The ECB has produced Safe Hands – Cricket’s Policy for Safeguarding Children as part of its commitment to ensuring that the game provides a safe, friendly and enjoyable experience for children.

The Policy provides the sport with the tools to ensure that the whole game takes up the challenge of continuously improving the participation conditions for children.

Safe Hands greatly enhances the value of existing activities and practices throughout ECB's extensive club and schools network and ensures that the many thousands of coaches and volunteers integral to the game are supported.

The Policy is backed up by a comprehensive training and education programme, a structured implementation plan and a sensitive process to respond to concerns.

The Policy and associated documents are available to download here on ecb.co.uk.

Alternatively it may also be purchased via your County Board at a cost of £10, inclusive of postage and packaging.

Once appointed, your Club Welfare Officer will be able to attend a training course regarding their role, requirements and responsibilities. At this course they will be given a complementary copy of the Policy.

How will Safeguarding and Child Protection affect me?

Safeguarding and Child Protection in Cricket is applicable to all.

The Safe Hands – Cricket’s Policy for Safeguarding Children has been developed to provide a comprehensive and complete guide to all those who participate in Cricket

What does my club need to do?

Safeguarding and Child Protection will not be implemented overnight. It is a long-term process. It is the responsibility of the whole club to implement the appropriate Safeguarding policies and procedures.

Club Welfare Officers

• A club must nominate a Club Welfare Officer who will advise and ensure that Safeguarding is being adhered to in the Club
• The Club Welfare Officer must attend a ‘Safeguarding and Protecting Children’ workshop accredited by Sportscoach UK (3 hours)
• The Club Welfare Officer must have a Vetting Check
• The Club Welfare Officer must attend the NSPCC ‘Time to Listen’ course (3 hours) advising on the role, requirements and responsibilities of child protection in Clubs. Priority for attendance will be given to Clubmark and Focus Clubs. Contact your Cricket Development Officer to access this course

Complaints and Disciplinary

See also the Complaints and Disciplinary Procedure page in this section for full details of the ECB's procedures.