PENRHIWCEIBER RANGERS AFC
Safeguarding Policy
It is the policy of Penrhiwceiber Rangers AFC to ensure that every child or young person that takes part in any sport under its jurisdiction or uses any of its sporting facilities should be able to participate in a fund and safe environment and be protected from neglect, and physical, sexual and emotional abuse. The key principles that underwrite this policy are: -,
• Anyone under the age of 18 years as at the first day of September each year shall be considered as a child for the purposes of this document.
• The child's welfare is paramount.
• All children whatever their age, culture, ability, language, racial origin, religious belief and/or sexual identity have the right to protection from abuse.
• All suspicions and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately.
• To ensure that adults working with the children are also provided protection and are aware of the best practice so they can be protected from wrongful allegations.
• Working in partnership with children and their parents/careers, is essential for the protection of the child.
• The club recognizes the statutory responsibility of Social Services Department to ensure the welfare of children and it is committed to working with Local Area Child Protection committees, and to comply with their procedures. Rules For effective implementation of this policy, everyone must work in partnership, each with a role to ensure the protection of the children in their care.
The role of the Club will be as follows:-
§ To appoint a Child Welfare Officer.
§ To accept that all Officers Committee members and coaches have responsibilities in this area and be prepared to respond to any indication of abuse.
§ To be ready to amend bad practice.
§ To implement any recommendations of the various sports' governing bodies.
§ To maintain confidentiality of the child and the accused.
§ To appoint a Disciplinary Panel when necessary.
§ To provide support and guidance to the Child Protection Officer and to member clubs.
§ To make decisions on misconduct.
§ To inform all appropriate individuals and bodies of their decision.
§ To keep a list of all disqualified persons.
§ To monitor the policy.
The role of the Child Welfare Officer within the Association will be as follows:-
§ To ensure Officials/Committee club helpers and coaches complete a volunteer reference form.
§ To receive and advise on reports from other club members.
§ To initiate action ensuring all appropriate persons have been contacted.
Promoting Good Practice - By promoting good practice throughout the Club, it is possible to reduce situations for the abuse of children. The appointment of a Child Welfare Officer is key in this process and will be encouraged to promote good practice throughout the Club by ensuring everyone is aware of their responsibilities. This role may include leading by example, organising simple training briefings and the use of leaflets / posters and notices throughout the areas used by the club.
All coaches, helpers and volunteers should be open to scrutiny and be prepared to subject themselves to police vetting.
Bullying - There is a possibility that bullying may occur between children, and all involved in our club are to bed encouraged to be aware of the possibility. The club is committed to an anti-bullying policy, and will ensure that everyone understands that bullying will not be tolerated in any form.
Photography and Video Recorders - Due to an increase in the misuse of sports photography, and to reduce the risk of abuse to children, any person wishing to use cameras, and or, video recorders must declare their interest and seek permission from officials of both teams, before they will be allowed to use their cameras or recorders.
CODE OF CONDUCT FOR PEOPLE WORKING WITH CHILDREN -
To ensure that all forms of abuse are prevented and to help protect people who work with children, the following guidelines should be followed:-
§ Always be publicly open when working with children. Avoid situations where you and an individual childcare completely observed.
§ If a performer needs to be touched, it should be provided openly and the persons should be asked first. Care is needed, as it is difficult to maintain hand positions when providing manual support if the child is constantly moving. Some parents become increasingly sensitive about touching children and their views should always be carefully considered.
§ Where possible parents should take responsibility for their children in changing rooms. If groups are to be supervised in changing rooms, always ensure that adults work in pairs.
§ Where mixed teams compete away from home, they should always be accompanied by at least one male adult, and one female adult.
§ Volunteers and professionals must place the well being and safety of the participant above the development of the performance.
§ Coaches should hold current leadership or coaching qualifications.
§ Adults must ensure that the activities that they direct or advocate are appropriate to the age, maturity and ability of the performer.
§ Adults should always promote the positive aspects of their sport and never condone rule violations or use of prohibited substances.
§ Adults must consistently display high standards of personal behaviour and appearance.
§ Adults should never overtly criticise or use sarcasm where it may cause the child to lose self-esteem or confidence.
Everyone should be aware that as a general rule, it does not make sense to:
§ Spend amounts of time alone with children away from others.
§ Take children alone on car journeys, however short.
§ Take children to your home if they will be alone with you.
§ If it should arise that such situations are unavoidable they should only take place with the full knowledge and consent of someone in charge and/or the child's parents/carer. In addition you must discourage over enthusiastic kisses and embraces. If you accidentally hurt a child, or cause distress in any manner, or the child appears to be sexually aroused by your actions, or misunderstands, or misinterprets something you have done, report the incident as soon as possible. Parents/Carers should be informed of the occurrence. .
You should never: -, (a) Engage in rough physical or sexually provocative games, including horseplay. (b) Share a room with a child, permit or engage in any form of inappropriate touching.
(c) Permit the child to use inappropriate language unchallenged.
(d) Make sexually suggestive comments to a child, even in fun.
(e) Allow allegations made by a child to go unchallenged, unrecorded or not acted upon.
(f) Do things of a personal nature that children are able to carry out for themselves.
(g) Agree to meet a young person on his/her own.
The committee of Penrhiwceiber Rangers season 2025/26– July 2026.