The main function of Pimlico Chess Club is to provide competitive, but friendly, standard play team chess. The club caters for players with a reasonable understanding of the game.

The club has limited facilities and resources. As a result, it does not offer coaching or tuition and is, therefore, not suitable for beginners. This also places limits on the club’s ability to develop junior players. There is no facility for social or rapidplay chess.

The club mainly caters for adults but, within the above constraints, the club wants to offer junior players the opportunity to enjoy and enhance their game as they move from the world of junior chess to the more demanding adult environment. This applies to matters of behaviour and etiquette as well as technical skill development.

To achieve this, our team captains pay particular attention to the individual needs of each junior. For juniors under 16 years of age this is done in consultation with a parent and the individual plan will be monitored and revised as the junior develops. This includes making sure that the games played are appropriate and that suitable arrangements are in place for the junior’s parent(s) to accompany.

In addition, the club has appointed a Child Protection Officer (Matthew Baker) to advise on measures needed to provide a safe environment and to make sure that they are implemented. Matthew has considerable experience in this area having recently had a similar role in a large local authority over a period of several years.

In order to ensure successful integration into the world of adult chess, limits juniors to around 10% of the membership. Based on previous experience, new junior members are unlikely to be less than 10 years old and should have an existing standard play grade over 80. Similar considerations apply to the Pimlico Summer Tournament.

Visiting clubs are welcome to include juniors in their teams. However, they are expected to do so under the terms of their own Child Protection Policy. Pimlico Chess Club can take no responsibility for safeguarding in these situations. Accountability in these situations rests entirely with the visiting club.