Founded in 2019, Holmfirth Chess Club is going from strength to strength. With three teams in the Wednesday Huddersfield League Competitions, one in the Saturday Yorkshire League and Junior AG Sunderland’s competition, we are fast growing. Holmfirth specialise in introducing new adults and juniors to competitive play, boasting 10 players in the counties teams; including four juniors and one member as County Captain. The Club has a huge focus on training and a very active junior section where members participate in Yorkshire Junior Chess Junior Events. Where you want to play competitively or just socially, we have a place for you at Holmfirth Chess Club – The England Chess Federation’s Small Club of the Year 2022.
We are located at the Stumble Inn at Holmbridge, 116 Woodhead Road, Holmfirth HD9 2NL. Club nights are on a Wednesday at 6.30 – 7.30 for juniors and 7pm+ for the more advanced juniors. Adults start at 7.30pm.
As well as supporting adults and parents, we have fully qualified and DBS checked coaches present. The Club is affiliated with Chess in Schools and Communities.
Our Safeguarding policy is:
HOLMFIRTH CHESS CLUB CHILD SAFEGUARDING POLICY
Holmfirth Chess Club (hereinafter the ‘Club’) has decided to adopt a child safeguarding policy. This will apply to all members of, and visitors to, the club when undertaking Club activities. A child in this context is deemed to be anyone less than eighteen years of age.
The normal venue of the Club is the Stumble Inn 116, Woodhead Road, Holmbridge HD9 2NL.
The Club Junior Chess night is on a Wednesday evening 6.30-7.30 at the Stumble Inn. Those children of sufficient skill and age can also be included in the Adult Club night from 7.30pm on a Wednesday.
The purpose of this policy is to safeguard the welfare of children attending the Club by protecting them from physical, sexual and emotional harm.
The Club has a Child Safeguarding Officer, who has Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) clearance. The current holder of the post is Steve Westmoreland. Any child welfare concerns or allegations, and any comments or questions regarding the policy, should be directed to him by phone or by e-mail to westy147@yahoo.co.uk.
Any allegations or concerns will be investigated, and if necessary pursued, by the Club’s Child Safeguarding Officer in accordance with the English Chess Federation’s Safeguarding Children Policy, which is available for viewing on the Federation’s website: https://www.englishchess.org.uk/safeguarding-children-policy/.
All parents or guardians will normally be required to escort their children into the Club premises at the start of each session or event and to be present to collect their children again by 7.30pm. However at their discretion, a parent or guardian may provide permission for the child to arrive and travel home alone.
Parents/Guardians are responsible for the junior players whilst outside the room where chess evenings are held. This includes toilet and drinks visits. Club coaches will not escort junior for breaks.
Parents/Guardians are responsible for transporting their child to external chess events, such as tournaments or matches. Responsibility for the child at these events is not with the club.
The safety of an unaccompanied child in the event of an emergency will be undertaken by the team captain if the child is playing in one of the Club’s teams, or an officer of the Club nominated on the night, if the child is attending the Club for some other purpose. The parent or guardian should provide the team captain or club officer responsible with a phone number on which they can be contacted in the event of an emergency.
The Club also welcomes child players to participate in inter-club matches away from the Club venue. All parents or guardians will normally be required to accompany their child to away matches and to remain at the away team’s Club premises throughout the duration of the match. However, at their discretion a parent or guardian may provide written permission for the child to travel to and from the venue alone, or with other team members using travel arrangements made by the team captain and the itinerary conveyed to the parent or guardian in good time. The safety of an unaccompanied child in the event of an emergency will be the responsibility of the team’s captain. The parent or guardian should provide the team captain with a phone number on which they can be contacted in the event of an emergency.
This policy will be reviewed and updated from time to time in line with experience and best practice in the area of child safeguarding.