Amersham & Chiltern's Safeguarding Policy

1. Amersham & Chiltern Rugby Football Club (“A&C RFC”) acknowledges its
responsibility to safeguard the welfare of all children involved in A&C RFC from
harm.

2. The Key Principles of the Rugby Football Union (“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, culture, size, shape, language or sexual identity have the right to protection from abuse or harm.
• All allegations or suspicions of abuse, neglect, harm and poor practice will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly, fairly and appropriately.
• Working in partnership with other organisations, statutory agencies, parents, carers, children and young people is essential for the welfare of children.
• Children have a right to expect support, and personal and social development delivered by an appropriately recruited, vetted and managed person in relation to their participation in rugby football union, whether they are playing, volunteering or officiating in the community or professional areas of the sport.

3. A&C RFC confirms that it adheres to the RFU’s Safeguarding Policy, procedures,
practices and guidelines and endorses and adopts the Policy Statement
contained in that document and any successor policy.

4. A child is anyone under the age of 18 engaged in any rugby union activity. In
addition, where a 17-year-old player is playing in the adult game it is essential
that every reasonable precaution is taken to ensure his or her safety and
wellbeing are protected.

5. A&C 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. A&C RFC recognises
that this is the responsibility of everyone involved, in whatever capacity, at the
club.

6. A&C RFC will implement and comply with the RFU Code of Conduct and the
Codes of Conduct for Coaches, Spectators and Officials as appropriate.

7. The Club Safeguarding Officer is Laura Air (laura.air@hotmail.com / 07787
416799). The Assistant Safeguarding Officer is Anna Clarke
(anna.r.clarke8@gmail.com / 07908 603899).

8. Any A&C RFC member, parent, coach, player or official who witnesses of
becomes aware of an incident where the welfare of a child has been put at risk
must, in the first instance, inform the Club Safeguarding Officer or Assistant
Safeguarding Officer. They will then inform the County Board Safeguarding
Manager and the RFU Safeguarding Team. If an incident involves the Club
Safeguarding Officer, then the Assistant Safeguarding Officer and either the
County Board Safeguarding Manager or the RFU Safeguarding Team should be
informed.

9. All members of A&C RFC who work with children in Regulated Activity [u]must [/u]
undertake an RFU Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check in accordance
with RFU Regulation 21. “Regulated Activity” means the statutory definition of
the term as set out in the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 (as
amended) that for the RFU’s purposes shall be construed as meaning: (a) any
coaching and training of children; and/or (b) any teaching, instruction, care or
supervision of children, carried out by the same person frequently (once a week
or more often), or on four or more days in a 30 day period, or overnight. For more
detailed information and examples of what constitutes Regulated Activity,
please refer to the RFU’s Safeguarding Policy.

10. A&C RFC will ensure that all its members, whether they are volunteer coaches,
parents, players or officials, are aware of the Best Practice Guidance as issued
by the RFU.

11. A&C RFC will make it a condition of employment that all paid coaching staff
comply with the Best Practice Guidance as issued by the RFU. In summary, the
following are not acceptable in relation to A&C RFC activities by any coach (paid
or volunteer), will be treated seriously and may result in disciplinary action being
taken by A&C RFC, its Constituent Body (Buckinghamshire RFU) or the RFU:

• Working alone with a child.
• Consuming alcohol whilst responsible for children.
• Providing alcohol to children or allowing its supply.
• Smoking in front of children whilst responsible for 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.

12. A&C RFC manages the changing facilities at its home ground to ensure that
children and/or female teams are not scheduled to change in the same area at
the same time as male adult teams. Where an U17 player is selected for a senior
match, they will be given the opportunity to change separately to the adult
players and will not be pressured into using the changing facilities at the club.

13. A&C RFC will ensure that there is appropriate signage in place to indicate when
children and/or female players are using the changing facilities and will ensure
that coaches, parents, officials and spectators are aware that adults should not
enter the changing areas at any time while they are in use by children. The only
exception to this rule would be if children need supervising in changing rooms, or
coaches or managers need to carry out a range of tasks in that environment, in
which case this must involve two individuals cleared to work in regulated activity
(i.e. in possession of a current DBS certificate) and of the same sex as the
children. Only when absolutely necessary, due to poor behaviour, injury or
illness, or in an emergency and when waiting for another adult could result in
harm to a child. should a lone adult enter the changing area when in use by
children.

14. A&C RFC will ensure that its coaches and team managers are offered support
and training considered appropriate to their position and role. All coaches,
whether employed or volunteer, will be asked to undertake appropriate
safeguarding training at the start of each season. Any registered coach who has
not completed RFU-accredited safeguarding training within 4 weeks of the start
of the season will be reminded to do so and may be asked to stop participating in
sessions until they are compliant.

15. Any club events held on A&C RFC premises must comply with this Policy and, if
appropriate, a Safeguarding Plan should be discussed and circulated to those
affected. Any tours, overseas or domestic, undertaken by A&C RFC must comply
with the relevant RFU Regulations and Guidance relating to tours.

Signed: Huw Thomas
Chairman A&CRFC
23rd June 2025