way that protects people from any risk
of harm that may arise from their coming into contact with DALCGA. This includes the way in which
information about individuals in our programmes is gathered and communicated.
• Implement stringent safeguarding procedures when recruiting, managing and deploying staff,
volunteers and associated personnel.
• Ensure staff, volunteers and associated personnel receive training on safeguarding at a level
commensurate with their role in the club.
• Follow up on reports of safeguarding concerns promptly and according to due process.
Staff and volunteer responsibilities
Child safeguarding
• DALCGA staff, volunteers and associated personnel must not:
• Engage in sexual activity with anyone under the age of 18.
• Sexually abuse or exploit children.
• Subject a child to physical, emotional or psychological abuse, or neglect.
• Engage in any commercially exploitative activities with children including child labour or trafficking.
Protection from sexual exploitation and abuse
DALCGA staff, volunteers and associated personnel must not:
• Exchange money, employment, goods or services, including team selection or the promise of team
selection, for sexual activity.
Additionally, DALCGA staff, volunteers and associated personnel are obliged to:
• Contribute to creating and maintaining an environment that prevents safeguarding violations and
promotes the implementation of the Safeguarding Policy
• Report any concerns or suspicions regarding safeguarding violations to the designated Safeguarding
Officer, or appropriate staff member or appropriate authority in their absence in urgent cases.

5. Reporting a Concern
DALCGA will ensure that safe, appropriate, accessible means of reporting safeguarding concerns are made
available to staff, volunteers and the communities we work with.
DALCGA will also accept complaints from external sources such as members of the public, partners and
official bodies.
How to report a safeguarding concern
Staff members or volunteers who have a complaint or concern relating to safeguarding should report it
immediately to the Safeguarding Officer or line manager [as appropriate]. If the staff member or volunteer
does not feel comfortable reporting to their Safeguarding Officer or line manager (e.g. if they feel that the
report will not be taken seriously, or if that person is implicated in the concern) they may report to any
other appropriate staff/committee member and Scottish Golf.
SAFEGUARDING OFFICER - Gail McClymont, gailmcclymont@btinternet.com, 07860-116768

6. Response
DALCGA will follow up safeguarding reports and concerns according to this policy and procedure, and legal
and statutory obligations (see Responding to Concerns Procedures).
DALCGA will apply appropriate disciplinary measures to staff or volunteers found in breach of policy.
DALCGA will offer support to survivors of harm caused by staff, volunteers or associated personnel,
regardless of whether a formal internal response is carried out (such as an internal investigation). Decisions
regarding support will be led by the survivor.

7. Confidentiality
It is essential that confidentiality is maintained at all stages of the process when dealing with safeguarding
concerns. Information relating to the concern and subsequent case management should be shared on a
need-to-know basis only and should be kept secure at all times.
GDPR and child protection
GDPR emphasises the importance of asking children for consent before sharing personal information. If a
child is mature enough, they should be given the opportunity to decide whether they agree to their
confidential information being shared. If a child does not have the capacity to make their own decisions,
their parent or carer (unless this would put the child at risk) should be asked.
However, if you have a child protection concern, you must share information with the relevant agencies,
even if you have not been given consent. GDPR does not affect this principle.

8. Review
This Policy and associated Procedures will be regularly reviewed:
• In accordance with changes in legislation and guidance from Scottish Golf on the protection of
children or following any changes within DALCGA .
• Following any issues or concerns raised about the protection of children DALCGA.
• In all other circumstances, at least every three years.

Club Safeguarding Officer:  Gail McClymont
Contact Number: 07860116768
Date: 1 April 2022