Child Protection Policy
This
policy applies to all those involved in Limerick Lawn Tennis Club including, but not limited to, coaches,
administrators, officials, volunteer drivers, members, parents and young people.
CHILD PROTECTION POLICY
STATEMENT
Limerick
Lawn Tennis Club is fully committed to safeguarding the well-being of its
members. Every individual in the club should at all times show respect and
understanding for their rights, safety and welfare, and conduct themselves in a
way that reflects the principles of the club and the guidelines contained in
the Code of Ethics and Good Practice for Children’s Sport.
Limerick Lawn Tennis Club supports
the view that all children’s sport should be conducted in an atmosphere of fair
play. In this context the club
undertakes to adopt the definition of fair play as set out in the European
Sports Charter and Code of Ethics, Council of Europe (1993).
“Fair
play is much more than playing within the rules. It incorporates the concepts of friendship,
respect for others and always playing within the right spirit. Fair play is defined as a way of thinking,
not just a way of behaving. It
incorporates issues concerned with the elimination of cheating, gamesmanship,
doping, violence (both physical and verbal), exploitation, unequal
opportunities, excessive commercialism and corruption.”
In order to promote the best practice in
children’s sport, the club complies with the guidelines as set out in Section
2.7 of the Code of Ethics and Good Practice for Children’s Sport as follows:
Ø The
club has adopted and implemented the Code of Ethics and Good Practice for
Children’s Sport as an integral part of its policy on children in the club.
Ø The
club is operated under its Constitution. This document has been approved and
adopted by clubs members at various Annual and Extraordinary General Meetings
of the members of the club. Any changes to the Constitution have to be approved
by the members of the club at a General Meeting of the members.
Ø The
club permits all junior (i.e. under 18) members over 16 years of age to vote,
where possible, in the running of the junior section of the club. One
parent/guardian has one vote for all of their children under 16 years of age,
where relevant.
Ø The
General Executive of the club is elected by the club members at each
Annual General Meeting in accordance with the procedures set
out in the Constitution
Ø The
club has adopted and consistently applies a safe and clearly defined method of
recruiting and selecting Sports Leaders.
Ø The
roles of the committee members, all Sports Leaders and parents/ guardians have
been clearly defined.
Ø The
club appoints one male and one female children’s officer at the AGM as outlined
in the Code of Ethics and Good Practice
for Children’s Sport. One of the Children’s officers is an ex officio member of
the Executive Committee.
Ø The
Executive Committee appoints a member of the club to act as Designated Person
to liaise with the Statutory Authorities in relation to the reporting of
allegations or suspicions of child abuse. Any such reports are made in
accordance with the procedures outlined in the Code of Ethics and Good Practice
for Children’s Sport.
Ø In
order to ensure best practice throughout the club the Executive Committee
disseminates its code of conduct, including the disciplinary, complaints and
appeals procedures in operation within the club to all its members. The club’s
code of conduct is posted prominently around the club premises.
Ø Procedures
have been put in place for dealing with a concern or complaint made to the Statutory
Authorities against a Committee Member or Sports Leader. A Sports Leader who is
the subject of an allegation which has been reported to the Statutory
Authorities, shall stand aside while the matter is being examined. He/she will
be invited to resume full duties immediately that he/she has been vindicated.
Ø Where
appropriate, Sports Leaders are required to report to the Executive Committee
on a regular basis.
Ø The
club encourages regular turnover of committee membership while ensuring
continuity and experience.
Ø Effective
procedures for responding to and recording accidents/ incidents have been put
in place.
Ø The
club monitors both the use of the facilities and participation in club
activities to ensure that any unusual activity (high rate of drop-out, transfers,
etc.) is identified, checked out and reported by the Designated Person to the
Executive Committee.
Ø All
club members are given notice of all General Meetings of the club in accordance
with the procedures in that regard as set out in the Constitution.
Ø The
minutes of all Executive and Committee meetings are recorded, adopted as
correct and safely filed.
Limerick Lawn Tennis Club is committed to
ensuring that Sports Leaders are competent to provide safe and rewarding
experiences for those in their care and that Sport Leaders are provided with
the appropriate training for their activity. Appropriate training and education
opportunities will also be made available to club officials, non-coaching staff
and parents/guardians as appropriate.
Limerick Tennis Club is committed to
ensuring that adequate adult supervision of all club activities involving
children is provided.
EQUALITY STATEMENT
All children should be valued and
treated in an equitable and fair manner regardless of ability, age, sex,
religion, social and ethnic background or political persuasion. Children, irrespective of ability or
disability should be involved in sports activities in an integrated and
inclusive way, whenever possible, thus allowing them to participate to their
full potential alongside other children (Code of Ethics and Good Practice for
Children’s Sport 2000)
Limerick Lawn Tennis Club recognises the
additional vulnerability of some children and the extra difficulties they may
face when seeking help, i.e.
Ø Dependency
due to disability may make some children feel powerless
Ø On
occasions possible limited ability to communicate their feelings
Ø A
negative self-image can make children vulnerable to manipulation by others.
To address this vulnerability
coaches are encouraged to seek guidance on working with children with a
disability from external agencies, parents / guardians and the children
themselves.
CONFIDENTIALITY
STATEMENT
Limerick Lawn Tennis Club recognises that
the legal principle that the welfare of the child is paramount means that
consideration of confidentiality should not be allowed to override the right of
children to be protected from harm.
Everyone in our organisation, including children, must be aware that
they can never promise to keep secrets.
However, information of a confidential nature will only be communicated
on a ‘need to know’ basis.