Vectis RFC Safeguarding Policy September 2024
Vectis RFC club and Hampshire RFU acknowledge our responsibility to safeguard the welfare of all children
involved in rugby, and confirm that we adhere to all the RFU’s safeguarding policies and procedures,
recommended practices and guidelines and furthermore endorse and adopt the statements contained in those
documents.
These can be viewed at: http://www.englandrugby.com/governance/safeguarding/
Under Child Protection laws and RFU policy, a "child" is anyone under the age of 18 engaged in any rugby union
activity.
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, size, language or sexual
identity have the right to protection from abuse or harm and should be able to enjoy their rugby in a
positive, safe and enjoyable environment
● All allegations or suspicions of abuse, neglect, harm, discrimination and poor practice will be taken
seriously and responded to swiftly, fairly and appropriately
● Everyone involved in the sport will work in partnership to promote the welfare, health and
development of children
Vectis 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. Vectis RFC
recognises that this is the responsibility of everyone involved, in whatever capacity, at the club.
Vectis RFC maintains a Club Safeguarding Officer to support Safeguarding practices at the club
Club Safeguarding Manager
Bex Edmonds - vectisrfcsafeguardingofficer@gmail.com
If you witness or are aware of an incident where the welfare of a child has been put at risk you must, in the first
instance, inform a Club Safeguarding Officer. They will then inform the RFU Safeguarding Team.
If an incident involves the Club Safeguarding Officer you should inform the Mini and Junior Chair
Allan Bridges - vectisrfcchair@gmail.com
All members of Vectis RFC who work with children in Regulated Activity must undertake an RFU Disclosure and
Barring Service (DBS) check in accordance with RFU Regulation 21. Vectis RFC ensures that all its members,
whether they are coaches, parents, players or officials will comply with the Best Practice Guidance as issued by
the RFU. In summary, the following are NOT acceptable and will be treated seriously by the club and may result
in disciplinary action being taken by the club.
● 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 with children.
● Having an intimate or sexual relationship with any child developed as a result of being in a ‘position
of trust.
● Making sexually explicit comments or sharing sexually explicit material.
The Club Safeguarding Officers will:
● Provide support and advice to Age Group Manager’s (AGM’s) coaches and volunteers to enable
them to carry out their role within the club.
● Ensure all RFU safeguarding criteria are met at the club by use of the RFU Safeguarding Audit
● Maintain an up to date Children's Workforce list listing all volunteers who work in regulated activity
with children at the club
● Ensure all Youth Rugby Tours are appropriately organised and signed off by the CSO
● Ensure all players who are playing out of their own age grade are assessed and appropriate consents
are in place
● Ensure that all allegations or incidents abuse, neglect, harm, discrimination and poor practice are
taken seriously and responded to swiftly, fairly and appropriately
Recruitment policy
● The roles and responsibilities are outlined in the Club Operating procedures
● All volunteers are by invitation only, any concerns should be escalated to the Vectis Management
Committee for resolution
● All volunteers must follow the volunteer application process completing the relevant forms
● https://www.englandrugby.com//dxdam/33/33fce371-43c5-4e2c-b055-
30dbceec7e0a/safeguardingVolunteerForm.pdfand adhere to the club policies and expectations
regarding Safeguarding and RFU Core values, not adhering to these principles could ensure that
appropriate action is taken.
All rugby coaches, coaching assistants, first aiders, team manager’s and other volunteers must:
● Respect the rights, dignity and worth of every person with whom they work with and treat them
equally within the context of rugby union.
● Undertake an enhanced DBS clearance with the RFU if working in a regulated activity (involving
unsupervised access to children)
● Place the physical and emotional well-being of all young players above all other considerations,
including the development of performance.
● Understand that the relationship that develops with the players with whom they work must be
based on mutual trust and respect
● Ensure that all activities undertaken are appropriate to the age, maturity, experience and ability of
the young players
● Encourage young players to accept responsibility for their own behaviour and performance. Be
aware of good safeguarding practices so that any poor practices will be addressed immediately
It is EVERYONE'S responsibility at Vectis Rugby Club to report concerns.
Vectis RFC is committed to working in partnership with parents/carers, Hampshire RFU and statutory agencies
in order to safeguard the young people at our club.
