Child Protection

Warwickshire Fencing Union believes that the welfare of children is everyone’s responsibility, particularly when it comes to protecting children from abuse. Everyone in fencing - administrator, club official, coach, parent, friend, children themselves, everyone - can help.

Abuse can occur anywhere there are children - at home, at school, in the park, at the club. Sadly, there are some people who will seek to be where children are simply in order to abuse them. We believe that everyone in fencing has a part to play in looking after the children with whom we are working. This is both a moral and arguably a legal obligation. The Children Act 1989 indicates that anyone who has the care of children should "do what is reasonable in all circumstances for the purpose of safeguarding or promoting the child’s welfare."

We know that if the procedures are to help to protect children, everyone involved in fencing needs to see and discuss them, a full version is available from British Fencing web-site. We are, therefore, asking regional, county and club secretaries to make sure that they are widely distributed and discussed at club executive and general meetings.

Finally, please remember British Fencing will support anyone who, in good faith, reports his or her concerns that a child is at risk of, or may actually be, being abused.