To all Clubs,
Weightlifting Ireland is committed to safeguarding the youth involved in our sport, and in our affiliated clubs.
The Children First Act 2015 now requires that all clubs that provide services to young people (U18) and vulnerable adults must have a Child Safeguarding Statement. As part of this Safeguarding Statement each club must also have Child Safeguarding Risk Assessment and Policies and Procedures: –
- for the management of allegations of abuse or misconduct by staff or volunteers against a child availing of our activities.
- for the safe recruitment of staff and volunteers to work with children in our activities.
- for access to child safeguarding training and information, including the identification of the occurrence of harm.
- for reporting of child protection or welfare concerns to Statutory Authorities.
We provide all clubs with a Child Safety Statement and a Child Safeguarding Risk assessment to which they add their Clubs information. If you have not received a copy of these docs and are a registered Weightlifting Ireland Club, please contact [[email protected]]
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To comply with these Child Safeguarding requirements we created a new Code of Ethics and Good Practice for Children in Weightlifting which provides the policies and procedures required.
As part of the Act all clubs must appoint a ‘relevant person’ who is the first point of contact for the club regarding Child Safeguarding. This will usually be the Club’s Children’s Officer.
So, what do you have to do?
- Edit and Print out your clubs “WI Club Child Safeguarding Statement” get your club to minute it into your club’s constitution. Get it signed by your Club’s Chair and Children Officer and Hang it where it can be clearly seen as people enter your premises.
- Edit, Print out and Sign the “WI Club Child Safeguarding Risk Assessment” Document.
- Print out the “Code of Ethics and Good Practice for Children in Weightlifting” and the “Appendices” to the Code and place into a ring binder.
- Keep the Risk Assessment and Code readily accessible in a box or drawer specifically reserved for them to keep them safe. The copy of the “Children First National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children” should also be in this area.
- Edit, by adding photos and contact details for your CO, the Relevant and Mandated Person Document and print out this sheet to Hang beside the Child Safeguarding Statement.
- Encourage your coaches and other leaders to read over the risk assessment document and the code of ethics.
All document templates and information can be found in the Appendices of the Code of Ethics.
Club Child Risk Assessment can be found here.
When you look at the Risk assessment document you will notice that most of the actions required involve reviewing and educating. Over the following months we’ll be encouraging all the clubs to work through each part of these documents to see what they are doing well now and to address areas that need strengthening. It might feel like a big challenge initially but if we treat it like our sport and break it down into manageable parts and slowly but steadily work through it, each of our clubs will be stronger and safer for the young athletes in training.
If you have any questions please contact me through email on [email protected] or if it is urgent through text or phone on (086) 3486119 and I’ll get back to you asap.
Thank you,
Tom Brady
National Children’s Officer
Weightlifting Ireland