All players, coaches, assistants, officials, parents and helpers will be encouraged to support teamwork, respect, enjoyment, discipline and sportmanship.

Ripon Rugby Club recognizes that it has the responsibility to safeguard and promote the interests and wellbeing of all the children with whom they are working and

•To take all reasonable practical steps to protect children from harm, discrimination, or degrading treatment.
•To respect children’s rights, wishes and feelings.

We aim to ensure that all Age Grade players are kept safe from physical, sexual and emotional harm whilst they are in the care of Ripon Rugby club. To do this:-

All coaches and volunteers must go on a ‘RUGBY READY’ coaching course when they begin working with Age Grade players
•All coaches and volunteers must be DBS checked
•Trained coaches of at least LEVEL 1 RFU standard will always be present during matches and training
•All coaches and volunteers are required to be up to date with their training for coaching and safeguarding
•All coaches are required to adhere at all times to Ripon Rugby Club’s Code Of Conduct for Coaches
•Written records of attendance, parental consents and accidents are maintained by the coaches/team managers
•All coaches and volunteers must comply with Ripon Rugby Club’s procedures for dealing with accusations or suspicions of safeguarding issues
•We implement best safeguarding practice as recommended by the RFU
Abuse can occur within many situations including the home, school and sporting environment. It could happen to your child. Some individuals actively seek employment or voluntary work with children in order to harm them. Everyone working within Rugby Union, either in a paid or voluntary capacity has a role to play in safeguarding the welfare of children and preventing their abuse. It is the responsibility of every adult to protect children from abuse.

It is recognised that any procedure is only as effective as the ability and skill of those who operate them. Ripon Rugby Club is committed to the provision of support and appropriate training for all the coaches/team managers and volunteers working at Ripon Rugby Club. This training will enable them to work together with parents/guardians and other organisations to ensure that the needs and the welfare of children remain paramount.

Ripon Rugby Club supports all aspects of safeguarding and as such encourages total openness in its work with young people. Therefore coaches will not:
•Change in the same area as Age Grade players
•Shower with Age Grade players
•Be alone with Age Grade players
•Take Age Grade players alone on car journeys
•Take Age Grade players to their homes
•Make sexually explicit remarks to an Age Grade player

Ripon Rugby Club’s trained Safeguarding Officer is Clare Grayshon whom can be contacted clare.grayshon@riponrugby.org if parents/carers, children or Age Grade players have any concerns regarding contravention of RFU best safeguarding practices including:
•Verbal bullying by coaches/parents/spectators
•Pyhsical abuse by coaches/parents/spectators
•Inappropriate or aggresive contact by an adult to an Age Grade player

**updated Aug 2024**