Who can join the Sports Council?

Clubs and Organisations
For a fee of £20 per annum any properly constituted club can join - (see our Constitution). Non-sporting organisations may also join as associate members to take advantage of our mini-bus hire for £10 per annum .

Individuals
An individual may join and be awarded grants if there is no sports club in Caithness that caters for their particular sport.

Click here to submit an online Membership Application.

Child and Vulnerable Adult Protection Policy
All clubs and organisations will be required to have a policy on child protection / vulnerable adults where appropriate. As a distributor of Highland Council grants, we have a duty to ensure that all clubs that work with young people or vulnerable adults operate the appropriate policies. This is also a legal requirement.

All that the Sports Council requires is that member clubs indicate if they operate a policy and if not, to give reasons (eg the club is only for adults). If your club deals with children or vulnerable adults and does not operate a policy, we cannot give grants and you will not be eligible to use council facilities such as leisure facilities or schools. This is subject to possible audit by the council.

NB Having a policy does not necessarily mean that any or every volunteer needs to be vetted (Scottish Criminal Records Office check). It means that the club needs to do a risk assessment and some basic screening where appropriate. Only where an adult could have substantial access to a child or vulnerable adult, or be in a position to build up trust, do you need to go the full distance.

We understand it is a daunting prospect for some organisations, but help and advice is available from the following sources:

The Child Protection In Sport Unit - www.thecpsu.org.uk

Click here for the latest Child Protection In Sport Newsletter

The Scottish Executive has links to legislation and guidance - www.scotland.gov.uk

Disclosure Scotland will do on-line disclosure and sample policies (for Commercial Sector) - www.disclosurescotland.co.uk

Central Registered Body in Scotland does free disclosure checks (for Voluntary Sector - unpaid workers and not-for-profit organisations) - www.crbs.org.uk

Volunteering Highland Caithness will perform administration for Sports Clubs. For further details contact Catherine Patterson by email - volhighlandcaithness@telfordhouse.com - or by calling 01955 605002.

Alternatively you could contact the Education, Culture and Sport department of the Highland Council at the Council Offices in Wick on 01955 607771.

The latest (3rd) edition of the Highland Council Child Protection policy which provides guidance and sample policies is available by clicking the pdf icon below (or Right-clicking and choosing Save Target As... to download to your PC).