VIGO RUGBY FOOTBALL CLUB

SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN & VULNERABLE ADULTS POLICY

Vigo Rugby Football Club acknowledges its responsibility to safeguard the welfare of all children and vulnerable adults involved in Vigo RFC from harm.

Vigo RFC confirms that it adheres to the Rugby Football Union’s Safeguarding Policy and the procedures, practices and guidelines and endorse and adopt the Policy Statement contained in that document.

RECRUITMENT & SUPERVISION OF VOLUNTEERS AND STAFF
At Vigo RFC we offer a safe, friendly and welcoming environment where all staff and volunteers involved with children and vulnerable adults are suitable to work with them. Vigo RFC has a thorough recruitment process which helps to identify those not suitable to work with us.
Vigo RFC will run a DBS check on volunteers and staff who work closely with children and vulnerable adults, whether they are permanent or not. If a coach is awaiting a DBS he/she will still be able to coach but only under the supervision of a fully DBS checked Coach.
New Volunteers are made aware of the club officials at Vigo RFC, in particular the Club Safeguarding Officer.
They will also be shown where they can read a full copy of this policy.
Vigo RFC coaching staff will also be expected to attend a first aid course, a safeguarding course and the necessary rugby coaching courses relevant to which age groups they are coaching.

17 YEAR OLDS PLAYING IN THE ADULT GAME
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 as in
accordance with RFU Regulation 15, a male player can, with the necessary written consent, play in the adult game when he reaches his 17th birthday, although not play in a front row position until his 18th birthday. Vigo RFC’s management team will assess and continue to assess, that any 17 year old male player playing
in adult games or training is both physically, emotionally and intellectually capable of taking part.
Those responsible for the management of adult teams which include 17 year olds, will at all times be mindful of their safety and wellbeing and ensure that a suitable adult from within the team acts as a mentor or buddy.
If a 17 year old boy is playing rugby under Regulation 15.3.7, while playing or training with the adults he is treated as an adult and the detail of this Policy does not apply. However, as soon as he is out of that environment the player
is once again a child and our child safeguarding policies and legislation apply.

The Key Principles of the RFU Safeguarding Children & Vulnerable Adults Policy are that:

The welfare of the child or vulnerable adult (as appropriate) 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 and young people.
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.

Vigo RFC recognises that all children 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. Vigo RFC recognises that this is the responsibility of everyone involved, in whatever capacity, at the club.

BULLYING
Vigo RFC will not tolerate bullying in any form, bullying could be from a parent who pushes too hard, a coach or manager with a ‘win at all costs’ attitude or another intimidating child.
Bullying will not be ignored at Vigo RFC and the victim will be supported through what can be a traumatic experience.
Bullies can be very cunning and develop strategies to avoid it being seen by anyone but the victim, our coaches who have attended a safeguarding course are equipped to be aware of this.

CODES OF CONDUCT
Vigo RFC will implement and comply with the RFU Code of Conduct and the Codes of Conduct for Coaches, Spectators and Officials as appropriate, these codes of conduct are listed under ‘Information’ Equity, Welfare and conduct on our website. Vigo RFC will ensure its spectators, parents, members and officials are all aware of and have accepted the club Photographic Policy which is:

PHOTOGRAPHY
The RFU and Vigo RFC welcomes the taking of appropriate images of children in rugby clubs and has developed guidance for parents and the children’s workforce to enable suitable photographs to be taken celebrating the Core Values of the sport.
There are risks associated with the use of photographic images. Vigo RFC obtains permission to take photographs home or away on registration of the child, this is signed by the parent.
Personal information which may lead to a child or vulnerable adult being identified will never be used with the exception of the Youth Section newsletter which is sent to parents or vetted committee members.
Photographs should be of the activity or team.
All children and vulnerable adults must be appropriately dressed when being photographed. Vigo RFC will not accept anyone taking photos in changing rooms, showers or at any time when players are dressing. Images must not be sexual, of an exploitative nature nor open to misinterpretation or misuse.
If videos are taken to use as a coaching aid, Vigo RFC will ensure that any footage will be carefully monitored and stored securely.

