Safeguarding
The Cornwall Rugby League Football Club Foundation subscribes to the RFL’s Safeguarding Policy. The underlying principles of that policy are as follows:
- All children and young people have a right to be protected from abuse, regardless of their age, gender, disability, race, sexual orientation, faith or belief.
- The child or young person’s welfare must always be the paramount consideration
- All claims, suspicions or allegations of abuse will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately
The Foundation believes every participant in Rugby League should never experience abuse in any form, and it takes a zero tolerance approach to such matters.
What is ‘abuse’?
Physical – for example striking, throwing, shaking or any other act which causes – or may lead to – bodily harm.
Emotional – such abuse may take the form of threats, intimidation, harassment, coercion, humiliation, or other act of bullying. It can also manifest as a failure to respect privacy (e.g. online)
Sexual – such abuse is not limited to forcing a child or young person to take part in a sexual act, but also ‘non-contact’ activities such as involving children in looking at, or in the production of, sexual images.
Neglect – the continued failure to meet a child’s basic physical and/or psychological needs, and which is likely to result in the impairment of their health or development.
What to do…
The welfare of a child or young person is the responsibility of everyone involved with the Cornwall RLFC Foundation and any activity it promotes. This includes volunteers, officials, and spectators. If you are worried about a child then it is essential that you report concerns.
The Welfare Lead for the Foundation is Christian Boulton. He can be contacted, in confidence, at the following email address: christianboulton@cornwallrlfcfoundation.co.uk
If the issue relates to poor practice or standards, the Welfare Lead may choose to address the matter themselves or seek advice from the RFL Safeguarding Manager.
However, more serious concerns should be reported immediately to the Welfare Lead and either the police or relevant authority.
- Cornwall Multi-Agency Referral Unit (MARU): 0300 123 1116 (out of hours 01208 251300)
- Childline 0800 1111 (childline.org.uk)
Further information and advice is also available from the Our Safeguarding Children Partnership (OSCP) for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly via https://ciossafeguarding.org.uk/scp
IMPORTANT. If the child needs urgent medical treatment, take them to hospital or call an ambulance. Inform any medical professional that this is a child protection concern. Please also inform the Welfare Lead, detailing any action taken.
The Cornwall Rugby League Football Club Foundation also supports the RFL Whistle Blowing Policy. Anyone with concerns about an adult in a position of trust within the sport can ‘whistle blow’ by contacting the RFL via safeguarding@rfl.uk.com or 0844 477 7113. See RFL Whistleblowing for more information.
Staff and Volunteers
The Cornwall RLFC Foundation will implement safe recruiting practice at all times. Where applicable this will require an Enhanced DBS Certificate and identification documents. The former ensures extensive background checks on the individual are carried out which highlight if the applicant has any spent or unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands, or warnings. It also details any information the police currently hold on record for this individual.
All staff and volunteers are expected to read and adhere to the RFL’s Safeguarding Policy.
However, we urge any subsequent concerns over an appoinment be made without prejudice to the Welfare Lead.