Peterculter Golf Club is an accredited SafeGolf course and promotes a safe and positive environment for all Junior golfers.

SafeGolf consists of members from the golfing bodies across Great Britain & Ireland and has been established to help golf respond to the issue of child protection in sport. Its mission is to safeguard the welfare of children and young people, as well as adults at risk, in the sport of golf. This will be achieved through a unique partnership which can influence and act as advocate for safeguarding across the golfing landscape, developing a consistent approach towards ensuring that all people have a fun, safe and positive experience when playing golf.

Safeguarding Officer: Gordon Winton
Email: info@petercultergolfclub.co.uk
Tel.: 01224 735245

Please see below to find out more about SafeGolf at Peterculter Golf Club


* Safeguarding Policy
* Responding to Concerns Procedure
* Code of Conduct for Junior Golfers
* Code of Conduct for Adults


Safeguarding policy (children)
1. Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to set forth Peterculter Golf Club’s statement of
policy and procedures for the safeguarding of children. The policy lays out the
commitments made by Peterculter Golf Club and informs staff, volunteers and
associated personnel of their responsibilities in relation to safeguarding.

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

3. Policy Statement
Peterculter Golf Club 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 Peterculter Golf Club’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.

4. Prevention
Peterculter Golf Club responsibilities
Peterculter Golf Club 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 Peterculter Golf Club. 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
• Peterculter Golf Club 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
Peterculter Golf Club 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, Peterculter Golf Club 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
will ensure that safe, appropriate, accessible means of reporting safeguarding
concerns are made available to staff, volunteers and the communities we work
with.
Peterculter Golf Club 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.
Gordon Winton Safeguarding Officer 01224 735245

6. Response
Peterculter Golf Club will follow up safeguarding reports and concerns according
to this policy and procedure, and legal and statutory obligations (see Responding
to Concerns Procedures).
Peterculter Golf Club will apply appropriate disciplinary measures to staff or
volunteers found in breach of policy.
Peterculter Golf Club 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
8 December 2022
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 Peterculter Golf Club
• Following any issues or concerns raised about the protection of children
within Peterculter Golf Club
• In all other circumstances, at least every three years

Club Safeguarding Officer: Gordon Winton
Contact Number: 01224 735245
Date: 8 December 2022

RESPONDING TO CONCERNS PROCEDURE
If a player, parent/carer, member of staff or volunteer has a concern about the welfare of a child, or the conduct of another child/young person or an adult (whether they are a parent, coach, member, or otherwise), these concerns should be brought to the attention of the Club Safeguarding Officer Gordon Winton without delay. The person reporting the concern is not required to decide whether abuse has occurred, but simply has a duty to pass their concerns and any relevant information to the Safeguarding Officer. Please refer to the flowchart below.

All concerns will be treated in confidence. Details should only be shared on a “need to know” basis with those who can help with the management of the concern.

Concerns will be noted on the ‘Concern Recording Form’ and sent to the Scottish Golf Lead Safeguarding Officer and retained confidentially within the club. The Scottish Golf Lead Safeguarding Officer will assist with completion of this form if required, e-mail: safeguarding@scottishgolf.org

Peterculter Golf Club will work with Scottish Golf and other external agencies to take appropriate action where concerns relate to potential abuse or serious poor practice. Peterculter Golf Club disciplinary procedures will be applied and followed where possible.

In the event of a child making a disclosure of any type of abuse, the following guidance is given:

• Reassure them that they have done the right thing to share the information
• Listen carefully
• Do not make promises that cannot be kept, such as promising not to tell anyone else
• Do not seek to actively question the child or lead them in any way to disclose more information than they are comfortably able to: this may compromise any future action. Only ask to clarify your understanding where needed e.g. Can you tell me what you mean by the word xxxxx?
• Record what the child has said as soon as possible on a concern recording form.

Do not notify the parents or carers unless you have first sought advice from those statutory authorities or the Scottish Golf Lead Safeguarding Officer.

The NSPCC Helpline is available to discuss concerns regarding poor practice and abuse in confidence with members of the public who need support. Those with concerns are encouraged to use this service. The Helpline number is 0808 800 5000.

