It is hard to avoid the difficult and upsetting issue of child abuse in today's news. The particularly bad cases which make the headlines are, unfortunately, only a small part of the issue as a whole. Abuse can occur in many ways; it need not be physical, but may be emotional, psychological, sexual, or even by neglect. But it is only the immediately shocking -- and so newsworthy -- cases which we tend to hear about.
The BAB, which is the umbrella body for Aikido in the UK, has drawn up a Child Protection Policy in order to eliminate the chance of any sort of abuse happening in its member organisations. The BAF is committed to implementing this Policy. To be clear from the start: a 'child' for these purposes is anyone under eighteen years old.
Whilst everyone needs to be aware of the issues involved, instructors who take classes for under-18s are particularly affected. These instructors need to get hold of a copy of the BAB policy, and be familiar with it. The Policy is available on the BAB website. I have put together some anticipated questions and answers, which you can see using the 'FAQ' link on the left.
If you do instruct under-18s, you need to bear in mind the following.
So what is a CRB check and how do you get one? A CRB check -- sometimes called a 'disclosure' -- is a background check by the Criminal Records Bureau. The Criminal Records Bureau is part of the Home Office, which acts as a central point of contact for organisations which need to check people's backgrounds. The outcome of the check is treated in strict confidence. A copy of the results will be sent to you and the BAB.
To get a CRB check, you will need to apply for it. This needs to be done with a Child Protection Officer. The process cannot be done by post, so the current plan is for a Child Protection Officer to attend BAF courses over the next few months, so that you can apply in person. In order to gauge the numbers, please let the BAF General Secretary know if you need a CRB check. (If you have had a CRB check for some other purpose, then you will still need to be checked again especially for Aikido.) Follow the link on the left for 'FAQ' for what you need to provide to apply for a CRB check. The list is quite exacting -- these are not my rules, nor the rules of the BAB, but are the rules of the Criminal Records Bureau itself.
Bear in mind that the BAB have been quite clear: if you need a check and it is not in place, or at least in progress, by 1st March 2007, then your instructor's insurance will not be renewed. I understand that applying for such a check is a chore. Nevertheless, I hope you agree with me that it is a worthwhile cause to make sure our organisation is a safe place for younger aikido students.