The West Bay Nippers Club interacts with participants as part of its activities.
The purpose of the anti-bullying policy statement is to:
- Stop bullying as it occurs and that those involved receive the support they need
- Provide information and help to all club members to prevent and effectively deal with all forms of bullying.
The anti-bullying policy statement applies to anyone working on behalf of the West Bay Nippers Club, including coaches, volunteers, parents/guardians, and athletes.
What is bullying?
Bullying includes constant planned repetition of various online and offline abusive behavior to hurt someone physically or emotionally.
Bullying behavior can include:
- Physical contact includes kicking, tripping, bumping, pushing, pulling, hitting, shaking, biting, pinching, etc.
- Name-calling, spreading rumors, relentless teasing, humiliation, or the continual ignoring of others.
- Posting scathing or abusive comments, videos, or images on social media
- Engaging in racial, homophobic, transphobic, or sexist comments, insults, or gestures
- Making sexual comments, suggestions, or behavior
- Unwanted physical contact
We acknowledge that:
- Participants should never encounter abuse of any kind.
- We are accountable for promoting the welfare of all club members, keeping them safe, and operating in a way that protects them.
We recognize that:
- Bullying provokes real pain and affects a person’s health and growth.
- In some examples, bullying can cause considerable harm.
- All participants, regardless of gender, disability, age, race, religion, or faith, have the right to equal safeguarding from all types of harm or abuse.
- All club members have a role in stopping all forms of bullying.
We will seek to prevent bullying by:
- Developing a code of conduct that sets out how everyone involved in the West Bay Nippers Club behaves within and outside of our activities
- Holding frequent discussions with staff, volunteers, children, young people, and families who use our club about the need to prevent bullying
- Supplying support and training for all staff, coaches, and volunteers on dealing with all forms of bullying
- Implementing clear and vital anti-bullying procedures
Our regular discussions with staff, volunteers, participants, and families will focus on the following:
- Group members’ responsibilities to look after one another and uphold the behavior code of conduct
- Practicing skills such as listening to each other
- Respecting the fact that we are all different
- Making sure that no one is without friends
- Dealing with problems in a positive way
- Checking that our anti-bullying measures are working well.
Responding to bullying
We will make sure our feedback to situations of bullying takes into account the following:
- The needs of the person encountering bullying
- The needs of the person showing bullying behavior
- The needs of any witnesses
- Our club as a whole.
We will review the plan we have developed to address bullying incidents regularly to ensure we achieve long-term solutions.
Diversity and Inclusion
We recognize and acknowledge the value of diversity and will be assertive about the following:
- Seeking opportunities to learn about and celebrate difference
- Increasing diversity within our staff, volunteers, children, and young people
- Welcoming new members to our organization.
The West Bay Nippers Club will:
- Recognize the need to implement the anti-bullying and the club’s safeguarding policy and procedures and require all club members to understand these policies.
- Ensure that bullying behavior is not condoned or tolerated.
- Take immediate efforts to identify, investigate and respond to any reports of bullying.
- Encourage and facilitate all participants to play an active part in developing and adopting the West Bay Nippers Club code of conduct for behavior.
- Ensure that coaches access updated information, relevant guidance, and professional training on anti-bullying policies
Each participant, coach, volunteer, or official will:
- Encourage individuals to speak out about bullying behavior.
- Respect for every participant’s need and right to a safe learning environment, praise and encouragement, and differing viewpoints make us unique and valued members of our club.
- Show gratitude and appreciation for others’ participation in activities by acknowledging individual qualities, contributions, and progress.
- Ensure safety by carefully explaining and displaying rules and practices for all to observe.
- Report incidents of bullying behavior. By doing nothing, you are condoning the behavior.
The West Bay Nippers Club will support children by doing the following:
- Let participants know coaches will listen to and support them.
- Create an environment where participants feel confident to talk to coaches and staff about bullying behavior or other relevant issues affecting their learning experience.
- Ensure children are aware of child protection organizations, websites, and helpline telephone numbers.
- Bullying behavior will be identified and investigated and will involve listening carefully to all viewpoints.
- Those who display bullying will be supported and encouraged to develop healthy communication relationships with club members and the community. We’ll make sure that disciplinary measures are reasonable and fair.
The West Bay Nippers Club will support parents/guardians by doing the following:
- Advise parents/guardians on the West Bay Nippers Club’s anti-bullying and safeguarding policies and procedures.
- Consult with the child’s parents/guardians and mutually agree upon appropriate actions for both the victim and the bully.
- Age-appropriate information and guidance on coping with bullying will be provided to all participants.
- Parents/Guardians will receive support, including information from other government agencies or support lines.
