The Rugby Football Union (RFU) and Hartlepool Rugby Football Club are committed to safeguarding the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults in the sport.

All children, young people and vulnerable adults are entitled to protection from harm and have the right to take part in sport in a safe, positive and enjoyable environment.

1. Hartlepool Rugby Football Club acknowledges its responsibility to safeguard the welfare of all children, young people and vulnerable adults involved in Hartlepool RFC from harm.

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

3. A child or young person 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 their safety and wellbeing are protected.

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

• The welfare of the child, young person or vulnerable adult 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, young people and vulnerable adults have a right to expect support, and personal and social development delivered by adults who are appropriately recruited, vetted and managed. This applies to all participation in rugby union, whether they are playing, volunteering or officiating in the community or professional areas of the sport.

5. Hartlepool 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. Hartlepool RFC recognises that this is the responsibility of everyone involved, in whatever capacity, at the club.

6. Hartlepool RFC 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 is Mr David Jones. If you witness or are aware of an incident where the welfare of a child, young person 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 Team. If an incident involves the Club Safeguarding Officer you should inform the Mr Stewart Hind and either the CB Safeguarding Manager or the RFU Safeguarding Team.

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

9. Hartlepool 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.
• 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.

10. Hartlepool RFC 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. Hartlepool 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.

11. Hartlepool RFC will ensure that all coaches and volunteers 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 Hartlepool 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 Hartlepool RFC must comply with the relevant RFU Regulations and Guidance relating to tours.

Safeguarding Officer

Stewart Hind
hindstewart@gmail.com
07850900204