Safeguarding children and young people requires everyone to be committed to the highest possible standards of openness, integrity and accountability. Peterculter Golf Club supports an environment where staff, volunteers, parents/carers and the public are encouraged to raise safeguarding and child protection concerns.

Anyone who reported a legitimate concern to the organisation (even if their concerns subsequently appear to be unfounded) will be supported. All concerns will be taken seriously.

CODE OF CONDUCT FOR JUNIORS
Peterculter Golf Club is dedicated to creating an environment that nurtures the enjoyment and enthusiasm of every member within our club. We want to encourage our juniors to base their conduct on a sense of personal integrity and acceptance of rules, fairness, equality, respect for others, moral conduct and a sense of what is right.
I agree to:
• Be friendly and supportive, offer help if needed
• Practice and participate fairly and be trustworthy
• Behave with respect to others including coaches/volunteers, club staff, officials, other golfers, parents, team managers and spectators.
• Respect the rules of my club and those of the facilities
• Respect the rights, dignity and worth of all participants regardless of age, disability, gender, ability, race, cultural background or religious beliefs or sexual identity.
• Always strive to do my best and refrain from inappropriate conduct towards others including physical, verbal, written or emotional, in person or through use of social media
• Be a positive role model and refrain from bullying and getting involved in inappropriate peer pressure and push others into something they do not want to do
• Always set a good example in aspects of punctuality, language, behaviour and respect of equipment and others
• Will not smoke, consume alcohol or drugs of any kind
• Report inappropriate behaviour or risky situations to a member of staff
Our Club recognises that to create a supportive atmosphere, which allows everyone to participate/compete to the best of their abilities, it is important for juniors to know that while we have high expectations of their behaviour, they can expect the same in return from us.
You have the right to:
• Be safe and happy while participating in golf
• Be respected and treated fairly and participate on an equal basis, appropriate to your ability
• Be protected from abuse by others from within or out with the club
• Ask for help
• Be believed
• Be listened too
• Be referred to professional help if needed
Breaches of the Juniors Code of Conduct will be dealt with in accordance with the club’s disciplinary procedures.
I understand that if I do not follow the Juniors Code of Conduct, any/all of the following actions may be taken:
• Be required to apologise formally
• Receive a warning; verbal or written
• Be suspended by the club
• Be required to leave the club

Code of Conduct for Adults
All members of the club agree to the following Code of Conduct. Any breach of Code may result in action being taken as per the club’s disciplinary policy. This may include sanctions or penalties up to and including expulsion from the Club.

Members and Visitors will be expected to:
• Help to create and maintain an environment free of intimidation and harassment.
• Respect junior members and not engage in any form of harassment, intimidation or other negative behaviour.
• Help to create an environment where all have an equal opportunity to participate
• Communicate with others in a manner that reflects respect and care
• Demonstrate proper personal behaviour and conduct always.
• Promote the positive aspects of golf when representing yourself or the club
• Be organised and on time out of respect to others
• Treat organisers, club representatives and coaches with respect
• Observe instructions or restrictions required by club staff
• Respect the course and the property of both the golf club and other members
• Ensure that banter remains so and does not intimidate or offend others.
• Avoid offensive language or telling sexist or racist jokes which may be over-heard in the clubhouse and upset other members or visitors.

Examples of unacceptable conduct:
• Any form of verbal, physical, sexual and emotional abuse including harassment or bullying
• Verbal abuse or harassment towards staff and other workers at the club
• Criticism of staff when they are playing on the course
• Offensive and insulting written / email communications to staff, workers, committee representatives or other members
• Any form of discrimination on the grounds of age, gender reassignment, marital status, race, colour, nationality, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, religion or beliefs
• Illegal behaviour such as smoking indoors or consuming illegal or performance enhancing drugs or stimulants
• Excessive foul language and loud swearing, in particular in the clubhouse
• Posting hurtful comments or personal attacks on social networking sites
• Drunkenness which leads to offensive behaviour
• Any form of cheating, which may include deliberate manipulation of handicaps
• Members must always respect junior members and not engage in any form of harassment, intimidation or other negative behaviour.