1. Wellington Rugby Football Club acknowledges its responsibility to safeguard the welfare of all children involved in Wellington Rugby Football Club from harm.

2. Wellington Rugby Football Club confirms that it adheres to the 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 child is anyone under the age of 18 engaged in any rugby union activity. However, where a 17 year old player is playing in the adult game it is essential that every reasonable precaution is taken to ensure the player’s safety and wellbeing are protected.

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 adult 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. Wellington Rugby Football Club 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 Wellington Rugby Football Club recognises that this is the responsibility of everybody involved in whatever capacity at the club.

6. Wellington Rugby Football Club will implement and comply with the RFU code of conduct and the codes of conduct for Coaches, Spectators and officials as appropriate.

7. The Club Safeguarding Officer (CSO) is Marc Acton and can be contacted via email at marc.acton@btinternet.com or urgently on 07929169828. 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 Constituent Body Safeguarding Manager and RFU Safeguarding Team. If an incident involves the CSO then you should inform the Chairman of the Club and either CB Safeguarding Manager or the RFU Safeguarding Team.

8. All members of Wellington Rugby Football Club who work with children in Regulated Activity must undertake an RFU Discloser and Barring Service (DBS) check in accordance with RFU Regulation 21.

9. Wellington Rugby Football Club will ensure that all its members whether they are coaches, parents, players or officials will comply with 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 or the RFU.

• Working alone with a child.

• Consuming alcohol whilst responsible for children.

• Providing alcohol to children or allowing its supply.

• Smoking in the presence of children.

• Humiliating children.

• Inappropriate or unnecessary physical contact with a child.

• Participating in or allowing contact or physical games with children

• Having an intimate or sexual relationship with any child developed as a result of being in a position of trust.

• Making sexually explicit comments or sharing sexually explicit material.

• Contacting children directly via all social media, email, text messaging, mobile phone or other source.

10. Wellington Rugby Football Club manages the changing facilities and arranges for them to be supervised by two DBS checked adults of the appropriate gender for the players using the facilities. Wellington Rugby Football Club 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.

11. Wellington Rugby Football Club will ensure that its coaches and 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 voluntary and paid.

12. Any events held on Wellington Rugby Football Club 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 Wellington Rugby Football Club must comply with the relevant RFU Regulations and Guidance relating to tours.