SAFEGUARDING

1. SAFEGUARDING Safety of all children & vulnerable adults against bullying, harassment, violence & abuse

2. WHAT IS SAFEGUARDING? • “Safeguarding is a term used to denote measures to protect the health, well-being and human rights of individuals, which allow people – especially children, young people and vulnerable adults – to live free from abuse, harm and neglect” Wikipedia

4. SAGF STANCE TO SAFEGUARDING: • SAGF has approved a policy to ensure that its line with the International Federation and adheres to ensure that we are part of the movement to ensure safety in our sport of Gymnastics. • No club will be given opportunity to be registered without having a Safeguarding Policy in place from 2021 • Each club will have a safeguarding officer who will ensure and uphold the Policy • Safeguarding is not only for the clubs, Provinces and SAGF but all in gymnastics and sport. It’s everyone's responsibility to ensure that our kids, woman and vulnerable people are safe in sport. • SAGF to ensure that Safeguarding is not lost in translation by ensuring that we have it in all languages. • No favour no fear, SAGF will work to ensure that people who abuse our kids, woman & vulnerable people have no place in Gymnastics or Sport in general

5. SAGF Responsibilities SAGF accepts our responsibility to implement safeguarding arrangements and procedures to protect all participants from harassment and abuse and will: • Provide effective leadership to promote and implement our safeguarding policy and embed a no-tolerance approach to harassment and abuse; • Identify a competent person(s) to assess and respond to safeguarding concerns; • Develop and implement codes of conduct which establish behaviours and boundaries by which all participants, no matter how senior, are held to account; • Ensure all participants understand and abide by the SAGF Safeguarding policy, procedures and codes of conduct; • Ensure all participants understand and comply with the FIG policy, procedures and code of conduct when representing SAGF at FIG events; • Ensure all participants are provided with appropriate information and training to recognize, identify and respond to signs of harassment and abuse;

6. SAGF Responsibilities cont.: • Share information with relevant stakeholders, including the South African Police Service, Child and Adult Protection Services, SASCOC and the FIG; • Respond to all incidents or concerns, and provide appropriate support to the individual(s) involved, including the person who reported the concern; • Ensure that confidential, detailed and accurate records of all concerns are maintained and securely stored; • Ensure robust safeguarding arrangements and procedures are in place, including background checks to prevent unsuitable individuals from being appointed to a position of authority; • Ensure all members and their affiliated clubs have effective arrangements are in place to protect participants from harassment and abuse within the club environment; and • Ensure all participants representing a member or affiliated club at an SAGF event understand and comply with SAGF policy, procedures and codes of conduct.

7. Provinces & Districts Responsibilities: Theresponsibilitytoleadtheimplementationofthispolicy issharedwith theProvincialAssociations andDistricts oftheSAGF ,whoshall: • adopt theSAGF SafeguardingPolicy andProcedures • ensure all affiliated clubshaveadopted SAGF SafeguardingPolicy andProcedures; • ensureallclubsintheirjurisdictionhaveaSafeguardingOfficerandSafeguardingPolicyinplace; • ensurethatalleventsconductedundertheirjurisdictionhaveaSafeguardingOfficerinplace,thatariskassessmenthastakenplaceandthatsafeguardingmeasureshavebeenimplemented.

8. Clubs Responsibilities: • All gymnastics clubs who provide services to children and adults have a common law duty of care to take such steps that are reasonable to ensure the safety and welfare of both children and adults. • The safety and welfare of children and adults should be a priority for all gymnastics clubs. • The SAGF Safeguarding policy and procedures set out the minimum standards that gymnastics clubs should apply. The SAGF will provide support and guidance to help gymnastics clubs meet their responsibilities. • All gymnastics clubs must ensure that: the overall responsibility for safeguarding sits at the most senior level of their club; there is at least one suitably trained and competent Safeguarding Officer designated within the club to take the lead role in dealing with safeguarding issues.

9. Clubs Responsibilities cont.: • The responsibilities of the individual should include: • promoting the safety and welfare of children and adults; • promoting the importance of safeguarding; • ensuring that children are listened to and are involved in decision making; • ensuring that everyone understands their roles and responsibilities in respect of safeguarding; • responding to safeguarding and poor practice concerns; • liaising with SAGF and local Statutory Authorities; • working with other organizations as required; • acting as the designated person for criminal records checks; • the Club Safeguarding Officer has completed SAGF approved Safeguarding awareness training; • the Club Safeguarding Officer has undertaken a criminal record check. • all staff and volunteers, who are working with children or adults receive appropriate training, updated every three years, and have access to advice on child protection, safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children through the Club Safeguarding Officer; • all children and their parents, are aware of behaviour that is not acceptable and how they can help to keep themselves safe;

10. Club Responsibilities cont.: • they support Whistle Blowing and take steps to ensure members, their parents and others, feel able to raise concerns without fear of negative repercussions; • confidentiality is maintained in relation to concerns and referrals and information is only shared on a genuine ‘need to know’ basis in line with SAGF confidentiality and information sharing guidance. • that they comply with the SAGF guidance on Safe Recruitment to prevent unsuitable people from obtaining, or remaining in, positions of trust or responsibility; • they comply with the all applicable supplementary policy and guidance and accept responsibility for identifying and responding to any deficiencies or weaknesses in its arrangements for safeguarding and promoting welfare of children and adults; • they work in partnership with SAGF to ensure poor practice is addressed and any required remedial action is taken.

