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Staying Safe: Child Protection in the GB

The Girls' Brigade and Scotland's Child Protection Policy

The Girls' Brigade in Scotland, as a Christian Youth Organisation, seeks to provide a safe, secure and caring environment in which our members can develop spiritually, personally, emotionally and socially, under the care of Christian leaders.

Information for Girls

At Girls' Brigade we want you to feel safe and happy. Your Girls' Brigade Leaders are there to help you, so if you have any worries about bullying or if someone has scared or hurt you, you can always ask a Leader to help you.

Remember that you can always contact ChildLine by phone (0800 1111) or their website.

Information for Adults

Child Protection:

The Girls' Brigade in Scotland complies with guidelines laid down by the Scottish Executive in the Protection of Children (Scotland) Act 2003. All GB Leaders have received Child Protection training and must adhere to the guidelines laid out by GB Scotland & the Church responsible for their Company. Since January 2004, all new Girls' Brigade Officers and Auxiliary Helpers must obtain an Enhanced Disclosure Scotland Check (CRBS - Central Registered Body in Scotland) before being able to work with girls. The Girls' Brigade in Scotland has been actively involved in the consultation process for the implementation of PVG (The Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007) within the voluntary sector in Scotland, with the aim of this new act superseding the procedures of previous acts in 2010. The new scheme will be implemented from 30 November 2010 and will be phased in over a 2-3 year period.  New information and training on the PVG system will be provided later in the session. Until changes are advised,The Girls' Brigade in Scotland continue to adhere to the guidelines laid down by POCSA (Protection of Children (Scotland) Act 2003).

GB Scotland's Insurance Policy:

Through the payment of a Membership fee, each member of GB Scotland is covered by insurance for normal Company activities. Additional hazardous activity insurance cover will be arranged by Company Leaders when girls take part in any activity outwith normal Company activities, i.e. hazardous sports or adventure trips or holidays. If you wish further information on GB Scotland's Child Protection policies or Insurance cover issues please contact us at GB Scotland HQ.

THE GIRLS' BRIGADE SCOTLAND CHILD & ADULT PROTECTION POLICY

Responsibilities - Girls’ Brigade Scotland will:

  • Promote the health and welfare of children and adults by providing opportunities for them to take part in Brigade programmes safely.
  • Respect and promote the rights, wishes and feelings of children and adults.
  • Promote and implement appropriate procedures to safeguard the well-being of children and protect them from abuse.
  • Recruit, train, support and supervise its adult leaders to adopt best practice to safeguard and protect children from abuse and to minimise risk to themselves.
  • Require adult leaders to adopt and abide by the Brigade’s Child and Adult Protection Policy and Procedures.
  • Respond to any allegations of abuse in line with the Brigade’s Policy and Procedures [as well as implementing, where appropriate, the relevant disciplinary and appeals procedures].
  • Review and evaluate the Brigade’s Policy and Procedures on a regular basis.

Principles:

The welfare of children is everyone’s responsibility, particularly when it comes to protecting them from abuse. Children have a lot to gain from participation in the Girls’ Brigade programme. Their natural sense of fun and spontaneity can blossom in a positive environment created by Brigade. It provides an excellent opportunity for them to learn new skills, become more confident and maximise their own unique potential. The Brigade Policy and Procedures are based on the following principles:

  • The welfare of children is the primary concern.
  • All children, whatever their age, culture, disability, gender, language, racial origin, religious belief and/or sexual identity have the right to protection from abuse.
  • It is everyone’s responsibility to report any concerns about abuse, as per the Girls’ Brigade regulations, and the responsibility of the Church, Social Work and the Police to conduct, where appropriate a joint investigation in cooperation with Girls’ Brigade.
  • All incidents of alleged poor practice, misconduct and abuse will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately.
  • Personal data are processed in accordance with the requirements of the Data Protection Act 1998 and the Human Rights Act 1998.


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