Luton Rugby Football Club Safeguarding Policy
1.Luton Rugby Football Club acknowledges its responsibility to safeguard the welfare of all children involved in Luton RFC from harm.
2.Luton 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 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 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 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.Luton 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. Luton RFC recognises that this is the responsibility of everyone involved, in whatever capacity, at the club.
6.Luton RFC will implement and comply with the RFU Code of Conductand the Codes of Conduct for Coaches, Spectators and Officials asappropriate.
7.The Club Safeguarding Officer is Janine O’Leary Tel: 07917 441 059. If you witness or are aware of an incident where the welfare of a childhas been put at risk you must, in the first instance, inform the ClubSafeguarding Officer. They will then inform the CB SafeguardingManager and the RFU Safeguarding Team. If an incident involves theClub Safeguarding Officer, you should inform the Clubs Director ofRugby, Steve Haynes and either the CB Safeguarding Manager or theRFU Safeguarding Team.
8.All members of Luton RFC who work with children in RegulatedActivity must undertake an RFU Disclosure and Barring Service(DBS) check in accordance with RFU Regulation 21.
9.Luton RFC will ensure that all its members, whether they are coaches,parents, players or officials will comply with the Best Practice Guidanceas issued by the RFU. In summary, the following are NOT acceptableand will be treated seriously by the club and may result in disciplinaryaction 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 withchildren.
•Having an intimate or sexual relationship with any child developedas a result of being in a ‘position of trust.’
•Making sexually explicit comments or sharing sexually explicitmaterial.
11. Luton RFC manages the changing facilities and arranges for them tobe supervised by two DBS checked adults of the appropriate genderfor the players using the facilities. Luton RFC ensures that all itscoaches, parents, officials and spectators are aware that adults mustnot change at the same time, using the same facilities as children.
12. Luton RFC will ensure that its coaches [and team managers] willreceive the support and training considered appropriate to theirposition and role.
13. Any events held on Luton RFC premises must comply with this Policyand if appropriate a Safeguarding Plan should be discussed andcirculated to those affected. Any tours, overseas or domestic,undertaken by Luton RFC must comply with the relevant RFU Regulations and Guidance relating to tours.
There may be a number of other points clubs may wish to add to this policy to take into account any matters which are specific to their club, i.e. if it is on a public site there may be additional safety issues. Clubs should not delete any of the above.
This must be adopted in accordance with the club constitution.
Signed: Janine O'Leary
Safeguarding Officer
Date 01/08/2025