11. SAGF Minimum Standards: The SAGF minimum standards for the vetting of applicants for roles in the sport to be undertaken during the recruitment process for new applicants and retrospectively for all existing employees (staff and volunteers) in order to prevent unsuitable individuals from working with children, young people, persons with a mental; disability and other vulnerable adults are: That all potential and existing employees (staff and volunteers) must submit a police clearance certificate. That all potential and existing employees (staff and volunteers) must also disclose to their employers (on affidavit at minimum) that they have never been convicted of a sexual offence against a child or a mentally disabled person and that their name does not appear in Part B of the National Child Protection Register as a person deemed unsuitable to work with children.

12. SAGF Minimum Standards: That all potential and existing employees (staff and volunteers) must provide the names of two referees who must provide a reference using the SAGF’s employee reference form. If a concern has arisen during the vetting of existing employees (staff or volunteers) regarding their suitability to work with children, young people, persons with a mental and/or physical disability and other vulnerable adults, the SAGF or its affiliated organization or club may suspend the employee (staff and volunteer) from all or some of their duties whilst an investigation is conducted. As people who want to abuse children, young people, persons with a mental and/or physical disability and other vulnerable adults may seek out various avenues to gain access to children, young people, persons with a mental and/or physical disability and other vulnerable adults, it is important that the minimum standards for vetting are followed at all times, even where there is only one applicant for a position.

13. Reporting of Incidents: • To report an incident, one can go through to the Safeguarding officer at the club you belong to • Anyone can report an incident of harassment or abuse. Mechanisms for receiving the information are as follows: • In writing using the SAGF template form; • By phone or email to a National, Provincial, District, Club or Event Safeguarding Officer(s); • In person to a National, Provincial, District, Club, or Event Safeguarding Officer(s) • Via The Guardian App (Anonymous Reporting App) • Steps when you have to report an incident: • Report the incident to your Safeguarding Officer immediately if at gym • Safeguarding officer will take you away from the gym environment and help you by opening an incident report • Safeguarding Officer is there to help you so give as much information as possible but remember to take your time in telling your story • The Safeguarding Officer will ask if you need medical care or when the matter is severe as sexual assault he/she will need to report the matter to the Police • Your confidentiality is important and also your incident will not be made public by your Safeguarding Officer • A case will be opened and your Safeguarding officer will keep you abreast of the steps he will follow after you have reported the case • A psychologist may need to be called to assist you in dealing with the matter as soon as possible

14. Reporting of Incidents: • A weekly update on the case will be made available to you by the Safeguarding Officer • Where it is determined that harassment or abuse has been committed, the Independent Disciplinary Panel who dealt with the matter shall impose an appropriate sanction upon the Participant. • In most cases, the SAGF will delay internal investigations until the outcome of a criminal proceedings is known. Once a matter has been referred back from the police, the objective will be to conclude any investigations in a timely manner. • The SAGF may impose interim protective measures, including the suspension of the participant where one or more of the following circumstances applies: • The participant is believed to present a significant risk to other participants; • The reputation of the sport is at risk; and/or • The participants ongoing presence may hinder investigations.

15. Role of Parents, Guardians & Carers Parents, guardians and carers should be welcomed at SAGF affiliated clubs to observe training sessions that their child or an adult they are providing support and care for are participating. The presence of responsible adults observing training sessions helps create a safer environment. Clubs should in the case of new or potential members, encourage them to view a session and remain with their child or vulnerable adult until the child or vulnerable adult is happy to be left on their own. Clubs should provide a suitable area for parents, guardians or carers to view training sessions. Where there is not a purpose built viewing area, clubs should designate a small area of the gym for viewing. This will need to be carefully managed and there may need to be limits on the number of spectators that can be safely accommodated. It may be appropriate for parents, guardians, carers and other spectators to sign in and out of the viewing area. The use of CCTV from a designated room or area may be used to allow parents, guardians and carers to view what is going on during training without taking up space in the gym. Where CCTV is used to record images the storage of data may be subject to compliance with the Protection of Personal Information Act 2013 and the use of CCTV cameras in public spaces may be subject to municipal bye laws.

