All children and young people who play or participate in Rugby should be able to take part in a safe and enjoyable atmosphere. The environment we create for doing this should be a protective one and free from abuse. This should be the responsibility of every adult involved in Rugby. Berry Hill Rugby Club in conjunction with the RFU, local authorities and Social Services, will make every effort possible to ensure that all its child members and players are protected. The club will ensure they are kept safe from harm or abuse, whilst working with, or in the custody of, the manager’s coaches and officials in our organisation.

We will do this by:

1. Making sure all our officials are vetted before selection.

2. Consider, having taken advice, whether anyone who has a previous conviction or caution for offences related to the abuse of children or young people, violence or any sexual offences should be excluded from our organisation.

3. Providing or exposing our officials to training or information essential for child protection.

4. Appointing a child protection officer within the club.

5. Adhering to RFU, local authority and Social Services child protection guidelines.

6. Ensuring the details of any player’s illnesses and medication are available whenever club matches or activities are taking place.

7. Giving players and parent’s information about what our club’s aims and ambitions are and what they can expect from us.

8. Advising players what the club expects from them.

9. Advising managers, coaches and officials what the club expects from them.

10. Informing parents, players and members how to voice their concerns or complain if there is anything they are not happy about.

11. If an incident relating to any child protection issue/bullying is reported, then appropriate action will be taken. Where necessary and deemed appropriate Social Services and or Police involvement.

DEFINITIONS OF CHILD ABUSE

Parents, guardians, other relatives, carers, and acquaintances, strangers or siblings who may be adults or young people may perpetrate child abuse. The abuse may be as a result of a deliberate act to cause harm or failure on their part to provide proper care or act to prevent harm. Abuse may take a number of forms including:

NEGLECT

Situations such as:
•Children or young people’s basic needs not being met (i.e. food and warm clothing)
•Children or young people constantly being left alone and unsupervised.

Rugby context – Failure to ensure children are safe by exposing them to undue extremes of weather. Exposing them to dangerous or unsafe equipment, with or without supervision.

PHYSICAL ABUSE

Includes situations where adults:
•Physically hurt or injure children by hitting, biting, squeezing, shaking or burning.
•Give children alcohol, cigarettes or inappropriate drugs or poison.
•Attempting to suffocate or drown children.
•Forcing excessive physical exercise or activity

Rugby context – When a child is exposed to intense training that exceeds the capacity of their immature and growing body. When coaches encourage young people to take performance enhancing drugs or alcohol.
SEXUAL ABUSE
Actual or likely sexual abuse by adults and/or peers including:
•Involving children or young people in sexual acts they do not truly comprehend.
•Sexual acts to which they are not able to give informed consent or that violate taboos of family roles.
Rugby context – Sexual abuse may occur or be inferred through inappropriate physical contact i.e. excessive or inappropriate supporting or touching during treatment of injury or coaching.
EMOTIONAL ABUSE
May include situations in which:
•There is a persistent lack of love, attention or affection is shown to a child or young person.
•Children are over protected preventing them from socialising.
•Children are frequently shouted at or taunted.
•
Rugby context – Where parents or any adult subject children to constant criticism, bullying or unrealistic pressure to perform to a higher standard than they are capable of.
BULLYING
Not easy to define, can take many forms but usually happens over a periodof time. The three main types are:
• Physical – Hitting, kicking or theft.
• Verbal – Racist remarks, threats or name calling.
• Emotional – Isolating individuals from activities.

•All these will include:
•Deliberate aggression and hostility towards a victim.
•A victim who is weaker or less powerful than the bullies.
•An outcome which is always painful and distressing for the victim.

ADDITIONAL REFERENCE MATERIAL
•The RFU Child Protection Policy
•RFU Ethics and Equity Manager 0208 831 7479
•Local Welfare Officer - Stuart McWalter
•The NSPCC Child Protection Help Line 0808 800 5000

BERRY HILL JUNIOR SECTION CONTACT
Child Protection Officer – Jillian McParland 01594835525