The ECB recognises the importance of safeguarding children within the game and is committed to developing and implementing policies and procedures which ensure that everyone knows and accepts their responsibility in relation to a duty of care for children.

It is important for every club to understand that safeguarding should not be viewed as a stand alone process which sits in isolation from all other activities within cricket. Instead, safeguarding is about creating a culture which helps direct the game and the provision of services that are offered to participants.

Safeguarding in cricket is based upon the concept of providing an enjoyable cricket environment that is tailored to the needs and requirements of children.

A Club has a duty of care to ensure the safety and welfare of any child involved in related activities, to safeguard them and protect them from reasonably foreseeable forms of harm. Safeguarding is about all of us acknowledging that this duty of care exists, and it is about us putting practical measures in place, in our own locations, to minimise the likelihood of foreseeable harm arising.

This section of ECB Clubmark assists clubs in discharging that duty. Some of the Child Safeguarding requirements are driven by national legislation. The Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) is a new organisation which will work with the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) in relation to vetting every person who works with, or wants to work with children or vulnerable adults.

It is expected that there will be developments in vetting during 2010/11, so it is advised that clubs check the relevant sections of the ECB website on a regular basis for any updates.