Our Policies - Club Policies |
Child Protection Policy
We all believe that taking part in rugby should be a positive and enjoyable part of the lives of all the children who participate as members of the Club's Minis/Midis and Junior Sections. We want to make sure that young players are protected and kept safe from physical, sexual and emotional harm while they are with the Club's officials, coaches, volunteers and helpers, in line with the RFU guidelines; click here for full Cranleigh Child Protection Policy .
In order to achieve this we act in accordance with the following guidelines:
1. We are encouraging all coaches and volunteers to attend approved RFU and First Aid courses and to keep up to date with coaching issues. All volunteers are asked to operate within the guidelines laid down by the principal coach for the age group with whom they are involved.
2. All officers of the Club and all coaches, volunteers and helpers are given a copy of and are expected to adhere to the Club's Code of Conduct. Parents and Guardians can obtain copies of this either from the Club's Child Welfare Officer or the Club's web site.
3. The Club will promote "fair play" and will always play within the spirit of the laws of Rugby and the letter of the Continuum.
4. All coaches and volunteers are required to be familiar with child protection and welfare issues and has in place a formal complaints procedure for dealing with allegations or suspicions of child abuse. Copies of the complaints procedure are available from the Club's Child Welfare Officer.
5. The Club will ensure that it has appropriate procedures in place covering fire procedures, telephone access, first aid and emergencies.
6. The Club will ensure that all personal information required to be held by the Club in respect of young players who are members of the Club's Minis Section is made available only to Club officials, coaches, volunteers and helpers for the purpose of enabling the proper management of the Club and to any third party only for recognised Rugby purposes, such as registration with the Surrey RFU or tournament organisers. The Club requires that membership of the Club's Minis Section constitutes acceptance by the young player's parents or guardians of the Club's right to use personal information for such purposes.
7. The Club maintains its own web site and will take all reasonable steps to ensure, in accordance with its Web Site Policy (a copy of which is provided herewith and which is deemed to be a part of this document), that no inappropriate material appears on the web site.
8. The Club will from time to time identify a person (the Child Welfare Officer) whose role it shall be to keep under review the Club's policies and procedures in relation to child protection issues and to take primary responsibility for dealing with any concerns about physical, sexual or emotional abuse of children within the Club.
For your information, the current Child Welfare Officer is Doug Balchin whose contact details are set out below:
Doug Balchin - 01483 267604 (H) or 07956 538484
Web Site Policy
The Club maintains its own web site and takes the view that parents and guardians of young players should be aware of the guidelines within which the Club operates in putting material onto the web site. For this reason this Web Site Policy is deemed to be an integral part of the Club's broader Child Protection Policy.
From time to time the Club disseminates Club news through the web site. This news may include match reports prepared by coaches, volunteers, parents or guardians which may make reference to individual young players' displays of technical skills or sportsmanship. It may also include, on occasions, photographs taken by coaches, volunteers, parents or guardians consisting of action shots, team groupings or tour activities.
The Club is conscious of the need to act responsibly in its use of the web site and adheres strictly to the few simple rules set out below:
at no time will any reference be made to any child's address or any other personal or inappropriate information be reproduced on the web site;
all photographs of children will be taken with the child in Cranleigh Rugby kit, a tracksuit or full outdoor clothing;
no photographs that are in any other way inappropriate will be permitted to appear;
all material provided with the intention that it be placed on the web site will be subject to review and editing by the Club's Webmaster (currently Toby Eves) to ensure compliance with the Club's policy;
if, in the view of the Club's Webmaster, any doubt still exists as to the suitability of material supplied to be placed on the web site, it will either be discarded by her or, alternatively, only used after obtaining relevant parental/guardian consents.
The Club is equally concerned not to spoil the fun that young players get from being able to read on the internet of their own and their team's performances and to see photographs of their achievements. The Club therefore does not wish to be unnecessarily restrictive and seeks to apply a common sense approach as follows:
the Club prefers to operate on the basis that parents/guardians are generally content to leave the question of web site content to the good sense of the Club working within the remit of its own Child Protection Policy (including the self imposed rules contained in this document);
subject to paragraph 3 below, the Club will therefore assume from the fact that parents/guardians continue a young player's registration as a member of the Club's Minis Section and that the young player continues to play as a member of the Club as acceptance of the proposition set out in paragraph 1;
If any parents/guardians are unwilling to permit the Club itself to monitor the web site in so far as it relates to any young player in respect of whom they exercise parental control, then such fact should be communicated to the Club at the time of player registration for the season or upon first having the Club's Web Site Policy drawn to their attention.
Parents/guardians should of course raise with the Child Welfare Officer any concerns at any particular web site content as soon as they become aware of it.
Equity Policy Statement
For Cranleigh Rugby Football Club
This club is committed to ensuring that equity is incorporated across all aspects of its development. In doing so it acknowledges and adopts the following Sport England definition of sports equity:
Sports equity is about fairness in sport, equality of access, recognising inequalities and taking steps to address them. It is about changing the culture and structure of sport to ensure it becomes equally accessible to everyone in society.
The club respects the rights, dignity and worth of every person and will treat everyone equally within the context of their sport, regardless of age, ability, gender, race, ethnicity, religious belief, sexuality or social/economic status.
The club is committed to everyone having the right to enjoy their sport in an environment free from threat of intimidation, harassment and abuse.
All club members have a responsibility to oppose discriminatory behaviour and promote equality of opportunity.
The club will deal with any incidence of discriminatory behaviour seriously, according to club disciplinary procedures.
