Child Safeguarding Statement

The below statement is set out in accordance with the FAI Rulebook, FAI Child Welfare and Safeguarding policy as well as our legislative requirements set out by Children First Act 2015. This statement is binding on all staff and club members.

Cobh Ramblers Football Club provides various sporting opportunities for young people through participation in our national league teams and various local events. Cobh Ramblers Football Club is committed to safeguarding children and by working under the guidance of safeguarding policies and procedures. Our staff working throughout the organisation
are committed to providing a safe and fun environment for our young people to develop.

Principles to Safeguard Children from Harm
This statement recognises that in accordance with legislation and the requirements of the FAI Rulebook, FAI Child Welfare and Safeguarding policy, other FAI policies and procedures that the welfare and interests of children are paramount in all circumstances.

Cobh Ramblers Football Club is established on a number of core principles: the needs of the child, integrity and respect, environment, equality, fair play, welfare and safety in football. These underlying principles
underpin our rules, policies and procedures to ensure when Children participating in our activities, they do so, as far as is practicable, in a safe and enjoyable environment.

Risk Assessment:
In preparing this statement Cobh Ramblers Football Club have completed a risk assessment of the potential risk of harm to children when they are participating in any of our games and attending our activities. The risks were reviewed under the following headings; Club and Coaching Practices; Complaints & Discipline; Reporting Procedures; Use of Facilities;
Recruitment; Communications; and General Risk of Harm.

The Risk Assessment was undertaken on March 30th 2020. Cobh Ramblers Football Club Child Safeguarding Statement has been developed in line with
requirements under the Children First Act 2015, The Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children (2017), and Tusla’s Child Safeguarding: A Guide for Policy, Procedure and Practice.

Cobh Ramblers Football Club has the following procedures in place as part of our Safeguarding
Policies:
 Procedures for the management of allegations of abuse or misconduct by staff or
volunteers against a child availing of our activities.
 Procedures for the safe recruitment and selection of staff and volunteers to work with
children in our activities.
 Procedures for the provision of and access to child safeguarding training and information,
including the identification of the occurrence of harm.
 Procedures for the reporting of child protection or welfare concerns to Statutory Authorities.
 Procedures for maintaining a list of the persons in the relevant service who are mandated.
 Procedure for appointing a relevant person.

All procedures/policies listed are available on request. The Designated Liaison person is Michael O’Donovan. The Club’s Children Officer is Shane Geasley. Cobh Ramblers recognise the implementation is an ongoing process. Our Football Club is committed to the implementation of this Child Safeguarding Statement and the accompanying child welfare and safeguarding policies and procedures that support our intention to keep
children safe from harm while participating in our activities. This Child Safeguarding Statement will be reviewed on April 20th 2021 or as soon as practicable after there has been material change in any matter to which the statement refers.

This statement has been published on Cobh Ramblers website www.cobhramblers.ie and displayed in a prominent place on the premises.
It has been provided to all staff, volunteers and any other persons involved with the service. It is readily accessible to parents and guardians on request.

A copy of this statement will be made available to Tusla and members of the public if requested.