Recognising and Reporting Concerns

In this lesson you will learn why the ability to notice and act on concerns is so important. People who are being harmed rarely say so directly. They may be frightened, ashamed, confused or worried they will not be believed. Often the first sign is a change in behaviour, an injury that does not make sense, or a comment made in passing. Adults at a cricket club see young people and vulnerable adults regularly and in a relaxed setting, which puts them in a good position to notice when something has changed. You are not responsible for deciding whether abuse has happened. Your job is to notice, to respond kindly and to pass the concern on.

• People rarely disclose harm directly
• Changes in behaviour can be the first sign
• Club volunteers are well placed to notice
• Notice, respond kindly, pass it on

In this lesson you will look at possible signs that someone may be experiencing harm. Physical signs include unexplained bruising, especially in unusual places, or injuries with explanations that do not fit. Behavioural signs include becoming withdrawn, anxious or aggressive, a sudden drop in confidence, fear of a particular person, or reluctance to go home. Signs of neglect might be persistent hunger, poor hygiene, inappropriate clothing for the weather or missed medical care. Inappropriate sexual knowledge or behaviour for a child's age is also a concern. No single sign proves anything, and many have innocent explanations, but a pattern or a gut feeling is always worth sharing with the welfare lead.

• Unexplained or poorly explained injuries
• Withdrawn, anxious or fearful behaviour
• Signs of neglect such as persistent hunger
• No single sign proves abuse; patterns matter

In this lesson you will learn that concerns are not only about what happens at home. Poor practice is behaviour by an adult in the club that falls below expected standards, such as shouting abuse at juniors, ignoring the code of conduct, being alone with a child unnecessarily, sharing private messages with juniors, or exposing players to unsafe training. Poor practice may not be abuse, but it can create conditions where abuse happens and must be reported. A concern about a volunteer, coach or official must be taken just as seriously as any other. Never let friendship, status or popularity stop you from raising a worry about how someone behaves.

• Poor practice falls below expected standards
• Report it even if it is not abuse
• Concerns about adults are taken just as seriously
• Status or friendship never prevents a report

In this lesson you will learn how to respond if someone tells you they are being harmed. Stay calm and listen carefully, giving them your full attention. Let them speak in their own words and do not interrupt or ask leading questions that suggest an answer. If you need to clarify, use open prompts such as tell me more. Reassure them that they were right to tell you and that it is not their fault. Do not promise to keep it secret. Explain kindly that you must share it with someone who can help. Do not confront the person who may be responsible, and do not start investigating. Your calm response can make an enormous difference.

• Stay calm and listen carefully
• Let them speak; avoid leading questions
• Reassure them they were right to tell you
• Never promise to keep it secret
• Do not confront or investigate

In this lesson you will learn how to record a concern properly. As soon as you can, write down what was said, using the person's own words wherever possible, together with the date, time and place, who was present, and anything you observed. Record facts, not opinions or guesses, and include what you said in reply. Sign and date your note. Use the WFA reporting form if one is provided, and keep the record secure. Do not share it in group chats or with other members. An accurate, factual record helps the welfare lead and statutory agencies make the right decisions and protects you by showing exactly what you heard and did.

• Write it down as soon as possible
• Use the person's own words
• Record facts, not opinions
• Date, time, place and who was present
• Keep records secure and confidential

In this lesson you will learn where to take a concern. In most cases you should report it promptly to the WFA welfare or safeguarding lead, following the WFA safeguarding policy. If the welfare lead is unavailable, or the concern involves them, the ECB safeguarding team and your county cricket board welfare officer can help. If anyone is in immediate danger, call 999 first. You can also seek advice from the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000, or for adults at risk contact the local council's adult social care team. Report the same day wherever possible. Delays can leave someone at risk, and you do not need to be certain before you report.

• Report promptly to the WFA welfare lead
• If unavailable or implicated, contact the ECB or county welfare officer
• Immediate danger: call 999 first
• Report the same day where possible

In this lesson you will look at confidentiality and your own wellbeing. Safeguarding information should be shared only with people who need to know in order to protect someone, such as the welfare lead or statutory agencies. Do not discuss the concern with other members, parents or on social media, as this can put people at risk and damage any investigation. Data protection law does not prevent you sharing information to keep someone safe. Hearing about harm can be upsetting, so it is normal to feel shaken afterwards. Talk to the welfare lead about how you are feeling and seek support if you need it. Doing the right thing can still feel hard.

• Share only with those who need to know
• Never discuss concerns on social media
• Data protection does not block safeguarding
• Seek support for yourself afterwards