Launceston RC

Launceston Rugby Club Safeguarding Policies 

 1. Launceston Rugby Club (LRC) acknowledges its responsibility to safeguard the
welfare of all children involved in LRC from harm.
2. LRC confirms that it adheres to the Rugby Union’s (RU) Safeguarding Policy and
the procedures, practices and guidelines and endorse and adopt 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 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.
4. The Key Principles of the RU 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. LRC 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. LRC recognises that this is the responsibility
of everyone involved, in whatever capacity, at the club.
6. LRC will implement and comply with the RU Code of Conduct and the Codes of
Conduct for Coaches, Spectators and Officials as appropriate.
7. The Club Safeguarding Officer is Miss Shona McCombie (07923 373101). 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 the Club President
and either the CB Safeguarding Manager or the RFU Safeguarding Team.
8. All members of Launceston RC who work with children in Regulated Activity must
undertake an RFU Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check in accordance with
RFU Regulation 21.
9. LRC 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 RU.
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.
• 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.
11.LRC 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.
LRC 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.
12.LRC 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.
13.Any events held on LRC 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 Launceston RC must comply with the
relevant RFU Regulations and Guidance relating to tours.
14. An annual safeguarding audit is completed and submitted to the RFU.
This must be adopted in accordance with the club constitution.
Shona McCombe