This policy is informed by the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act 2014, the National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland 2021, and the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007. It adopts the ‘Getting It Right For Every Child’ (GIRFEC) approach to wellbeing.
Version: 1.0 Adopted: September 2026 Next review: September 2029
Our Commitment
Scottish Esports is fully committed to safeguarding the wellbeing of all children in its care. It recognises the responsibility to promote wellbeing and safe practice and to protect children from harm, abuse, and exploitation. For the purposes of this policy and associated procedures, a child is recognised as someone under the age of 18 years.
This policy is based on the principles outlined by sportscotland and Children 1st.
Our people will work together to embrace difference and diversity and respect the rights of children and young people.
Who This Policy Applies To
This policy applies to all Scottish Esports activities, online and in person. This includes our competitions and tournament platform, broadcasts, Discord and other online spaces, events, and any other activity run in our name.
It applies to our people: everyone who works, volunteers or represents Scottish Esports in any capacity. This includes staff, board members, volunteers, tournament admins and referees, casters and producers, coaches, and contractors working on our behalf.
When children and young people take part through a school, college or other organisation, that organisation’s own safeguarding policy also applies to its staff and students, and we will work alongside it.
Reporting a Concern
If you are worried about a child or young person, or about how an adult is behaving towards them, report it straight away. You do not need to be certain. If a child is in immediate danger, contact emergency services.
| Child Wellbeing and Protection Officer (CWPO) | Mark McCready | mark@scotesports.org |
If your concern is about the CWPO, contact the Deputy CWPO. If it relates to a school or college activity, also tell that school or college’s safeguarding lead.
Related Procedures
This policy is supported by the following procedures, which explain what to do in more detail:
Core Principles
Our commitment to protecting children is based on the following principles:
- The wellbeing of children and young people is the primary concern.
- All children and young people, whatever their age, culture, disability, gender, language, racial origin, socio-economic status, religious belief and/or sexual identity, have the right to protection from all forms of harm and abuse.
- Child wellbeing and protection is everyone’s responsibility.
- Children and young people have the right to express views on all matters which affect them.
- Scottish Esports and our people will work in partnership with children and young people, their parents/carers, and the schools, colleges and organisations they take part through, to promote wellbeing, health, and development.
Our Objectives
We will:
- Promote the health and wellbeing of children by providing opportunities for them to take part in gaming and esports safely.
- Respect and promote the rights, wishes, and feelings of children.
- Promote and implement appropriate procedures to safeguard the wellbeing of children and protect them from abuse.
- Recruit, train, support, and supervise our people to adopt best practice to safeguard and protect children and young people from abuse and to reduce risk.
- Require all our people to adopt and abide by this Child Wellbeing and Protection Policy and associated procedures.
- Respond to any allegations of misconduct or abuse of children and young people in line with our Child Wellbeing and Protection Responding to Concerns Procedure, as well as implementing relevant disciplinary and appeals procedures.
- Regularly monitor and evaluate the implementation of this policy and these procedures.
Requirements for Our People
Scottish Esports and all our people must adhere to the following to ensure compliance with this policy:
- Policy Adoption: All our people must read, agree to and follow this Child Wellbeing and Protection Policy and its associated procedures.
- Named Officers: Scottish Esports appoints a Child Wellbeing and Protection Officer (CWPO) and a Deputy CWPO, who have completed mandatory training approved by the Board (see Reporting a Concern).
- Safe Recruitment & Vetting: Scottish Esports follows safe recruitment practice and procedures for everyone undertaking regulated work.
- PVG Scheme: All our people in regulated work (as defined by the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act) must hold a valid Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme membership before starting that work.
- Training: All our people in regulated work must complete a safeguarding workshop or training course approved by the Board.
- Codes of Conduct: All our people must agree to and follow the Scottish Esports Code of Conduct, and promote and enforce it for players, staff, parents, carers and spectators in our activities.
- Unacceptable Conduct: Scottish Esports maintains and promotes policies to prevent unacceptable conduct, including but not limited to bullying, harassment, and discrimination.
Digital Safety & Conduct Guidelines
Purpose: This annex outlines specific rules for online interactions within Scottish Esports environments, ensuring the safety of children and young people in digital spaces.
Communication & Social Media
- All communication between staff/volunteers and players under 18 must take place in public, open channels in-person or on VoIP or messaging platforms where other staff and community members can view the conversation.
- Staff and volunteers must not send Direct Messages (DMs) to players under 18 unless it is an absolute operational necessity.
- Exception: If a DM is required, it must include a parent/carer or another registered staff member in a group chat.
- Staff should not send or accept friend requests from players under 18 on personal social media platforms that are not strictly used for professional esports networking.
Voice & Video Protocols
- A staff member should never be alone in a locked voice channel with a single child.
- Guideline: If a 1-to-1 coaching review is needed, the channel must remain “open” for others to join, or a third party (parent/second admin) must be present.
- Webcam Etiquette
- One-to-one video calls with players under 18 are prohibited.
- When using webcams for team meetings or streams, players and staff must be fully clothed and in a neutral environment (e.g., not broadcasting from a bed/bedroom where possible). Backgrounds should be checked to ensure no personal/inappropriate items are visible.
In-Game Behaviour
- Staff should only add players under 18 on game clients or launchers if necessary for team invites. These accounts should be professional or official Scottish Esports accounts where possible, not personal accounts.
- Staff and volunteers are strictly prohibited from giving personal digital gifts (including skins, battle passes, game keys, or virtual currency) to individual players under 18.
- Exception: Official Scottish Esports giveaways or tournament prizes awarded publicly are permitted.
Streaming & Content Creation
- No player under 18 should be seen, heard or identified on a live broadcast or in recorded video content without prior written consent from their parent/carer. Where a player takes part through a school or college, that consent is held by the school or college under its own media consent policy. In-game footage showing only an anonymised placeholder username does not identify a player.
- Any official Scottish Esports stream featuring players under 18 must have an active moderator present in the chat to delete toxic or inappropriate comments immediately.
Supervision & Presence
- For all in-person activities, Scottish Esports adheres to the supervision ratios recommended by Children 1st / NSPCC.
- There must always be a minimum of two PVG-checked adults present at any Scottish Esports in-person event. No adult should ever be alone with a child in a closed or private space (e.g. server rooms, equipment cupboards, or private vehicles).
Travel & Accommodation
- Staff must not transport individual children in private vehicles. If unavoidable (emergency), the child must sit in the rear seat, and a third party must be informed of the journey details.
- Adults must never share a bedroom with a child. Players of different genders should not share a room unless they are siblings.
Health & Environment
- For events running late or overnight (e.g., 24-hour charity streams), players under 18 are not permitted to stay at the venue between 00:00 and 07:00 unless part of a formally organised residential trip with dedicated sleeping accommodation. Sleeping at desks is prohibited.
- Event leads must enforce a “screens-off” break (minimum 10 minutes) at least every 90 minutes for players under 18.
- High-caffeine energy drinks are prohibited for players under 16 during Scottish Esports activities.
Policy Review
Scottish Esports will regularly review this policy and associated procedures:
- In accordance with changes in legislation and guidance on the protection of children and young people.
- Following any issues or concerns raised about the wellbeing and protection of children and young people within Scottish Esports.
- In all other circumstances, at least every three years.
Policy Approval
Signed on behalf of the Scottish Esports Board:
Name: ______________________________
Role: ______________________________
Signature: __________________________
Date: ______________________________
Next review due: September 2029
