The Highland Child Protection Committee has launched a Toolkit to assist individuals, volunteers and community groups working with children and young people understand their roles and responsibilities in relation to child protection.
Over 60 people providing activities for children, young people and families in a paid and voluntary capacity came along to the launch event in Inverness yesterday. Attendees got the opportunity to find out more about child protection from partners in High Life Highland and the Keeping Children Safe Sub-Committee as well as receiving a copy of the toolkit which will help them develop their own policy and understand responsibilities for responding to any concerns about children.
Third sector organisations, sports clubs, youth and community groups all have a responsibility for child protection and any group or individual using Highland Council or High Life Highland premises for activities must have a child protection policy in place.
Detective Chief Inspector Vince McLaughlin, Chair of the Highland Child Protection Committee was please so many people had managed to come along to the launch. He said: "The toolkit was very well received so I would like to thank everyone involved for their hard work in developing it. Child protection is everyone's responsibility and it is crucial that organisations and individuals working with children and young people have effective and proportionate procedures in place. We hope people will find the practical guidance in the toolkit helps them to support safe practice in child protection."
Anyone who was unable to come along but would like to get a copy of the toolkit can get it from Monday 26th March onwards by visiting the website at www.hcpc.scot