SAFE CLUBS, SAFE KIDS

SAFE CLUBS, SAFE KIDS

We here at Thames Valley Rugby take our children’s safety very seriously. Here is a bit more information on Child Protection and we would appreciate if everyone could upskill on this subject. Each season over 88,000 Small Blacks enjoy playing rugby every weekend. Providing a fun and safe environment for Small Blacks is everybody’s responsibility, and it’s also up to all of us to make sure they are protected from abuse.

Safe Clubs Safe Kids is New Zealand Rugby’s (NZR) Child Protection Programme. Through this programme NZR supports providing Provincial Unions (PUs) and Clubs with guidance about protecting children and young people involved in rugby.

Since 2013 NZR has police vetted all Small Blacks coaches and Small Blacks referees who have completed an associate referee course. Secondary school rugby coaches and administrators are subject to the protocols of the school they are associated with. Our Child Protection Guidelines reflect current best practice and PUs and Clubs are encouraged to draft their own Child Protection Policy and vet staff and volunteers who will have a duty of care for children and young people.

We’ve developed these guidelines in consultation with other sporting organisations and NZ Police. The guidelines are available here and have been distributed to all PUs for further distribution to Clubs.

https://youtu.be/ShQx3CXGen0

Also available here is a Child Protection Policy template in MS word format for you to adopt and adapt to your organisation and the Step guide to report abuse as flyer to put up on your Club noticeboard and website.

For Club Committees there is a checklist to help you implement the policy at Club and Union Level and for Child Protection Advisors there is a Traffic Light Response tool to help you know the correct process to follow.