Changing rooms/showers protocol
Vectis RFC will ensure that our club manages the changing facilities and arranges for them to be supervised by
at least two adults (DBS checked) of the appropriate gender for the players using the facilities. To ensure that
all your club's coaches, parents, officials and spectators are aware that adults must not change at the same
time, using the same facilities as children. Clear signage can really help with this:
"NO UNAUTHORISED ADULTS ARE ALLOWED TO BE IN THE PLAYERS CORRIDOR, CHANGING ROOMS OR
SHOWERS. "
Electronic communications
Club coaches MUST NOT participate in communication with children on social networking sites or by personal
or text messaging. Contact with players should always be via (or copied to) their parents or carer. All social
network groups should be CLOSED and participation should be ADULTS ONLY or PLAYERS ONLY by invitation.
Player groups should be administered by a DBS cleared adult/s who is made known to all parents of
participating players. The administrator should only act in a monitoring capacity to ensure no inappropriate
content or bullying and should not be participating in the conversations of the group.
Vectis RFC Equity Statement
Vectis RFC aims to ensure that all members irrespective of their age, gender, ability, race, religion, ethnic origin,
colour, nationality, social status or sexual orientation have a genuine and equal opportunity to participate in
rugby. This aim covers all players, coaches, administrative staff, match officials or spectators. It is the aim of
Vectis RFC not to disadvantage any individual by imposing any conditions or requirements which cannot be
justified.
Anti-Bullying
Hampshire RFU and its member clubs aim to create a safe and secure learning environment where individuals
treat each other with respect and understanding. Bullying will not be tolerated at all in any of our Clubs.Bullying will be taken seriously, responded to promptly, and procedures followed to deal with the situation. It is
the responsibility of every adult working in rugby union whether professional or volunteer, to ensure that all
young people can enjoy the sport in a safe enjoyable environment. Bullying is deliberately hurtful behaviour
which results in the victim feeling distressed. Bullying occurs when this behaviour is exercised through the use
of power rather than an exchange between equals.
Establishing a positive Club ethos
The most important aspect of our strategy to combat bullying is the creation of a positive and inclusive ethos in
all our member clubs. This begins with how adults in clubs treat each other, parents, and players: with respect
and understanding, even in difficult situations. Concerns expressed by players and parents are always listened
to carefully and taken seriously.
Photography
● Each Player’s parent or guardian will sign an approval document annually for images of their child to
be taken and utilised by the Club
● Any photographs in official publications or website used will not name children individually. Any
parent or friend wishing to photograph their children with other children should initially introduce
themselves to the AGM or Head Coach to ensure this is permissible.
We promote and follow the RFU Core Values
Everyone involved in rugby in England, whether as a player, coach, referee, administrator, parent or spectator is
expected to uphold the Core Values of our sport:
Teamwork – Respect – Enjoyment – Discipline – Sportsmanship
● Play to win – but not at all cost
● Win with dignity, lose with grace
● Observe the Laws and regulations of the game
● Respect opponents, referees and all participants
● Reject cheating, racism, violence and drugs
● Value volunteers and paid officials alike
● Enjoy the game
We aim to be constantly promoting and reinforcing positive behaviour and developing all children's self-esteem
through celebration of achievement. In this way, by aiming to 'include' everyone in the rugby community, it is
much less likely either those children will become a focus for bullying, or that others may resort to bullying.
We encourage children, parents and club personnel to report any suspected instances of bullying to a member
of the coaching staff or to the Club's Safeguarding Officer.
Managing Touchline Behaviour
We do not tolerate poor touchline behaviour at any of our member clubs, it will be addressed at every level.
Spectators and coaches alike MUST NOT enter the field of play without the referee’s permission whilst a game
of rugby is in progress unless there are exceptional circumstances. Poor behaviour on the touchline is no more
acceptable than poor behaviour on the pitch.
Useful downloads & links
Playing Out of Age Grade
https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/72c904bd6e4848cfbec0001a42e3ecd3
Regulation 15 – Age Grade Rugby | Rugby Football Union (englandrugby.com)
Further details on England Rugby, Regulations:
https://www.englandrugby.com/governance/rules-and-regulations/regulations
Safeguarding Toolkit:
https://www.englandrugby.com/governance/safeguarding
(Safeguarding) Regulation 21:
https://www.englandrugby.com//dxdam/81/81f52d90-0372-46da-bc2a-55b602ea02b3/Regulation%2021.pdf
