Purpose
1. These guidelines outline the steps the club must take if a child goes missing during a training session, match or club event. The priority is always the child’s safety and wellbeing, followed by clear communication and swift action.
2. Stay calm and act quickly.
3. Do not assume the child has run off intentionally.
4. Ensure other children remain supervised and safe.
5. Follow the steps below in order.
6. Confirm the Child is Missing.
a. Check the immediate area calmly.
b. Ask teammates, coaches and volunteers if they have seen the child.
c. Check toilets, changing rooms, indoor areas and obvious hiding places.
d. Ensure another adult continues supervising the remaining children.
7. Organise a Controlled Search.
a. Assign adults to search specific areas.
b. Search the playing field, boundary, clubhouse, car park and nearby safe zones.
c. Do not send children to search.
8. Inform Key People.
a. Notify the Club Safeguarding Officer immediately.
b. Inform the child’s parent/carer if they are not already present.
c. Provide clear information: where the child was last seen, what they were wearing, any known risks.
9. Expand the Search.
a. Widen the search area in a coordinated way.
b. Ensure at least one adult remains with the group of children at all times.
c. If near water, roads or open public areas, prioritise those zones.
10. Contact the Police. Call 999 and provide:
a. Child’s name, age and description.
b. What they were wearing.
c. Time and place last seen.
d. Any medical needs or vulnerabilities.
e. Details of the search already undertaken.
11. Continue Searching Safely.
a. Follow police instructions.
b. Keep parents/carers updated.
c. Maintain supervision of all other children
12. Immediate Response:
a. Reassure the child and ensure they are safe.
b. Do not blame or scold them.
c. Check for any injuries or distress.
d. Inform parents/carers and the Safeguarding Officer immediately.
e. Inform the police if they were contacted.
13. Record the Incident. The Club Safeguarding Officer must complete an incident report including:
a. Time the child was noticed missing
b. Actions taken and by whom
c. Time the child was found
d. Any contributing factors
e. Any follow-up actions required
14. The club will:
a. Maintain accurate registers for all junior sessions.
b. Ensure children are collected by authorised adults.
c. Brief coaches and volunteers on supervision expectations.
d. Ensure changing rooms and toilets are monitored appropriately.
e. Encourage children to stay within designated safe areas.
f. Communicate clear pick-up and drop-off procedures to parents.
15. The club will:
a. Explain to parents the importance of prompt collection.
b. Encourage children to speak to a coach or volunteer if they feel unsafe or unsure where to go.
c. Reinforce boundaries about staying within club areas.
16. After any missing-child incident, the Management Committee and Safeguarding Officer will:
a. Review what happened.
b. Identify any improvements needed.
c. Update procedures if required.
d. Share learning with coaches and volunteers.
17. WCC is committed to providing a safe environment where children are supervised appropriately and where any missing-child situation is handled swiftly, calmly and effectively.
Club Safeguarding Officer
Wendover Cricket Club
1 April 2026
