The RFU Safeguarding team recognise how valuable parents and volunteers are to the rugby club. They offer time, effort and expertise and we want to ensure that parents and volunteers are fully equipped to be best suited to support the rugby club.
Parents
We want to ensure that parents understand just how impactful they can be on their child’s development in rugby. We would strongly encourage parents to do the following:
- Contact your child’s club’s Club Safeguarding Officer, let them know who you are, who your child is, if your child has any care and support needs, allergens etc., and ensure that the Club Safeguarding Officer has suitable contact numbers for you, as well as emergency contact numbers for your child/children
- Be as present at the club as you can. Being present in your child’s rugby career will have a huge positive impact on them, as you will be better placed to offer encouragement and be a part of their journey
- Be proactive in understanding what your child’s club’s safeguarding procedures are, and what safeguarding responsibilities you have, as a parent
Volunteers
For volunteers in rugby, as well as parents, we have put together the below resource library. This library contains guidance notes that take mandatory expectations from the RFU Safeguarding Policy and Regulation 21, and supplements them with additional information and advice that clubs may find useful. It is recommended that these guidance notes are adopted by clubs, unless exceptional circumstances arise.
- Cyber guidance
- DBS FAQs
- Encouraging positive behaviour
- Physical intervention
- Information for those who have had a concern raised against them
- Protocol for contact in rugby
- Safeguarding considerations for changing rooms
- Parental attendance at rugby
- Sharing concerns guidance
- When to involve the police
- Photography and use of imagery
