Mission Statement

We are fully committed to ensuring that our members can swim and train in a safe, secure, caring and friendly environment. Equally, we are fully committed to protecting all club members, coaches, volunteers, club officers and parents from any form of bullying, harassment or other hurtful behaviour.

Derwentside and Gateshead Swim Team sees any form of bullying and harassment as offensive, harmful and dangerous, and considers it to be born out of a need to establish an unfair and demeaning balance of power.

What Is Bullying?

Bullying can be defined as unwarranted, aggressive behaviour that can leave the person on the receiving end feeling scared, afraid, fearful, frightened, tearful, intimidated, unsettled, belittled, embarrassed, humiliated, demeaned or devalued.

• Bullying produces an imbalance of power (perceived or real) that aims to control or harm the other person, and can be repeated again and again over time.
• Bullying tends to be carried out on a one-to-one basis with few or no witnesses, making proof difficult to establish.
• Bullying generally occurs between two people, but can involve small groups acting as victims or joint perpetrators.
• Bullying has increasingly moved into digital spaces. Cyber bullying through platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat and Instagram, as well as text messages, emails and apps, is now a significant concern.

Bullying vs Harassment

These terms are often used interchangeably, and both produce the same devastating feelings and emotions. However, they differ in definition and intent.

Bullying is motivated by fear, envy or jealousy. The perpetrator perceives the victim as a threat and seeks to control them by alleging incompetence where there is competence, through persistent and unfair criticism.

Harassment is discriminatory behaviour that targets individuals on the basis of their gender, ethnicity, religion, faith, sexuality, colour, race, culture, disability or other characteristic.

Types of Bullying & Harassment

• Verbal — teasing, taunting, name-calling, threats, inappropriate suggestions or sexual comments.
• Relational — deliberately excluding someone, harming someone's reputation, unfair treatment, telling others not to be friends with someone.
• Undermining — spreading malicious rumours, embarrassing someone publicly, critical gossip.
• Physical — hitting, kicking, spitting, tripping, pushing, taking or misusing others' possessions, rude gestures.
• Cyber bullying — negative, critical, threatening or demeaning comments that harm the online reputation of another person.

Signs of Bullying

Children, young people and adults may not feel able to come forward. Fear of not being believed, fear of making the situation worse, or feeling that nothing will be done often lies behind the reluctance to speak up. However, there are physical and behavioural signs to watch for:

• Becoming withdrawn, anxious or developing low moods
• Becoming socially withdrawn and not joining in conversations
• Unwilling or nervous about attending training sessions and galas
• Reluctance to travel on a club bus
• Becoming tearful without warning
• Sleep or eating problems
• Feeling ill just before training sessions
• Noticeable drop in swimming performance
• Swimming kit or clothes damaged, soaked or torn
• Asking for extra money when attending sessions
• Unexplained bruises or cuts
• Aggressive or disruptive behaviour as an outlet for frustration
• Trying to bully siblings
• Reluctance to say what is wrong when asked
• Afraid of using their mobile phone or accessing the internet

Reporting Procedures

Incidents of bullying and harassment can be reported to any of the following:

• Child Welfare Officer
• Coach
• Squad Rep
• Club Chair
• Committee Members

All reports will be received and treated very seriously. The aim is always to eradicate bullying and harassment behaviour as soon as it appears, and each complaint will be addressed as speedily as possible.

Once reported, the individual making the report can choose either the Informal or Formal Route. In both cases, the investigation will be led by the Child Welfare Officer.

Informal Route

An informal discussion will take place with all parties involved as appropriate. Possible outcomes include mediation, an apology, awareness-raising guidance, an informal caution or a verbal warning. The situation will continue to be monitored to ensure the issue is resolved.

Formal Route

The Child Welfare Officer will conduct a formal investigation. All parties, including any witnesses, will be interviewed and a decision made once all evidence has been collated. The decision and any recommendations will be presented to the Club's Executive Committee for approval and conveyed in writing. Possible outcomes include mediation, verbal warning, written warning, temporary suspension or permanent exclusion. The situation will continue to be monitored.

Additional Factors

• Where swimmers are involved, their parents will be informed and kept fully informed throughout the process, and invited to attend any discussion or investigatory meeting.
• Every reported complaint will be treated with sensitivity and confidentiality.
• All formal interviews will be conducted with fairness and impartiality.
• Coaches will not be asked to conduct investigations or interviews involving swimmers. These remain the responsibility of the Welfare Officer.
• Allegations involving only adults will be investigated by the Welfare Officer in conjunction with the Club Chair.
• The possible outcomes for both routes apply equally to children and young people and to adults including parents, coaches, volunteers and club officers.