Through the IRFU and related Branch, Ratoath RFC provides rugby activities to young people through participation in mini and youth coaching and competitions and participation programmes in related schools and/or the community. The club is committed to the enjoyment of rugby by young people. It values and encourages the participation of parents, coaches and volunteers in rugby for participants under 18-years of age. The club will adhere to the IRFU safeguarding policy, which strives to respect the dignity and rights of Age Grade Players.

The club will strive to promote, create and maintain safe environments for Age Grade Players. It will endeavour to maintain the key values of Respect, Inclusivity, Integrity, Excellence and Fun. A detailed safeguarding policy can be found on Ratoath Rugby Website, in the child welfare section and is available through the Club CWO, Siobhán Sevestre. The Sports Councils’ Code of Ethics/Safeguarding Guidance should be used where the IRFU has not published specific guidelines, in particular with regard to the principles to safeguard children from harm, https://www.sportireland.ie/ethics/safeguarding-guidance-for-children-and-young-people-in-sport

The club carried out a risk assessment for any potential harm to a child while involved in rugby. These risks were categorised under the following headings Recruitment, Club and Coaching Practices, Reporting, Complaints, Facilities, Communication and General Risk of Harm. The assessment reviewed the areas of potential risk of harm, the likelihood of the risk occurring, and gives the required policy, guidance and document links required to manage these risks. The written risk assessment and the procedure for managing these risks is available on Ratoath Rugby Website.

Our child safeguarding statement has been developed in line with requirements of the IRFU and under the Children First Act 2015 and in Northern Ireland, the Club Framework for Safeguarding Standards. In addition to the procedures listed in our risk assessment, the club adheres to the following procedures that are in place as part of the IRFU Safeguarding Policy and our intention to safeguard children:
• Procedure for the safe recruitment and selection of workers and volunteers to work with children, http://www.irishrugby.ie/playingthegame/development/safeguarding/recruitment.php
• Procedure for provision of and access to child safeguarding training and information, including the identification of the occurrence of harm, http://www.irishrugby.ie/playingthegame/development/safeguarding/training.php
• Procedure for the reporting of child protection and welfare concerns to Tusla (Ireland) and Gateway (Northern Ireland) through the National Safeguarding Officer and appointed Mandated Person within IRFU: Stephen Gore. The Club Welfare Officer Siobhán Sevestre is the Relevant Person as per Children First Act. Other staff and volunteers within the club may hold the role and responsibility of a Mandated Person as per Schedule 2 of the Act but have not been appointed by the club/IRFU. They are always expected to act as a Mandated Person and when making a report in their professional capacity that involves rugby should always inform the IRFU Mandated Person that such a report has been made by them.
• Procedure for the management of allegation of abuse or misconduct against workers/volunteers of a child availing of our service and can be found in the case management policy, http://www.irishrugby.ie/playingthegame/development/safeguarding/concerns.php
• Procedure for appointing a relevant person for the purposes of the implementation of this Child Safeguarding Statement
• Procedures to minimise risk of harm of a child have been put in place and are available in the IRFU Safeguarding Policy, https://www.irishrugby.ie/playing-the-game/spirit-of-rugby/safeguarding/safeguarding-policy/
All procedures listed are available on the IRFU website, http://www.irishrugby.ie/safeguarding .

The club management expects those involved within age-grade rugby to adopt and supervise the implementation of these safeguarding principles and standards. The club recognises that implementation is an ongoing process. It is committed to the implementation of this Child Safeguarding Statement and accompanying safeguarding policy and procedures to keep children involved in rugby safe from harm. We will do this through the implementation of the Club Safeguarding Action Plan and IRFU safeguarding audit, https://d19fc3vd0ojo3m.cloudfront.net/irfu/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/31120516/Club-SafeguardingAction-Plan.pdf

A link to the IRFU Safeguarding Policy is included in relevant club documentation and is available on our website https://www.ratoathrugby.ie. Coaches and volunteers have received a copy of the policy and signed adherence through the Declaration of Intent. The Child Safeguarding Statement and related safeguarding policies are available to all parents/guardians and members of the public though the IRFU website and is available on request from the Club Welfare Officer, https://www.irishrugby.ie/playing-the-game/spirit-of-rugby/safeguarding/

The club will work with the Branch Spirit of Rugby Officer on the implementation of the policy and are available to assist Club Welfare Officers and related personnel and to deal with club queries. They can be contacted at:
Leinster: Billy Phelan – Billy.phelan@leinsterrugby.ie
Club Welfare Officers have completed relevant safeguarding training. Their ID templates are on display within the club grounds and on our website. The club has completed the necessary risk assessment and published the child safeguarding statement. The club follows the safeguarding club action plan, the anti-bullying statement, uses the club pavement signs and Spirit of Rugby ‘Let Them Play’ video clips. Coaches and volunteers have also received training in vetting and safeguarding through the IRFU. This Child Safeguarding Statement will be reviewed in September 2025, or as soon as practicable after there has been a material change in any matter to which the statement refers. For queries please contact the Relevant Person,

Siobhán Sevestre
Club Welfare Officer 085 1316908

Signed: Signed:
Chair: Barry Mc Cann Club Welfare Officer: Siobhán Sevestre