1. HOUGHTON RUFC acknowledges its responsibility to safeguard the welfare of all children and vulnerable adults involved in the HOUGHTON RUFCfrom harm.

2. HOUGHTON RUFC confirms that it adheres to the England Rugby Football Union’s Safeguarding Policy and the procedures, practices and guidelines and endorses and adopts the Policy Statement contained in that document and any successor policy.

3. a) A child is anyone under the age of 18 engaged in any rugby union activity. However, where a 17 year old male player is playing in the adult game it is essential that every reasonable precaution is taken to ensure his safety and wellbeing are protected.

b) The definition of a vulnerable adult is defined in the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 and is a person who is 18 years or older and has:
•Dependency upon others, or a requirement for assistance from
others, in the performance of basic physical functions.
•Severe impairment in their ability to communicate with others.

•An impairment in their ability to protect themselves from assault, abuse or neglect.

•Has been detained in lawful custody or is being supervised as a
result of a court order.

4. The Key Principles of the RFU Safeguarding Policy are that:

•The welfare of the child is, and must always be, paramount to any other considerations.

•All participants regardless of age, gender, ability or disability, race, faith, culture, size, shape, language or sexual identity have the right to protection from abuse or harm.

•All allegations or suspicions of abuse, neglect, harm and poor practice will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly, fairly and appropriately.

•Working in partnership with other organisations, statutory agencies, parents, carers, children and young people is essential for the welfare of children.

•Children have a right to expect support, and personal and social development delivered by an appropriately recruited, vetted and managed in relation to their participation in rugby union, whether they are playing, volunteering or officiating in the community or professional areas of the sport.

5. HOUGHTON RUFC recognises that all children and vulnerable adults have the right to participate in sport in a safe, positive and enjoyable environment whilst at the same time being protected from abuse, neglect, harm and poor practice. HOUGHTON RUFC recognises that this is the responsibility of everyone involved, in whatever capacity, within the club.

6. HOUGHTON RUFC will implement and comply with the RFU Code of Conduct and the Codes of Conduct for Coaches, Spectators and Officials as appropriate.

7. HOUGHTON RUFC Safeguarding Officer isChris Simpson and the assistant is John Simpson If you witness or are aware of an incident where the welfare of a child has been put at risk you must, in the first instance, inform the Club Safeguarding Officer.
They will then inform the CB Safeguarding Manager and the RFU Safeguarding Team. If an incident involves the Club Safeguarding Officer, you should inform an appropriate senior HOUGHTON RUFC Official or the RFU Safeguarding Team.

8. All members of HOUGHTON RUFC who work
with children and vulnerable adults in Regulated Activity must
undertake an RFU Disclosure and Barring Service(DBS)check in
accordance with RFU Regulation 21.

9. HOUGHTON RUFC will ensure that all it’s
members, whether they are coaches, parents, players or officials will comply with the ‘Best Practice Guidance’ as issued by the RFU.

In summary, the following are not acceptable and will be treated seriously by the club and may result in disciplinary action being taken by Durham County RFU or the England RFU:

NOT ACCEPTABLE

• Working alone with a child or vulnerable adult.
• Consuming alcohol whilst responsible for children and vulnerable adults.
• Providing alcohol to children or vulnerable adults or allowing its supply.
• Smoking in the presence of children or vulnerable adults.
• Humiliating children or vulnerable adults.
• Inappropriate or unnecessary physical contact with a child or vulnerable adult.
• Participating in, or allowing, contact or physical games with children or vulnerable adults.
• Having an intimate or sexual relationship with any child or vulnerable adult, developed as a result of being in a ‘position of trust.’
• Making sexually explicit comments or sharing sexually explicit material.

10. HOUGHTON RUFC will ensure that its club coaches and their respective Team Managers will receive the support and training considered appropriate to their position and role. The RFU ‘Managing Challenging Behaviour’ Policy has been adopted and circulated amongst the club workforce, both the voluntary and paid staff.

11. Any events held at any HOUGHTON RUFC premises must comply with this Policy and if appropriate a Safeguarding Plan should be discussed and circulated to those affected. Any tours, overseas or domestic, undertaken by the club must comply with the relevant RFU Regulations and Guidance relating to tours.

DURHAM COUNTY RFU CB SAFEGUARDING TEAM
CLUB SAFEGUARDING OFFICER (CSO)
Paul Geehan

Club – Sunderland
Email Address. – paul.geehan@gmail.com

CLUB SAFEGUARDING OFFICER
Chris Simpson

Club – Houghton
Email Address. – cjsimpson1985@hotmail.com

ASSISTANT CLUB SAFEGUARDING OFFICER
John Simpson

Club – Houghton
Email Address. –john.simpson@jhsassociates.co.uk
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N.B. - Each club in Durham County RFU has a Club Safeguarding Officer (CSO), who is the first point of contact for any safeguarding allegations/incidents or advice within that club and the CSO will then report to the CBSM/Assistant CBSM for further investigation and onward transmission to the RFU if required.

RFU AND OTHER CONTACTS

RFU Safeguarding Manager
Richard Smallbone
Contact: 0208 831 7832
Email Address: richardsmallbone@rfu.com

RFU Safeguarding Case Officer
Kath Bennett
Contact: 0208 831 7479
Email Address: kathbennett@rfu.com

RFU Safeguarding Advisor
Annie Davis
Contact: 0208 831 7480
Email Address: anniedavis@rfu.com

RFU Safeguarding Compliance Officer
Chris Rawlings
Contact: 0208 831 7454
Email Address: chrisrawlings@rfu.com

OTHER CONTACTS

NSPCC Helpline - 0808 800 5000
Child Protection in Sport – 0116 234 7278
CHILDLINE - 0800 1111