Belvedere Football Club Child Safeguarding Statement
Belvedere FC provides the opportunity for up to 300 member children aged 4 -16 to learn and enjoy playing football in north inner city Dublin and beyond. Our member children spend between 90 minutes and 6 hours a week under the club’s care, depending on their age, and are looked after by 40 member coaches and administrators. Healthy child development and wellbeing of our member children is central to the ethos of the club since it was formed in 1971. Prominent in our written code of conduct are sections detailing our Child Protection Policy, Definition of Child Abuse, Guidance to Promote Good Practice and our Anti-Bullying Policy.
Risk Assessment
We have carried out an assessment of any potential for harm to a child while under our care. Here is a list of the risks identified and our procedures for managing these risks:
Risks Identified and Procedures in Place to Manage Identified Risk
- Children using Toilets during Training and Matches
Children in our Academy (age 4-8) must be escorted to the toilet by their parent / nominated guardian. Children on teams age 10 and under should use the toilet in pairs while coaches are running activities. Parents and coaches are encouraged to ensure children use the toilet before training or matches start.
- Children using Dressing Rooms
Coaches should work in pairs while together with children in dressing rooms. Where coaches need to use a dressing room to change clothes themselves, this should be a separate dressing room or done while children are not in the dressing room.
Consent forms must be signed and returned to the club before any club trips that involve overnight stays. Unless in exceptional circumstances, children age 10 and under should have a guardian travelling with them. Where parents/guardians are travelling on a club trip, their children should share a room with them at night. Where parents/guardians are not travelling on a club trip , they must agree the sleeping arrangements with the coach in advance, and those sleeping arrangements must be adhered to.
- Children Being Transported to Games
Where coaches provide transport to club activities, they should have at least two children in the car at all times. Where a parent is providing transport to club activities for a child other than their own, that should be agreed in advance between the parents of both children and not arranged by the coach without prior consent of both parents.
Coaches should always address children in a positive way that fosters self-esteem and confidence. Coaches should ensure the children address each other and opponents in a positive and respectful way. Parents should report any concerns they have about the emotional wellbeing of their child to the coaches and / or the club’s Child Welfare Officer so any issues can be addressed.
Our Child Safeguarding Statement has been developed in line with requirements under the Children First Act 2015, Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children ( 2017) and Tusla’s Child Safeguarding: A Guide for Policy, Procedure and Practice. In addition to procedures listed in our risk assessment, the following procedures support our intention to safeguard children while they are under the club’s care:
Procedures
The club’s written Code of Conduct for coaches, parents and players.
The club’s written Child Protection Policy
The club’s written Guidance to Promote Good Practice and Anti-Bullying Policy
The club’s procedure for safe recruitment of volunteer coaches
Provision of training and workshops highlighting the importance of best practice in child safeguarding with coaches and administrators.
Implementation
Belvedere is committed to the implementation of this Child Safeguarding Statement and the procedures that support our intention to keep children safe from harm while playing football under our care.
This Child Safeguarding Statement will be reviewed in April 2020 or as soon as possible after there has been a material change in any matter to which the statement refers.
Jimmy Scurry Ciaran Duffy
Interim Chairman, Belvedere FC Child Welfare Officer, Belvedere FC
085-174 5070 087-236 8384
For queries, please contact Ciaran Duffy, Relevant Person under the Children First Act 2015
April 2018