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NEWS

Child Safeguarding Statement to be displayed by each Sporting Organisation

The legislative requirements of the National Children’s Act 2015 state that each Organisation must carry out a Risk Assessment,  fill in the relevant form and subsequently display their own Safeguarding Statement.  Details of the act are available on the HSI website: https://www.horsesportireland.ie/children-first-act-2015/.

Each sporting organisation should use the template documents provided to carry out their own Risk Assessment based on their own activity and work with Children.  They should then produce a Child Safeguarding Statement to that effect and sign it themselves.

STEP ONE – REVIEW THE RISK ASSESSMENT DOCUMENT

  • The risk assessment has been pre-populated for you to review at your Affiliate and your Clubs/Branches/Regions meeting.
  • Each risk identified must be ranked; High, Medium or Low. The supporting policies and guidance have been indicated for you
  • Once each risk is ranked, you must consider the factors in place to reduce the risk and any further action you can take to lower it.
  • You can include other risks of potential harm that are specific to your Affiliate and or Clubs/Branches/Regions.
  • After you review your Risk Assessment, minute it at your meeting and get your Chairperson and Children’s Officer to sign and date it.

STEP TWO – YOUR CHILD SAFEGUARDING STATEMENT

  • When step one is completed review your Child Safeguarding Statement and sign the document.

STEP THREE – DISPLAY YOUR CHILD SAFEGUARDING STATEMENT

  • As per Section 11 of the Children First Act 2015, you are required to display your Child Safeguarding Statement in a prominent place in your  Clubs/Branches/Regions (notice board, public area, website etc.).
  • We suggest that you also distribute your signed Child Safeguarding Statement to all parents by mail/email/web or social media on an annual basis. (Perhaps as a part of membership process)
  • If you do not have a premises or website/social media page to display and distribute your Child Safeguarding Statement, you should display it at your events as a temporary sign or poster.

 The above steps must be carried out in line with legislation.  Please note Tusla or the Gardai have the power to fine or prosecute those without such documentation.