CLUB WEBSITE
Vigo RFC will endeavour to comply with the Guidance for Websites as set out by the RFU.
Only members will be able to access certain parts of Vigo RFC’s website and passwords are required for them to sign in. Vigo RFC will guard against abusive or inappropriate content on the website and on linked sites. They will not disclose personal information about a child to people accessing the website.
Vigo RFC will also ban inappropriate content which can be perceived as bullying. This could be material on the site which criticises or humiliates a child.
The Vigo RFC website is run by 1 webmaster who is DBS checked, all those who have access to admin rights must be DBS checked also.

MOBILE AND ONLINE COMMUNICATION WITH CHILDREN
Vigo RFC will communicate by email or text to parents of registered children using the bcc to keep all emails confidential when doing a mass email. In the case of coaches of older age groups texting players, this will be done as a group text and not to one individual player and the coach will also text another DBS checked adult for protection on both sides.
Where social media is used, Vigo RFC will monitor all posts and in the case of the Youth section, this will be a closed group with a vetted administrator who has to approve posts of members.

CHANGING ROOMS & SHOWERS
Vigo RFC will make sure the adults and children must never use the same facilities to shower or change at the same time.
As part of our policy, adults must only enter changing rooms when absolutely necessary due to poor behaviour, injury or illness. Adults must only ever enter the changing rooms by themselves in an emergency and when waiting for another adult could result in harm to a child.
If children need supervising in changing rooms, or coaches or managers need to carry out a range of tasks in that environment this must involve two individuals cleared to work in Regulated Activity of the same gender as the children. For mixed gender activities separate facilities will be made available.
If the same facilities must be used by adults and children on the same day a clear timetable should be established.
No pressure should be placed on children who feel uncomfortable changing or showering with others, Vigo RFC provide the facilities, parents and children must choose whether they shower and change in these or at home.
Where a disability requires significant support from a parent; or carer, the person concerned and their parents should decide how they should be assisted to change or shower.
Before any assistance is offered by another person, appropriate consent should be given by a parent.

TOURS
If in the event our Youth Section went on tour, Vigo RFC would ensure that all volunteers attend an induction/tour briefing and that they will be familiar with the RFU safeguarding policy and guidance on Touring.
Vigo RFC will not take any supervisory adults if they are not DBS check beforehand and cleared, in the event that a parent cannot attend.
All supervisors will have a sound knowledge of emergency procedures and a copy of emergency contact details for all children.
Vigo RFC will appoint a club home contact. This person will be based back in the locality of the club and not be part of the tour. The club home contact will have list of all children and contact details.

The Club Safeguarding Officer is Amanda Wilson Martin - Vigo RFC
Tel: 07725-464644 email: awilsonmartin@btinternet.com
OTHER KEY CONTACTS
Kent RFU - Safeguarding Officer (CBSO): Raj Khanna - r.khanna@sky.com
RFU - Safeguarding Executive: 0208 831 7479 Mobile: 07921 283 200
Email: childprotection@rfu.com
NSPCC Helpline - Telephone: 0808 800 5000
If you witness or are aware of an incident where the welfare of a child or vulnerable adult 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 Executive. If an incident involves the Club Safeguarding Officer you should inform the Youth Section Chairman – Mrs Justine Holcombe – 07984-864471 and either the CB Safeguarding Manager or the RFU Safeguarding Executive.

All members of Vigo RFC who have a regular supervisory contact with children or a management responsibility for those working with children must undertake an RFU Enhanced Criminal Records Bureau disclosure and must also be ISA-registered in accordance with the RFU ISA-registration Policy.

Vigo RFC will ensure that all its 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 the club, the CB or the RFU:

• Working alone with a child, children, vulnerable adult, or adults.
• Consuming alcohol whilst responsible for children or vulnerable adults.
• Providing alcohol to children or allowing its supply.
• Smoking in the presence of children.
• 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.

Vigo RFC manages the changing facilities and arranges for them to be supervised by two adults (ISA-registered and RFU CRB checked) of the appropriate gender for the players using the facilities. Vigo RFC ensures that all its coaches, parents, officials and spectators are aware that adults must not change at the same time, using the same facilities as children or vulnerable adults.

Vigo RFC will ensure that its coaches 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, voluntary and paid.

Any events held on Vigo RFC 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 Vigo RFC must comply with the relevant RFU Regulations and Guidance relating to tours.