16. Role of Parents, Guardians & Carers The SAGF does not permit the livestreaming of training sessions due concerns regarding the security and management of such images of children. Clubs should facilitate viewing of training sessions by parents, guardians and carers and may not restrict their ability to observe such sessions by: • Obscuring windows; • Refusing reasonable requests to view; • Asking parents, guardians or carers to leave without due cause; • Justifying the prohibition of viewing on spurious health and safety grounds • This may seem daunting but there is help available to ensure this is easier to manage:

17. JOIN THE TASK TEAM Phiko Mbuqe operations@sagf.co.za Submit any queries via your Provinces

18. Safeguarding in Gymnastics A Partnership between SAGF & The Guardian Group To protect members against bullying, harassment, violence & abuse & ensure legal compliance of all clubs in SAGF

19. Safeguarding in Gymnastics Safeguarding • protect the health, well-being and human rights of individuals, • allow people to live free from harassment, abuse and exploitation. • especially children and vulnerable adults SAGF is happy to announce a partnership with The Guardian Group for all SAGF members

20. Duty of Care • Everyone in Gymnastics has a moral and legal obligation to ensure the safety or well-being of others in the sport. • We have a responsibility to ensure that we “do no harm.” • The Guardian Group is here to help

21. How will THE GUARDIAN help?1. Procedure Manual 1. They will work with SAGF on a more in-depth procedure manual for child protection that will be generic for all clubs and will be available electronically

22. 2. Club Child Protection Health Check • This is a self-audit to establish compliance & best practices • Club will receive a “Best Practices Certification” once all short comings found through the audit are rectified • Cost R150/club (Cat A & B) • Cost R40/club (Cat C & D)

23. 3. Register Clearances & Criminal Checks • By law ALL EMPLOYERS (this includes all sporting clubs regardless of whether they are run by volunteers or paid employees) MUST clear all staff (and volunteers) against the SEXUAL OFFENDERS REGISTER & CHILD PROTECTION REGISTER • Failure to do so may result in the Employer being sentenced to a fine and/or a prison sentence of up to 7 years

24. 3. Register Clearances & Criminal Checks • The Guardian can conduct Sexual Offences & Child Protection Register Clearances at GAU, KZN & WC Provincial events and SAGF Gym Games 2019 • Coaches / Clubs must sign up on a circulated list to do fingerprints at the events • Cost R200 for both checks (payable before) • Cost R250 for both check + criminal check (discounted from R455)

25. 4. The Guardian App • An Anonymous Reporting App which allows members to report anonymously on challenges they may be facing • It is a push communication platform too • 24/7 telephonic support from The Guardian for any matters reported • 24/7 technical support for the system • Termly stats feedback

26. 4. The Guardian App • Cost: • R450 once off set up fee (Cat A & B clubs) • R50 once off set up fee (Cat C clubs) • Monthly licence fee costs of R500 per month will be covered by SAGF as part of the sponsorship deal with The Guardian Group (R6 000 sponsorship per year per club)

27. 5. Training • 2 hour workshop via webinar dealing with: • Counseling principals • Practical principals • Forensic principals on how to deal with disclosures • What the adult can do to assist the child • R100 / delegate (min 30 people)

28. Requirements for clubs to receive The Guardian App sponsored • Adopt the SAGF Safeguarding Policy • Send a signed copy of the club’s Safeguarding Policy to assist@sagf.co.za (available on SAGF website) • Appoint a Safeguarding Officer • This would be the person/s who also administer The Guardian App • Conduct the Child Protection Health Check with The Guardian • Contact Roxy on 031 001 0101 or email sport@theguardian.co.za to complete the self audit

29. Requirements for clubs to receive The Guardian App sponsored • Sign Up with The Guardian for the Anonymous Reporting App • Contact Roxy on 031 001 0101 or email sport@theguardian.co.za to receive the Service Level Agreement • Ensure all employees, coaches & volunteers in contact with children are cleared against the Sexual Offences & Child Protection Register

30. Requirements for clubs to maintain The Guardian App sponsored • Maintain membership with the SAGF annually • Send out 2 push notifications per week on The App in the first 6 weeks • Send out 1 push notifications per week on The App thereafter • Respond in 72 hours to reports received from The App • The Guardian will monitor these notifications & responses and assist if requested

31. Summary Steps for Clubs • Sign Safeguarding Policy (send to assist@sagf.co.za) • Appoint Safeguarding Officer / Administrator • Have Employees checked against Sexual Offences & Child Protection Registers (at SAGF events) • Conduct self audit Health Check • Sign SLA for Anonymous Reporting App

32. Summary Steps for Clubs • Take part in training for the App • Encourage membership to download the App • Send out push notifications • Respond to any reports received

33. Communication from The Guardian • The Guardian Group will be in contact immediately with Gauteng, KZN & Western Cape Provinces to organize being present at their upcoming Provincial events in August • The Guardian Group will be present at SAGF Gym Games • Clubs are encouraged to contact The Guardian Group directly regarding the services available • Any clubs who have failed to make contact with The Guardian by the 1stof October will be contacted directly by Roxy and her team to make the necessary arrangements.

34. Safeguarding in Gymnastics An opportunity for clubs to protect all their members against bullying, harassment, violence & abuse & ensure legal compliance of all clubs in SAGF